GNC Engineer, ADCS

About the role

Lynk is pioneering a new era in connectivity by inventing satellite direct to standard phone technology, a capability the company holds the world's only commercial license for from the FCC to operate. As a GNC Engineer, you will own the core architecture and evolution of satellite attitude determination and control systems that make sat2phone service possible. You will translate high-level mission requirements into precise ADCS designs, algorithms, and flight software that ensure satellites maintain the correct orientation for reliable communication with unmodified mobile devices. Your analysis will directly influence the performance, reliability, and operational success of the constellation as it scales globally. You will work at the intersection of mechanical, electrical, and software engineering to solve complex problems in a fast-paced environment. Your contributions will be instrumental in enabling billions of people currently out of reach of traditional cellular networks to connect using the phone in their pocket. By shaping these critical space systems, you are helping to deliver a transformative communication service that spans every continent on Earth.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Continuously evolve Lynk's satellite ADCS architecture, defining the components and systems responsible for both relative and absolute attitude measurements.
• Refine the Concept of Operations for the satellite attitude determination and control system and its associated ground systems to ensure clarity and operational efficiency.
• Interface directly with the Systems Engineering team to inform constellation and network architecture and design decisions based on satellite attitude determination and control system performance data.
• Support the development and maintenance of the 6 DOF simulation used to evaluate and validate attitude determination and control system behavior under various scenarios.
• Perform detailed analyses to determine satellite ADCS component performance requirements, including sizing, accuracy, sensor noise characteristics, reliability, redundancy, and fault management strategies.
• Specify, evaluate, and select satellite attitude determination sensors, including rate sensors, magnetometers, sun sensors, horizon sensors, thermal sensors, and star trackers.
• Specify, evaluate, and select satellite attitude determination effectors, such as magnetorquers, reaction wheels, gravity gradient booms, and propulsive components where applicable.
• Determine the optimal types, numbers, and physical placement of attitude determination sensors and effectors to meet mission objectives and constraints.
• Design and implement algorithms and software to support diverse pointing modes and attitude control scenarios required for reliable sat2phone operations.
• Evolve the Concept of Operations for both ground and space system operations needed to support satellite attitude determination and control throughout the mission lifecycle.
• Perform integration and test activities for satellite ADCS components and software, ensuring proper functionality in laboratory and simulated space environments.
• Design and plan payload testing configurations on the ground to evaluate satellite attitude determination and control system performance during in-lab and on-orbit testing phases.
• Support satellite integration, testing, and delivery activities to launch providers, ensuring ADCS elements are ready for flight.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive technical documentation for satellite ADCS architecture definition, design decisions, and development processes.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor's degree or higher in physics, engineering, or a closely related technical field.
• Bring a minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience with satellite attitude determination and/or control systems.
• Demonstrate recent, active participation in projects involving the development of space hardware and software, with a focus on satellite attitude determination and/or control.
• Possess in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with satellite attitude determination and control system components, including IMUs, magnetometers, star trackers, reaction wheels, and magnetic torque rods.
• Show programming proficiency in one or more modern programming languages, such as Rust, C, Python, or MATLAB, to develop algorithms and flight software.
• Demonstrate proficiency with Linux based systems and at least one systems level programming language such as C, C++, or Rust.
• Exhibit a solid understanding of version control practices and tools, specifically Git, for managing code and design artifacts.
• Must be capable of working effectively both independently on complex technical tasks and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Be eligible for employment in the United States and able to meet the requirements of the U.S. Government ITAR regulations as outlined below.

Nice to have

• Hold a Master's degree or higher in physics, engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Bring in-depth knowledge of satellite propulsion systems, propulsion system CONOPS, orbit dynamics, and low-thrust trajectory planning.
• Have hands-on experience with programming microcontrollers to implement real-time control logic.

Practical notes

Applicants must be able to work from the Chantilly, VA location and must meet all ITAR requirements to be eligible for employment.

To comply with U.S. Government export control regulations (ITAR), applicants must be one of the following:

• a U.S. citizen,
• a dual-citizen of the U.S., or
• a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder) who is applying for U.S. citizenship and is a citizen of a country with a valid Level 1 agreement with the U.S. for defense articles or defense services.

All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of background checks.

Lynk is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.