Spacecraft Orbiter Guidance, Navigation, and Control System Engineer

TL;DR

Spacecraft Orbiter Guidance, Navigation, and Control System Engineer: Lead end-to-end development of lunar lander’s orbiter GNC subsystem—including design, verification, and operations—with an accent on requirements management, algorithm integrity, and interface coordination. Focus on GNC analysis such as guidance law design, navigation filters, attitude dynamics, and comprehensive system-level testing including fault simulations.

Location: Tokyo, Japan – Hybrid (JP Engineering Office)

Company

Lunar exploration company developing spacecraft orbiter systems for Moon missions.

What you will do

• Oversee end-to-end orbiter GNC subsystem development from design to operations.
• Perform GNC analyses including guidance/control laws, thruster duty, DV, attitude dynamics, navigation filters, and sensor evaluations using control tools and software.
• Design robust GNC systems using FMECA and MCFMA methodologies.
• Plan and execute verification/validation from component to system-level tests (SCLT, DOLT, DCLT) with nominal/off-nominal/fault simulations.
• Define GNC requirements, specifications, and interfaces coordinating with propulsion, structures, thermal, avionics, FSW, and operations teams.
• Support component selection/verification (Sun sensors, IMUs, star trackers, propulsion) and GNC FSW troubleshooting.
• Document GNC technical specifications and relations with other subsystems.

Requirements

• Business level English communication skills required
• 5+ years developing GNC subsystems including algorithms and sensors
• 5+ years spacecraft systems engineering including failure mode analysis
• Good understanding of C/C++, Python, and software functionalities
• Experience with Git and closed-loop frameworks (MIL, SIL, PIL, HIL) developing sensor/actuator models (Sun sensors, IMUs, star trackers, propulsion)
• Hands-on experience with spacecraft system-level testing (SCLT, DOLT, DCLT)
• Strong initiative, continuous improvement mindset, team player, excellent communication

Nice to have

• 10+ years GNC subsystems and space industry systems engineering experience
• Spacecraft operations experience
• MATLAB/Simulink experience
• Software integration across C/C++, Python, Matlab
• Real-time FSW implementations
• Business level Japanese communication skills