Senior GNC Engineer – Algorithms and Simulation
Location: Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK (Hybrid)
Department: Algorithms
Employment Type: Full-time
Experience Level: Mid-level
Salary: £60,000 – £94,000 per annum (Band C1, depending on experience)
Overview
Founded in 2013, Astroscale is the global leader in on-orbit servicing, dedicated to the secure and sustainable development of space. Our pioneering missions, including ELSA-d and ADRAS-J, have demonstrated advanced rendezvous and proximity operations, positioning us at the forefront of the circular space economy.
We are proud to collaborate with organisations such as ESA, JAXA, UK Space Agency, US Space Force, and Eutelsat OneWeb, driving innovations that make space safer for future generations.
The Role
Astroscale is seeking a Senior GNC Engineer to join our Algorithms team. You will help design, test, and validate the complex Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) subsystems that enable our spacecraft to rendezvous, dock, and operate safely with uncontrolled space objects.
This is a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge space technology, expand your expertise, and make a direct impact on orbital sustainability.
Responsibilities
- Contribute to GNC algorithm development (Rendezvous & Proximity Operations).
- Analyse, design, implement, and validate navigation and control algorithms.
- Support development of GNC software architecture.
- Design simulator models and functionalities.
- Conduct research into state-of-the-art GNC designs.
- Ensure configuration control of GNC algorithms.
- Contribute to QA processes and hardware/software integration.
Essential Skills
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field.
- Experience with MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C/C++.
- Proven GNC algorithm design experience (navigation filters, guidance strategies, controllers).
- Experience in fault-tolerant GNC systems.
- Knowledge of Systems Engineering.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
Desirable Skills
- Knowledge of rendezvous and pose estimation sensors.
- Experience in GNC hardware AIV (Assembly, Integration, Verification).
- Familiarity with active debris removal or RPO missions (e.g. RemoveDebris, CleanSpace, ESA/DEOS, DARPA).
Benefits
- Competitive salary
- Flexible and hybrid working options
- 25 days holiday (rising to 28) + bank holidays
- Private healthcare (taxable benefit)
- Life insurance & long-term sick pay
- Relocation allowance & visa sponsorship available
- 9/75 working pattern option
- Modern office and cleanroom facility
- Regular social events
Location
Astroscale UK (Harwell, Oxfordshire), with occasional travel to Tokyo, Japan.
Apply Now
Join us in shaping a sustainable future in space.
Apply here via Astroscale Careers
