Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) Systems Engineer

Join ESA as a Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) Systems Engineer in the GNC Systems Architecture Section, GNC, AOCS and Pointing Division, Electrical Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

Description

The GNC Systems Architecture Section provides functional support to ESA projects in the technical field of GNC systems for planetary and small solar system object exploration orbiters and landers, launch and transportation systems, re-entry vehicles, new-generation space vehicles for in-orbit robotic operations, including in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing and debris removal, and specialised applications such as rendezvous and formation flying.

The GNC Systems Architecture Section also carries out technology research in the field of GNC systems for space vehicles, including interplanetary cruise, aero-assistance, precision landing, ascent, rendezvous and docking, re-entry, formation flying and drag-free systems. This covers autonomous and fault-tolerant systems, including health monitoring systems, advanced guidance, control, estimation and optimisation techniques and tools, as well as the technology development of GNC sensors with a focus on vision-based navigation and hybrid navigation concepts.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• Providing expert technical support and consultancy to ESA projects, programmes and general studies in the area of GNC requirements analysis and trade-offs for system, software and hardware units, GNC performance analysis and budgeting, GNC system, software and unit procurement, and GNC system verification and validation throughout all project phases, including GNC fault detection isolation and recovery.
• Participating in feasibility studies, including Phase 0 in the ESA Concurrent Design Facility, project reviews and the evaluation of procurement proposals.
• Identifying critical development problems and assisting in their resolution.
• Contributing to the definition of technology development requirements and work plans for the Agency’s technology programmes.
• Defining, initiating and managing R&D activities covering both long- and short-term needs and addressing mission-enabling GNC system concepts as well as mathematical modelling, multi-physics simulation of complex spacecraft dynamics, and advanced guidance, control, estimation and optimisation techniques and tools.
• Fostering new application areas for multidisciplinary activities, with an emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and system architectures.
• Carrying out laboratory activities for the evaluation and prototyping of new GNC systems and sensors, as required.
• Monitoring applicable scientific and technological trends and maintaining state-of-the-art expertise.
• Contributing to the dissemination of the results of activities performed and the transfer of knowledge across the Agency.
• Supporting other activities within your area of competence, as required.

Technical competencies

• Understanding of related technologies and R&D trends and familiarity with the industrial landscape
• Project support experience in a relevant domain
• General knowledge of ESA and EU Space Programmes
• Experience in the preparation of procurement activities for technology development and innovation, such as statements of work and proposal evaluation
• Experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities, including participation in reviews and procurement of GNC units
• General background and experience in the technical domains covered by the position

Behavioural competencies

• Result Orientation
• Operational Efficiency
• Fostering Cooperation
• Relationship Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Forward Thinking

Education and professional experience

A master's degree in aerospace engineering or control engineering is required for this post together with 5 years of relevant professional experience.

Additional requirements

Proven experience in the development (design, analysis, simulation and testing) of GNC systems for exploration missions, space transportation systems, planetary science and/or active debris removal or in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing.

Preference will be given to candidates with strong expertise in two or more of the following areas, with ideally 8 or more years of relevant experience:

• Rendezvous, close proximity operations and distributed or coordinated control techniques applicable to active debris removal or in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing applications
• GNC hardware sensors and actuators
• Classical and advanced (robust, adaptive, non-linear) control and filtering techniques
• Relative navigation technology (sensors and techniques, including image processing and data fusion) for space systems
• Mathematical modelling and multi-physics/multi-domain simulation techniques
• Machine learning techniques and their application to safety-critical or mission-critical systems

Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology and hardware subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations and be eligible to acquire the security clearance required by their national security administrations.

Nationality and Languages

Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the Member States.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.