Requirements: English
Company: EVONA
Region: Barcelona , Catalonia
Flight Dynamics Engineer | Barcelona
EVONA have partnered with an exciting telecoms start-up, who are developing and launching a new satellite constellation.
They are looking for an AOCS (Attitude and Orbit Control Systems) and Flight Dynamics Engineer to join the spacecraft development team.
This role will be focused on designing, implementing, and maintaining the attitude and orbit control systems, as well as managing flight dynamics for satellite missions.
Responsibilities:
- Concept of Operations (ConOps) Design: Develop mission scenarios, operational modes, and attitude/orbit requirements.
- AOCS Design Development: Architect and implement control algorithms for attitude and orbit control, including sensor fusion and actuator management.
- Propulsion System Integration: Define propulsion system requirements, assess performance, and support integration with the spacecraft.
- Dynamic Performance Analysis: Conduct simulations and analysis to validate spacecraft stability, maneuverability, and control accuracy.
- Flight Dynamics Navigation: Develop orbit determination, maneuver planning, and station-keeping strategies.
- Software Hardware Integration: Collaborate with software and avionics engineers to implement flight control software and validate performance through software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing.
- Autonomous Operations: Design and implement autonomous guidance and control strategies for fault recovery and mission optimization.
- Testing Validation: Support AIV (Assembly, Integration, and Verification) campaigns, including hardware testing of sensors and actuators.
- Collaboration: Work closely with mission design, software, and hardware teams to ensure the spacecraft operates as intended.
Required Qualifications:
- Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Control Systems, Robotics, or a related field.
- At least 4 years of experience in AOCS design, flight dynamics, or guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) systems.
- Strong proficiency in orbital mechanics, spacecraft dynamics, and control theory.
- Experience with AOCS sensors and actuators, such as reaction wheels, magnetorquers, star trackers, and gyroscopes.
- Knowledge of propulsion system dynamics and integration, especially for small satellites.
- Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, Python, or C++ for flight dynamics simulations and algorithm development.
- Experience with Kalman filtering and sensor fusion techniques for spacecraft navigation.
- Understanding of space environment effects on AOCS performance (e.g., drag, radiation, gravity gradients).
- Familiarity with mission planning tools and flight dynamics software.
- Ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced startup environment and take ownership of critical spacecraft control functions.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in designing and implementing autonomous AOCS/GNC algorithms for space missions.
- Knowledge of satellite station-keeping and constellation management.
- Experience with hardware testing and validation of flight control sensors and actuators.
- Familiarity with ECSS, NASA, or other space industry standards related to AOCS and flight dynamics.
- Previous experience with CubeSats or small satellite missions.