GNC Systems Engineer

Are you looking for a new opportunity to take your career to a higher orbit🪐? To join an international group with a successful track record in Space Engineering? A job adapted to your career ambitions and in which you could have an impact for the years to come?

On behalf of ESA, we are looking for a GNC Systems Engineer to work at ESTEC’s premises in Noordwijk, Netherlands.

📍 About the client and location

The European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) is the European Space Agency’s (ESA) base in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. As ESA’s largest test centre, it is responsible for the majority of space technology and spacecraft development through varying phases of production.

💼 Tasks and activities

The scope of work will include:

• Support definition of GNC requirements and contribute to the elaboration of System/Mission Requirements related the GNC domain.
• Conduct analyses and trade-offs for GNC systems, software, and hardware units.
• Support monitoring the verification and validation process of GNC systems throughout all project phases.
• Support provision of expertise in the GNC discipline to the AIT/AIV processes and to in-flight activities (e.g. LEOP, commissioning, in-flight anomaly investigations).
• Support the definition, analysis, and verification of GNC-level and system-level Fault Detection Isolation and Recovery (FDIR).
• Support the definition, initiation, and execution of GNC Systems R&D activities, including: mission-enabling concepts, simulation modelling, model-based engineering, machine learning applications, advanced guidance, control, navigation and optimization techniques.
• Support ongoing projects in the design, implementation, prototyping, testing, debugging, and validation of new GNC systems, functions/algorithms, and sensors using facility resources.
• Conduct integration, functional, and performance testing of relevant hardware and software in the facility.
• Support the dissemination of the results of the GNC Systems activities performed and the transfer of knowledge across the Agency.
• Support GNC performance analyses, budgeting, and monitoring of industrial development activities.

🔍 Skills and experience

The following skills and experience are mandatory:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in adequate fields, such as Control, Aerospace and/or Electrical Engineering.
• At least 4 years of experience in the design, tuning, analysis and simulation of GNC systems in different project phases.
• Proficiency in simulation and model-based design tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, Simulink Real-Time, or equivalent.
• Exposure to verification and validation (V&V) of complex systems, including performance analysis and monitoring of industrial development activities.
• Knowledge of rapid-prototyping of hardware-in-the-loop systems.
• Understanding of report-writing skills for R&D and verification tasks.
• Desire to work both autonomously and as part of a team, in an international multicultural environment.
• Solution oriented mindset, with a customer focused communication skill.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

The following skills and experience are highly desirable:

• Experience providing technical expertise during AIT/AIV processes and in-flight operations, including anomaly investigations (e.g., LEOP, commissioning).
• Proven exposure to with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools (Capella).
• Familiarity with performance budgeting and closed-loop performance analysis.
• Knowledge of machine learning applications for GNC systems.

📝 Why should you apply?

• You will have the opportunity to work within leading space organisations across Europe.
• We encourage everyone to think outside the box and to push the boundaries of traditional knowledge. This role is an opportunity to join a forward-thinking company and allows for a deeper understanding of the industry.
• To be part of a company that values integrity, inspiration, care and collaboration.
• Benefits include: competitive remuneration packages; unique career opportunities, including working in other countries; access to training and development programmes; flexible relocation support.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, all genders, LGBTQ+ individuals and ex-service personnel.

✨ About Starion ✨

Starion is one of two new legal entities rebranded from the RHEA Group, focused on space consultancy and space engineering services and solutions. Starion provides engineering expertise and solutions for space, defence and other critical infrastructures across Europe, pushing the boundaries of innovation. Our teams work on world-leading space projects that deliver the pioneering missions that provide us with the information and technologies we use today.

Starion offers over three decades of expertise in professional engineering services, developing and operating systems and solutions tailored to our clients’ needs. By combining space and system engineering with established and emerging technologies, such as AI and quantum, we produce innovative solutions that make a fundamental difference for our clients and for society.

Starion employees are located across Europe, close to our clients’ offices, enabling us to be responsive and agile. Our engineers and researchers are among the most trusted and respected in the industry, helping build space-based solutions that address major challenges on Earth such as civil security, climate change and deforestation.