PhD Position in Spacecraft GNC Engineering

Location: Friedrichshafen, Germany; work at the Airbus site. Full-time, 3-year PhD position starting 01.11.2026.

Company

hirify.global develops spacecraft attitude and orbit control, guidance, navigation, control, and flight dynamics systems for science, Earth observation, telecommunications, navigation missions, and constellations.

What you will do

• Develop integrated navigation and sensor-fusion solutions for spacecraft rendezvous and proximity operations.
• Design estimation frameworks using Extended or Unscented Kalman Filters and optimization-based methods.
• Integrate optical cameras, LiDAR, IMUs, and auxiliary sensors into robust fusion architectures.
• Build mathematical models, theoretical derivations, software simulations, and algorithm prototypes.
• Validate algorithms experimentally and implement them in hardware-in-the-loop testbeds.
• Collaborate with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and contribute to project milestones for future space missions.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in aerospace engineering, robotics, control engineering or cybernetics, electrical engineering, applied mathematics, or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of Guidance, Navigation and Control, estimation theory, stochastic processes, state estimation, and 3D geometry or kinematics.
• Programming proficiency with MATLAB and Simulink.
• Ability to translate mathematical concepts into robust, deployable code.
• English is mandatory in written and spoken communication.
• PhD research focus on autonomous space systems, advanced navigation, and multi-sensor fusion.

Nice to have

• Experience with computer vision or SLAM.
• Exposure to flight software development or hardware testbed environments.
• German language skills.

Culture & Benefits

• 35-hour work week with flexitime and a focus on work-life balance.
• International environment with opportunities to build a global professional network.
• Access to advanced laboratories, high-performance computing, and specialized hardware testbeds.
• Professional mentorship from experienced GNC experts in an R&D environment.
• Opportunity to participate in the Generation Airbus Community and corporate sports groups.

Hiring process

• Submit a cover letter, CV, relevant transcripts, and enrollment certificate.