GNC Senior Engineer-Lander

Here at The Exploration Company, we are building spacecraft for humanity.

We want you as a talented Senior Guidance Navigation & Control Engineer to contribute to our lander GNC design in the frame of our future systems. You will work on all aspects of the GNC life cycle: mission and vehicle conceptual design, requirement engineering, preliminary design and sizing, modelling and simulation, incl. model validation, detailed algorithm design and software implementation, HiL and flight test, parameter characterization/estimation as well as verification and validation.

Key Responsibilities

In your capacity as Lander GNC Senior Engineer your role will continuously evolve, but initially your day-to-day duties will include:

• Requirements engineering

• Preliminary design and sizing

• Modelling and simulation, incl. model validation

• Detailed algorithm / control law design and software implementation

• Hardware integration (flight computers, sensors)

• Support to HiL and flight tests

• Parameter characterization/estimation

• Verification and validation

• Managing / maintaining the technical baselines to ensure that the design answers the needs of the respective project and the top-level functional definitions

• Collaborating with other teams (e.g. Avionics, GNC, Propulsion, HiL, EGSE, ground control) to ensure seamless integration of the software into the test framework

• Ensure the delivery on time, on quality and on cost of the work packages in your responsibility

What we would love to see from you

In the role as Lander GNC Senior Engineer ideally, you will have the following:

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering or related field.

• 5+ years of experience in developing primary flight control systems

• Hands-on experience with rocket-engine powered lander vehicles (e.g. planetary landers, reusable launcher)

• Deep knowledge and hands-on experience in algorithm / control law design, sensor data fusion as well as modelling and simulation

• Strong understanding of entire control system chain: sensors and sensor data fusion, onboard computing, control algorithms, actuators

• Proficiency in C++ and Python

• Experience in HiL test as well as verification and validation

• Experience in parameter characterization/estimation

• Excellent problem-solving skills, ability to work a fast-paced, collaborative environment as well as strong communication skills to convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences

• Independent, autonomous, proactive way of working and ability to take end-to-end ownership of development, integration and test activities

• Fluent in English

Nice to have

• Master’s degree or higher in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering or related field.

• Experience in slosh dynamics

• Guidance and real-time trajectory optimization

• Vision-based navigation

• Hands-on experience with low-level embedded software frameworks, ideally with NASA cFS framework

Why you should join us!

What makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:

• We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind 

• We’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them

• We have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge?

We'd love to hear from you if you wish to be a part of our journey. Please submit your CV now for immediate consideration and we will be in touch shortly.


The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable.