GNC/AOCS Engineer

At Indra Space Systems UK, we provide end-to-end solutions that help connect, observe and understand the world, enabling organisations to respond more effectively and protect what matters most. As part of a global leader in advanced technology and space systems, we are committed to delivering innovative capabilities across the space sector.

At Indra Space Systems UK, our values guide everything we do, from developing industry-leading technology to supporting our customers around the world.

Innovation - Our capacity for innovation, cutting-edge solutions, and specialised team of professionals enable us to drive a safer, more connected future through technology.

Trust - We work with strength, commitment, and reliability, delivering quality solutions to build trust with customers, employees, partners, investors, and society.

Connection - We harness the power of collaboration, connect ideas and solutions, and adapt to our customers' needs, supporting them on the path to a better future.

Foresight - We anticipate future needs to make the world safer and more connected, transforming our experience and knowledge into solutions for a better tomorrow.

As a GNC/AOCS Engineer within the Flight Systems Business Unit, your role will have particular emphasis is placed on technologies enabling autonomous rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), relative navigation, non-cooperative target tracking, inspection, capture, and controlled de-orbiting. The successful candidate will contribute to the development of innovative guidance, navigation, control, autonomy, and FDIR functions throughout the full engineering lifecycle, from mission analysis and system definition to implementation, verification, validation, and operational support.

The role offers the opportunity to support cutting-edge European space programmes in Active Debris Removal (ADR) and In-Orbit Servicing (IOS), contributing to the next generation of autonomous and sustainable space operations.

What you will do:

• Specification, design, implementation, verification, and validation of AOCS/GNC and FDIR algorithms for Earth observation, ADR/IOS, and other space missions.
• Development and implementation of model-based GNC/AOCS solutions.
• Design, implementation, and testing of mission simulators and dynamic system models.
• Specification, analysis, and trade-off of GNC/AOCS hardware solutions, including sensors and actuators.
• Support to system engineering activities, including requirements definition, interface management, and coordination with multidisciplinary teams.
• Verification and validation of GNC/AOCS solutions through analysis, simulation, and testing.
• Technical coordination and leadership of assigned activities

Requirements

Essential

• A recognised degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Electronic) or a related discipline such as Physics or Mathematics
• Minimum of four years' experience applying relevant engineering principles within the domains associated with the role (relevant MSc or PhD qualifications will also be considered)
• Knowledge of the control and simulation of dynamic systems
• Practical experience developing aeronautical or aerospace GNC/AOCS and FDIR solutions, with experience on ESA or other European programmes considered advantageous
• Ability to rapidly understand new concepts and apply them to complex engineering challenges
• Programming capability
• Experience using MATLAB and Simulink

Desirable

Postgraduate qualifications (MSc or PhD) or teaching experience in aeronautical or aerospace engineering, providing a strong foundation in at least two of the following areas:

o Orbital mechanics and atmospheric flight dynamics

o FDIR (Failure Detection, Isolation and Recovery) design, implementation and validation

o Classical and robust control techniques, including fixed-structure H∞ synthesis, μ-analysis and LPV control

o Flight operations

o Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)

• Experience supporting flight operations within ESA or other European aerospace programmes
• Experience in atmospheric flight applications
• Strong theoretical understanding of GNC/AOCS principles and methodologies
• Knowledge of multivariable robust control techniques
• Programming experience in Python and C

Benefits

• Pension
• Hybrid working - typically 3 days in the office
• 40 hours/week - Monday - Friday
• 36 days holiday (including bank holidays)