GNC Engineer, Device Navigation and Beam Pointing (Starlink)

GNC ENGINEER, DEVICE NAVIGATION AND BEAM POINTING (STARLINK)

At SpaceX we’re leveraging our experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to 9M+ users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starlink’s potential global impact and are looking for best-in-class engineers to help maximize Starlink’s utility for communities and businesses around the globe.

As an engineer on this team, you will bring a passion and expertise in areas like control theory, state estimation, orbital mechanics, spacecraft systems design, optimization, and software development to join the Starlink guidance, navigation, and control (GNC). Come help us write the autopilot algorithms for thousands of satellites (the world's largest constellation!) and more than one million user terminals, enabling access to high-speed broadband internet in all corners of the world.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design and analysis of GNC logic for consumer and enterprise Starlink phased array antennas.




• Real-time angular and translational navigation using onboard sensors and optimal state estimation techniques.


• Design of beam-steering logic to track and hand-off satellites while maximizing link integrity in challenging operational environments.




• Develop features which will enable Starlink to be deployed in a variety of new applications, including ships, aircraft, spacecraft, and more.


• Provide engineering and data review support for hardware development, special projects, and customer support triage.


• Work with hardware engineers on the design and specification of future user terminal products and their navigation sensor packages.


• Model derivation and high fidelity simulation for development and validation of prototype features.


• Implementation, validation, unit testing, and deployment of production software (C++) pertinent to the systems described above.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, physics, or an engineering discipline.


• Experience in Software Development for physical systems or real-world hardware.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master's degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline.


• Demonstrated project or professional experience in state estimation, feedback control, robotics, antenna design and actuation, RF or similar.


• Experience interfacing with real world hardware, beyond simulations (sensors, robotics, autonomous vehicles, etc..).


• Experience implementing state estimation algorithms and/or attitude determination.


• Direct experience with inertial navigation systems.


• Direct experience with GNSS.




• Multi-GNSS measurement models.


• Loosely/tightly coupled state estimation.


• Carrier phase compensation and integer ambiguity resolution.


• Ionospheric compensation and modeling via radio occultation measurements.


• Externally supplied constellation ephemeris + clock augmentation.


• PPP/RTK.


• Experience with GNSS receiver and antenna hardware and integration (time synchronization, PTP, PPS, receiver firmware and RTCM protocol).




• Linux development experience.


• Strong understanding of classical dynamics, modeling and simulation, and software development.


• Capable of identifying and solving complex problems with little to no supervision or direction.


• Passion for advancing the commercial space industry.


• Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start-up atmosphere.


• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law. Company shuttles are offered to employees for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday.