Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) Algorithms Engineer (Spacecraft)

Location: Oxfordshire, UK, Didcot (Hybrid); hirify.global UK, Harwell

Company

hirify.global develops on-orbit servicing and active space-debris removal solutions for secure and sustainable orbital operations.

What you will do

• Design, implement, test, validate, and deploy GNC algorithms for spacecraft missions.
• Build and maintain high-fidelity simulations covering spacecraft hardware, orbital dynamics, and attitude dynamics.
• Contribute to GNC flight-software design, testing, integration, and deployment on satellite platforms.
• Support hardware trade-off analyses, especially for rendezvous and proximity operations technologies.
• Define and execute GNC verification and validation strategies, test plans, and subsystem procedures.
• Collaborate with Systems, Computer Vision, Flight Dynamics, and other engineering disciplines on mission and system development.

Requirements

• Degree in Aerospace Engineering or another relevant engineering or science discipline.
• At least 2 years of industrial experience developing and deploying GNC algorithms.
• Practical space-industry experience with navigation filters, guidance strategies, spacecraft control, high-fidelity simulation, sensor and actuator modelling, and orbital or attitude dynamics.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink, Python, Git, software configuration management, and collaborative software development.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, communication, and self-management skills.
• Must already have an independent right to work in the UK without sponsorship; eligible to gain or currently holding UK SC security clearance is required.

Nice to have

• Experience with rendezvous and pose-estimation sensors, relative dynamics, GNC hardware testing, or on-orbit satellite operations.
• Automatic code generation for GNC or flight software deployment.
• Software development in C/C++, automated testing, continuous integration, or software quality assurance.
• Knowledge of robotics dynamics, kinematics, and control.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid working and flexible hours around core working times.
• Optional 9/75 working pattern.
• 25 days of holiday, increasing yearly to a maximum of 28 days, plus 8 Bank Holidays.
• Life insurance, long-term sick pay, and private healthcare.
• Relocation allowance and visa sponsorship for employees may be considered.
• Access to a modern office and cleanroom facility, with regular social events.