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Satellite Control Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

ABOUT THE JOB As a GNC (Guidance, Navigation & Control) Engineer for our Space team, you will work on and understand the design of all satellite GNC subsystems to include but not limited to hardware ...

Senior GNC Engineer, Space

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$112K - $154K/yr

ABOUT THE JOB As a Sr. GNC (Guidance, Navigation & Control) Engineer for our Space team, you own the understanding and design of all satellite GNC subsystems to include but not limited to hardware ...

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Satellite Control Engineer information

What is a satellite control engineer?

Satellite Control Engineers are professionals responsible for operating and maintaining satellites after they have been launched into space. Their duties include monitoring satellite health, ensuring proper functioning of onboard systems, and performing maneuvers or adjustments as needed to maintain optimal satellite performance. They work with ground control stations to track satellites, troubleshoot technical issues, and coordinate with other engineering teams. These engineers play a crucial role in ensuring uninterrupted satellite services for communications, navigation, earth observation, and more.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a satellite control engineer?

To thrive as a Satellite Control Engineer, you need a strong background in electrical or aerospace engineering, orbital mechanics, and satellite communications, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with satellite control software, ground station systems, and industry certifications such as ITU or FCC licensing is often required. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills in this role. These skills ensure the safe and reliable operation of satellites, quick troubleshooting of anomalies, and seamless collaboration with mission teams.

What are some typical challenges faced by satellite control engineers during satellite operations?

Satellite Control Engineers often encounter challenges such as maintaining uninterrupted communication with satellites, troubleshooting anomalies in satellite telemetry, and adapting to unexpected shifts in orbital parameters. They must respond quickly to system alerts, coordinate with ground station teams, and perform real-time problem-solving to ensure mission objectives are met. Balancing the demands of shift work and coordinating across international teams can also be part of the role, especially during critical mission phases.

What is the difference between Satellite Control Engineer vs Satellite Operations Technician?

AspectSatellite Control EngineerSatellite Operations Technician
CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, certifications in satellite systemsAssociate's or Bachelor's, technical certifications
Work EnvironmentMission control centers, engineering labsGround stations, field sites
Industry UsageDesign, development, and control of satellite systemsMonitoring, troubleshooting, and maintaining satellite operations

Satellite Control Engineers focus on designing and managing satellite control systems, ensuring proper operation and mission success. Satellite Operations Technicians handle daily satellite monitoring, troubleshooting, and ground station activities. While both roles work closely in satellite missions, engineers are more involved in system design and analysis, whereas technicians focus on operational execution and maintenance.

What cities in California are hiring for Satellite Control Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Satellite Control Engineer job openings:

GNC Engineer, Space

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site

Anduril Industries
Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing • 501 - 1,000 employees

Full-time

Re-posted 26 days ago


Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

ABOUT THE TEAM

Anduril's Space team is dedicated to expanding our AI-powered capabilities into the final frontier, enhancing Space Domain Awareness, Space Control, and Command and Control for U.S. military and allied partners. We're developing fully integrated hardware and software systems, including Lattice for Space Missions and modular payloads, to address growing threats in space and ensure our Guardians maintain a decisive advantage in this contested warfighting domain.

ABOUT THE JOB

As a GNC (Guidance, Navigation & Control) Engineer for our Space team, you will work on and understand the design of all satellite GNC subsystems to include but not limited to hardware sensors and actuators, orbit mechanics, navigation algorithms, flight software implementation, subsystem integration & test (I&T), and vehicle I&T. The GNC engineering team will work closely with related teams, including Systems, Flight Software, Mission Operations, and Ground Software. The GNC Engineer will work algorithm design, truth and physics modeling, simulation and analysis for a wide variety of spacecraft and space missions to include but not limited to LEO, MEO, GEO, Reentry, and RPOD (Rendezvous Proximity Operations and Docking). The Sr. GNC Engineer will help lead successful implementation, validation and GNC operations of Anduril's fleet of spacecraft.
This role is directly tied to ongoing, funded programs within Anduril's Space Business Line. The programs require building and fielding a resilient, software-defined spacecraft systems across numerous mission threads. We work with mission partners and customers to deploy reliable and robust capabilities on operationally-relevant fielding timelines to meet complex challenges across the DOD and IC.

WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Work spacecraft GNC software and hardware subsystems for various spacecraft efforts in all orbital regimes and work closely with bus providers for successful implementation
  • Develop modern, software-defined approaches to autonomous spacecraft operations with maneuvering capabilities to successfully accomplish mission objectives
  • Develop appropriate test plans and procedures to validate the GNC system during ground checkout, on-orbit commissioning and operations
  • Collaborate across multiple teams to plan, build, and test complex functionality.
  • Coordinate with end-users, other operators and customers to turn needs into features while balancing user experience with engineering constraints.
  • Support challenging schedules during ground testing, launch windows and on-orbit operations of the spacecraft systems.
  • Design of flight software, algorithms, and simulation products.
  • Development of spacecraft autonomy tools for dynamic space operations
  • Test process development and execution.
  • Define automated fault detection and responses.
  • Provide hardware-in-the-loop and monte-carlo simulation capabilities.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Strong engineering background from industry or school, ideally in areas/fields such as Aerospace Engineering, Dynamics and Controls Engineering, Computer Science, or other engineering degree. 
  • Experience with MATLAB, Simulink, Python, C++, Go, and/or Linux Systems. 
  • Ability to quickly understand and navigate complex systems and detailed requirements.
  • Experience with orbital mechanics and resident space object tracking capabilities
  • Familiarity with rendezvous proximity operations and docking, orbital mechanics with propulsive spacecraft, and/or spacecraft attitude determination and controls
  • Strong knowledge of spacecraft dynamics, orbital mechanics, and control theory.
  • Clear communication and organizational skills including documentation and training material.
  • Must be eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Experience with MATLAB, Simulink, Python, Go, C++ and/or Linux systems.
  • A desire to work on critical software and hardware designs in the space domain.
  • Experience testing propulsion subsystems in laboratory environments that mimic the space environmental constraints.
  • Experience conducting spacecraft operations and satellite command and control with an emphasis on system reliability and uptime.
  • Experience with testing/validation leveraging FlatSats, Hardware-in-the-Loop testbeds and digital spacecraft simulators through nominal and fault scenarios.
  • Experience with computer vision and perception algorithms to support GNC operations.
  • Experience developing 3-DOF simplified and 6-DOF high-fidelity dynamics simulation models used for GNC systems analysis and validation.
  • Exposure to US satellite operations policy and constraints for relevant mission threads in all orbits.

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.


What Anduril employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Anduril Industries logo

About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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