Orbex

Orbex is Europe's most exciting space company. You will be joining a team developing one of the most innovative, high-tech space launch vehicles in the world, to launch into orbit from continental Europe's 1st orbital spaceport at Sutherland in Scotland, and you'll have the chance to earn an ownership stake in the company.

We are a highly motivated and focused team, and we are looking for colleagues who share our vision of creating Europe's first fully private space access company.

Role

We are currently looking for experienced GNC engineers who will build the launch vehicle guidance, navigation and control systems, helping to lead the programme and co-ordinate and liaise with our external development partners.

The exact role responsibilities will be flexible depending on your experience and skills but you will have the opportunity to play a critical part in the development of our technology and business.

Background

You will have 6+ years of experience in space or aeronautical GNC. You will be able to work independently and take responsibility for delivering GNC systems to specification and to budget. You are likely to have an MSc degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, control systems engineering or similar.

We are a fast-moving company which gives great responsibility to our engineers. You will be exacting and detail oriented, able to find innovative solutions to complex problems, flexible, trust worthy and team-oriented.

Responsibilities

Your duties as a Launch Vehicle GNC Engineer will include:

• Lead development and validation of launch vehicle characteristic models.
• Lead projects and liaise with external GNC system partners.
• Participate in design, review and test of guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for the launch vehicle.
• Participate in the development of high fidelity launch vehicle flight dynamics simulator.
• Validate and verify GNC flight software through SIL/HIL integration campaigns.
• Oversee trajectory safety analysis for launch license acquisition process.
• Development and maintenance of launch system FMECA and fault tree analysis.
• Support to the company systems engineering group.

Qualifications

• Masters degree or higher in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, control systems engineering, or equivalent experience.
• English language skills

Experience

• 6-7 years of experience in aerospace or similar environment
• Launch vehicle or spacecraft GNC algorithm development, control of flexible structures, Extended Kalman filtering, trajectory design and optimization.
• Modelization of physical systems.
• Dynamic systems, orbital mechanics, control systems, estimation, and software/algorithm development in C/C++/Matlab-Simulink.
• Embedded implementation of GNC algorithms.
• Development project management.
• Capabilities and operational understanding of navigation system sensors including inertial navigation systems, GNSS receivers, sun sensors

Personality

Orbex is a fast-moving company with a strong focus on quality. We are looking for colleagues who work hard, deliver reliably and put the team above themselves.

Typically you will be:-

• A creative, lateral thinker
• Detail- and quality-oriented
• Flexible, dedicated, trustworthy
• Adventurous and team-oriented
• Calm under pressure

Location

This role is based in Forres at Orbex’s UK engineering and manufacturing headquarters.

Orbex Forres is located at the foot of the Scottish Highlands, near Inverness. It's close to the spectacular coastline, wild beaches and amazing wildlife of the Moray Firth, as well as being a short distance from the world famous Loch Ness, and Aviemore ski resort.

If you enjoy adventurous outdoor pursuits in extraordinary natural environments, the coast and highlands around Forres offer an ideal location.

Mountaineering, rock climbing, abseiling, hiking, mountain biking, cycling, camping, sailing, surfing, motorbiking and skiing are all within easy reach of our main UK factory, and many members of our team participate in adventure sports in the vast, beautiful settings of Sutherland.

If you enjoy drone flying, wildlife or landscape photography, some of the most spectacular vistas in the world are directly at your doorstep.

Security

You must be a European citizen, from a country that is a signatory to the MTCR convention. You may be required to undergo security screening.