GNC Lead Engineer - LDN
Houston Texas or Glen Burnie MD
About Intuitive Machines
Intuitive Machines is an innovative and cutting-edge space company making cislunar space accessible to both public and private customers. Our mission is to further science and exploration, communications, and economic progress from the Earth to the Moon and beyond. With the first commercial lunar landing in history, multiple NASA lunar missions in development, and additional private missions on our manifest, we pride ourselves in supporting our customers and the nation in paving the way to return humans to the surface of the Moon.
Our world-class team includes experts in all aspects of spacecraft subsystems design, development, and test, on-orbit operations, and safety.
About The Position
Intuitive Machines is seeking a Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Lead Engineer to join our team. In this role, the candidate will lead a cross-functional team to design, build, and test the GNC system for the Lunar Data Network (LDN) spacecraft which will provide a navigation and communications service to lunar users. This position will support real-time GNC flight software development, flight control automation, HWIL sensor and effector integration, performance, and testing. The applicant will be located on-site at one of the IM main offices either in Houston, TX or Glen Burnie, MD.
Responsibilities:
- Lead a cross-functional team to design, build, and test the GNC system for the LDN spacecraft
- Work closely with the LDN spacecraft team across software and hardware systems while overseeing a team of GNC engineers
- Develop and peer review GNC flight software in C and C++
- Size, assess, and select GNC sensors and effector systems
- Execute 6-DOF simulations to evaluate expected on-orbit performance
- Conduct navigation HWIL sensor and effector integration and testing for navigation for the LDN satellite constellation
- Oversee and manage real-time flight software development and testing for the LDN satellite
Qualifications:
- MS or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering + 5-7 years of experience, or related field with 10+ years of total experience preferred
- Extensive experience developing Kalman Filters
- Experience with real-time software
- Experience with GN&C hardware including IMU, Star Trackers, GPS, LIDAR and OpNav
- Experience with SWIL and HWIL testing and integration
- Experience in relative navigation, image processing, and feature detection techniques
- Experience in flight control analysis assessing vehicle performance and stability margins for an orbital spacecraft operating in a variety of mission phases
- Experience with C, C++, and Python
- Experience with GN&C sensor testing, planning, and modelling
- Experience with supporting a multi-disciplinary team
- Experience with spacecraft dynamics and orbital mechanics
- Experience with JIRA and Agile processes
- Experience with VxWorks and/or other realtime operating systems is preferred
- Experience with Git version control preferred
- Positive mental attitude with excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Willingness and desire to document and communicate technical solutions with team
Preferred Qualifications:
- Solid experience with navigation sensor hardware, Kalman filters, LIDAR, real-time software, Monte Carlo analysis, C/C++, Python, Trick, Bash
- Prior experience technically leading high level, cross functional programs in relation to GNC.
- Prior experience working in and around Satellites
US EEO StatementIntuitive Machines is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.
