GN&C Lead for Space Systems

TriVector Services, Inc. provides quality aerospace engineering solutions to complex problems through a renowned team of engineering professionals. We are a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned, SBA-certified Small Business headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama. Our experienced team is dedicated to building lasting partnerships based on professional integrity and sound engineering principles. TriVector's Experience and exceptional Performance adds measurable Value to every project. TriVector Services, Inc., is seeking qualified candidates to fill our Guidance, Navigation and Control (GN&C) Lead for Space Systemsposition.

Description/Duties:

The Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) senior candidate will help lead the design, development, and oversight of the lunar Human Lander Systems (HLS) Program at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, as the Deputy GN&C POC to SpaceX. The role will focus on GN&C discussions with SpaceX's GN&C lead about all GN&C issues, such as orbit insertion; decent guidance/landing; controllability; rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking (RPOD); and manual steering. This exciting and critical work will be a significant part of sending humans to the Moon, Mars and beyond!

Detailed responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Act as a NASA GN&C POC and interface with HLS partners and cross-program organizations (Orion, Gateway and SLS).
• Work closely with partner and cross-program organizations to resolve open requirements, assist requirement maturation, understand a partner's design/test data, participate in tests, and lead Working Group meetings between partner and cross-program organizations.
• Develop, track, and communicate HLS GN&C risks, concerns, and watch items associated with partners.
• Develop, present, and execute the HLS GN&C insight plans and independent analyses conducted by the GN&C discipline, to inform the program of risks.
• Work with HLS mission leads to identify areas where elevated insight is needed.
• Lead HLS-GN&C insight meetings, NASA-only and with a partner.
• Provide regular status of HLS GN&C key insight activities to HLS and NASA leadership.
• Steward insight plan execution, including planning and analysis products and their fidelity.
• Support Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution cycles for the HLS GN&C discipline, which includes resources needed by the HLS GN&C discipline to accomplish the insight plans.
• Actively find NASA expert reviewers to assess key areas of partner risk. For example, if an HLS partner is developing a GN&C sensor, seek expertise across NASA to review the partner's development plans to assess adequacy before flight certification.
• Ensure HLS GN&C resources are utilized effectively to cover important insight tasks, including support from other NASA centers with key GN&C expertise.
• Work with potential university partnerships to enhance skills in Guidance and Control.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Candidate must be a U.S. citizen.
• A degree in Aerospace, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related field from an ABET accredited institution is required.
• Typical experience requirements are at least 20 years of experience with a Bachelor's degree; 18 years of experience with a Master's; or 16 years of experience with a PhD.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience performing modeling, simulation, and analysis of launch vehicles and/or spacecraft GN&C systems, with some experience in a leadership, coordination, or integration role.
• Proficiency in GN&C analysis tools and software (e.g., MATLAB, Simulink, STK, Python, etc.) and relevant spacecraft design and test methods.
• Ability to coordinate and lead cross-functional teams with various partners to align GN&C analysis activities with program goals and priorities.
• Experience with risk management and technical issue resolution related to GN&C systems, with the ability to guide teams through technical challenges.
• Experience with planning and resource allocation for GN&C tasks.
• In-depth understanding of spacecraft mission design and experience with system engineering principles, including requirements management, systems integration, testing, and verification, particularly in a GN&C context.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams).
• Excellent oral, written, interpersonal, customer relation skills, and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience modeling, simulating, designing, and analyzing sensors/actuators and algorithms in one or more of the following Flight Mechanics areas:
  • Navigation: sensor modeling (gyroscopes, accelerometers, inertial measurement units (IMUs), GPS, radar, and/or star trackers), kalman filters.
  • Guidance: linear terminal velocity constraints, powered explicit guidance, optimal guidance, powered/terminal descent, proportional navigation, Entry Descent and Landing (EDL).
  • Controls: control systems design (PID, Modern/state space, adaptive, etc.) using thrust vector control actuators (hydraulic and/or electromechanical), and/or Reaction Control Systems (thrusters) using phase plane control algorithms, or other feedback-controlled effectors; Stability and frequency domain analysis (Nichols, Bode, Nyquist, Root Locus, etc.) using parametric, Monte Carlo, and statistical techniques. Modeling of aerodynamics, rigid body, flex, slosh, pogo, and other dynamics impacting vehicle stability.
  • Dynamics / Trajectories / 3 DoF / 6 DoF / Mission design: work with coordinate frames, and transformations; deriving linear and nonlinear EOMs for multi-body dynamic systems; trajectory and orbital dynamics; liftoff, separation, rendezvous, and docking; path planning and optimization; aborts; and range safety.
• Familiarity with Artemis mission concepts of operations and SpaceX launch, landing, and space vehicles' processes in the GN&C discipline.
• Ability to manage resources, collaboration, and technical interfaces with various disciplines and/or projects, contractors, and industry partners to ensure effective use of expertise to support program goals.
• Proven ability to identify, engage, and coordinate GN&C experts to provide insight and assessments of critical development activities, including qualification and certification processes is desired.
• Familiarity with NASA's spaceflight certification processes and experience working with certification and test data to ensure flight readiness is preferred.
• Experience with university partnerships to enhance GN&C innovation and research within the space community is preferred.
• Certifications in project management, such as PMP (Project Management Professional) is desired.

Why employees love working for TriVector:

At TriVector, we are committed to creating a company that is known for its respect and care for employees. We understand that happy employees are what keeps our business going and we strive to provide the best opportunities for each individual working on our team! Here are a few reasons you will love being a part of the family:

• Multiple medical insurance options with affordable premiums
• Company paid life insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Education reimbursement program
• Vacation & Holiday leave
• 401K matching
• Employee referral incentive program
• Company Events monthly

Disability Accommodation for Applicants - TriVector Services, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in its job application procedures. If you have any difficulty using our online system and you need an accommodation due to a disability, or any other reason, please call us at (256) 898-3430 for assistance.