GNC Engineer Uk Visa Sponsorship

Job Description

Astroscale is pioneering innovative technology aimed at capturing uncontrolled space debris, ultimately working to restore and safeguard orbital environments for future generations. Our efforts rely on sophisticated Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) subsystems that allow our spacecraft to complete their missions. Engaging in rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking with uncooperative or unprepared objects presents significant challenges. Therefore, we are looking for a dedicated individual to collaborate with our team of GNC engineers, tackling these challenges together and contributing to groundbreaking advancements.

The GNC team oversees all facets of Astroscale’s GNC subsystems, including algorithm design, simulations, payloads, and hardware. Our daily work involves designing complex trajectories, maneuvering strategies, guidance and control algorithms, navigation algorithms, and simulator models, as well as managing the specification and integration of subsystem hardware and software, which includes a major portion of the spacecraft payload.

The successful candidate will join a skilled team of professionals with diverse GNC expertise from both commercial and academic backgrounds. In addition to technical proficiency, the ideal candidate must excel in teamwork and be able to meet the varied expectations and drivers of commercial organizations, including contractual and schedule-related demands.

Astroscale offers a dynamic environment where you can enhance your experience, refine your skills, and contribute to delivering exceptional results. Your role will directly impact our efforts to improve space safety and sustainability for generations to come.

Responsibilities:

Design, optimize, and test GNC algorithms such as navigation filters, guidance strategies, and controllers.

Develop GNC simulator models and functionalities.

Assist in evaluating trade-offs for payload and hardware, alongside cutting-edge RPO (Rendezvous and Proximity Operations) sensor technologies and fusion methods.

Participate in system-level activities, including defining FMECA (Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis) and FDIR (Fault/Failure Detection, Isolation, and Recovery) processes.

Contribute to V&V (Verification and Validation), subsystem/spacecraft integration planning, and execution.

Perform subsystem testing using Engineering Model (EM) hardware and dedicated testbeds.

Support ongoing GNC development tasks and contribute to future production-focused GNC efforts, such as Quality Assurance (QA) processes.

Essential Skills:

Diploma, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in aerospace engineering or a related field.

Experience with aerospace simulation tools like MATLAB/Simulink and Python.

Expertise in designing GNC algorithms, including navigation filters, guidance strategies, or controllers.

Experience in designing fault-tolerant GNC systems.

Systems Engineering experience.

Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively within a broader GNC/project team.

Strong ability to balance creativity in engineering with meeting deadlines and business requirements.

Desirable Skills:

Knowledge of GNC rendezvous and pose estimation sensors and methods.

Experience with GNC hardware AIV (Assembly, Integration, and Verification).

Familiarity with active debris removal or RPO missions (e.g., RemoveDebris, CleanSpace/ESA projects such as e.DeOrbit, DEOS, ATV, ETS-7, DARPA Express).

Benefits:

Competitive base salary.

Opportunity to work with a talented, diverse, and dynamic international team using cutting-edge technology.

Flexible working hours around core business hours in a supportive and friendly environment.

Optional 9/75 working pattern.

Hybrid working arrangements available (subject to role requirements).

25 days of annual leave (increasing annually to a maximum of 28 days), plus 8 bank holidays.

Life insurance and long-term sick pay.

Private healthcare (taxable benefit).

Relocation allowance and visa sponsorship available.

State-of-the-art office and cleanroom facilities.

Regular social events.

Location: Astroscale UK (Harwell), with occasional travel to Astroscale Japan (Tokyo).

About Astroscale: Astroscale is committed to advancing technologies that will become integral to commercial space operations by 2030. Founded in 2013, we are the first private company dedicated to ensuring the safe and sustainable development of space for future generations. We specialize in in-orbit servicing, including End of Life services, Active Debris Removal, In-situ Space Situational Awareness, and Life Extension Services, all aimed at creating sustainable space systems and preventing hazardous debris buildup.

Astroscale is an Equal Opportunity Employer, promoting diversity and inclusion in the workforce. We encourage all qualified applicants, including minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities, to apply.

Note to recruitment agencies: Astroscale operates a preferred Supplier List and does not accept unsolicited agency submissions. Please refrain from sending candidate CVs or details in response to this advertisement or directly to any Astroscale employee.