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Spacecraft Descent Guidance, Navigation, and Control System Engineer at ispace, inc. – Tokyo

ispace, inc.
Tokyo, Japan
Posted on
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About This Position

Spacecraft Descent Guidance, Navigation, and Control System Engineer

ispace is looking for Spacecraft Descent Guidance, Navigation, and Control System Engineer to join our growing team in Tokyo.
You will lead the end-to-end development of the lunar lander’s landing system—including design, verification, and operations—from the perspective of the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) subsystem.

Define requirements for the GNC subsystem, including sensors, software and other hardware components, and manage technical coordination and interface alignment with other subsystems.

Manage the integrity and performance of GNC algorithms in the FSW development and deliverables. Support mission operations and preparation activities.
GNC
FSWGNC
Ideal candidate profile:

The ideal candidate has over 5 years of experience in GNC subsystem development, including algorithm design, sensor modelling, and performance evaluation, as well as spacecraft systems engineering with failure mode analysis. The candidate is proficient in C/C++, Python, Git, and understands modern software development practices.

The candidate has handson experience with closedloop test frameworks (MIL/SIL/PIL/HIL), developing models and interfaces for IMUs, star trackers, LiDARs, cameras, and propulsion systems, along with direct involvement in systemlevel spacecraft testing (SCLT, DOLT, DCLT). Proven capability in visionbased navigation system development is essential.

The candidate is proactive, collaborative, communicates effectively, and operates confidently in businesslevel English.

Key responsibilities
(1) Oversee the entire lunar lander landing system, supporting end-to-end development—design, verification, and operations — from the perspective of the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) subsystem.

(2) Design the Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) GNC functions and perform GNC-related analyses (such as guidance law design and analysis, control law design and performance analysis, thruster duty analysis, DV analysis, attitude dynamics analysis, sloshing and flexible dynamics, navigation filter design, covariance analysis, various GNC sensor evaluation, etc) by using control engineering tools and in-house developed software.

(3) Plan, implement, and execute comprehensive verification and validation (V&V) activities for the landing system, spanning from component-level (GNC sensors) to system-level tests (SCLT, DOLT, DCLT).

(4) Design frameworks for the GNC FMECA (Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis) and MCFMA (Mission Critical Fault and Mitigation Analysis) methodologies and execute fault scenarios for validating landing operations robustness.

(5) Develop a deep understanding of GNC subsystem requirements, design, constraints, and operations — including vision-based navigation — and manage technical coordination and interfaces alignment with systems engineering and other subsystems (propulsion, structures, thermal, avionics, flight software, mission planning, and operations).

(6) Define landing GNC flight software/algorithm requirement specifications

(7) Define landing GNC unit specifications as flow-down of the GNC system requirements and design specifications.

(8) Support lander system design with providing GNC feasibility studies and design inputs for the key system design trade-offs such as actuator and sensor configuration and selection, component layout, controllability, delta V, RCS budget, etc.

(9) Support the selection, verification, and operational readiness of key orbiter system components — such as IMUs, star trackers, LiDARs, cameras and propulsion — from both technical and theoretical perspectives.

(10) Design and support troubleshooting activities of GNC FSW algorithms and components and propose solutions to mitigate errors and misbehaviors in the GNC subsystem.

(11) Document the technical specifications of the GNC subsystem with a deep understanding of the functions and relations with other subsystems.
(1) GNC

(2) DVGNC

(3) GNCSCLT, DOLT, DCLT

(4) FMECAFaulure Mode, Effects, and Criticality AnalysisMCFMAMission Critical Fault and Mitigation AnalysisGNC

(5) GNC

(6) GNC

(7) GNCGNC

(8) VRCSGNC

(9) IMULiDAR/

(10) GNC FSWGNC

(11) GNC
Basic Qualifications
5+ years of experience in developing Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) subsystems, including algorithms and sensors (modelling and performance evaluation)

5+ years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering (including Failure mode analysis)

Good understanding of software development process and usage of languages like C/C++, Python, as well as software control systems like Git.

Experience in closed-loop frameworks (MIL, SIL, PIL, HIL, etc.) with proven experience in developing sensor/actuators models and interfaces such as IMUs, star trackers, LiDARs, cameras and propulsion systems

Hands-on experience with system-level testing for spacecraft (SCLT, DOLT, DCLT)

Proven experience in vision-based navigation system development

Strong sense of initiative, continuous improvement mindset, and ability to work effectively as a team player

Excellent communication skills, Business level English communication skill
5

5

C/C++PythonGit

MILSILPILHILIMULiDAR/

SCLT, DOLT, DCLT




Preferred qualifications
10+ years of experience in developing Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) subsystems, including algorithms and sensors (modelling and performance evaluation)

10+ years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering

Proven experience in developing sensors such as laser range finders, LiDAR, and cameras

Experience of software integration with different programming languages, C/C++, Python, Matlab, etc.

Experience in real time FSW implementations

Experience of MATLAB/Simulink

Business level Japanese communication skill
10

10

LiDAR,

MATLAB/Simulink

C/C++PythonMatlab

FSW

Others
Support development studies of space vehicles for future missions
#LI-Hybrid

Job Location

Tokyo, Japan

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