Flight Control Engineer – (Nova-C)

Flight Control Engineer – (Nova-C)

About Intuitive Machines

Intuitive Machines is an innovative and cutting-edge space company making cislunar space accessible to both public and private customers. Our mission is to further science and exploration, communications, and economic progress from the Earth to the Moon and beyond. With the first commercial lunar landing in history, multiple NASA lunar missions in development, and additional private missions on our manifest, we pride ourselves in supporting our customers and the nation in paving the way to return humans to the surface of the Moon. Our world-class team includes experts in all aspects of spacecraft subsystems design, development, and test, on-orbit operations, and safety.

About The Position

We are seeking a Flight Control Engineer with expertise in spacecraft control systems design to join our team. This position will support automated flight control system design, integration, and testing for spacecraft attitude control under costing flight and powered flight conditions.  The applicant will be located on-site in Houston, TX. The candidate will work in a cross-functional team on the design, development, manufacture, test, and on-orbit operation of flight and ground support hardware for the Nova-C lunar lander flight control system.  

Responsibilities:

• Design of flight control architecture for spacecraft attitude control under costing flight and powered flight conditions
• Mathematical modeling of dynamic control systems
• Definition of flight control system specifications and requirements and flight control requirements for sensors, actuators, and controllers
• Design and analysis of controllers using classical control system design approaches 
• Flight control analysis assessing vehicle performance and stability margins for an orbital spacecraft operating in a variety of mission phases
• Implementation and testing of onboard flight control software 
• Integration of flight algorithms and simulation models into software and hardware-in-the-loop simulation environments
• Perform hardware / software integration and testing on flight hardware systems
• Verify and validate flight control systems through testing in desktop simulation environment, systems integration labs, terrestrial spacecraft engine test, and spacecraft/system qualification and certification activities

Qualifications: (This role is open at a Senior level as well)

• MS or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering or related field with 5+ years of experience, with emphasis in the area of automatic feedback control systems is required
• Experience in design using both classical and modern control theory.
• Experience programming in C/C++.
• Experience and ability to assess gain/phase stability margins and associated tuning.
• Understanding of guidance, navigation, and control algorithms, coordinate systems and transformations
• Positive mental attitude with excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Willingness and desire to document and communicate technical solutions with team

Preferred Qualifications:

US EEO Statement

Intuitive Machines is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.