Director, GNC

Capella Space stands at the forefront of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite technology and signal intelligence. We provide customers in governments, academia, and commercial sectors with reliable information that enables unparalleled understanding of the world. Our mission is centered on delivering timely and reliable Earth imagery, supporting diverse applications in defense & intelligence, disaster response, energy, environmental monitoring and more. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, Capella Space designs, manufactures and operates an advanced constellation of SAR imaging satellites. Our market-leading SAR satellites are complemented by an unmatched data infrastructure and automated ordering and delivery platform for fast, reliable insights where and when customers need it most. 

Recognized for our technological prowess, Capella Space was honored as one of the 10 most innovative companies in Space in 2023 by FASTCOMPANY. Capella Space is an internationally trusted Earth Observation data provider, working closely with the U.S. Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force, NASA, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, the Canadian Government and more to make unclassified, high-resolution SAR data more accessible.  

What Makes Capella Unique? 

Capella Space is a highly collaborative team environment, providing an opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the space industry, though no prior space experience is needed.  We’re looking for people excited about tackling seemingly impossible challenges, learning new skills and concepts, and helping each other achieve success. Our mission and our products are meant to understand the whole world and help everyone in it - regardless of race, creed, or any other distinction. We encourage you to bring your unique perspective to help make us stronger, including applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in tech. 

About the Role & Team

We are looking for an experienced technical Director for our Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) team consisting of Flight Dynamics, Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS) and Propulsion Systems. In this role you will lead a small team of highly specialized engineers who collectively are responsible for all aspects related to pointing knowledge and control algorithms, ADCS and propulsion hardware sizing and selection, maneuvering & orbit control, formation flying, orbit determination, orbit propagation, collision avoidance, lifetime analysis and de-orbit of a constellation of satellites.

As Director of GNC, you will act as the technical leader in this domain at Capella. You will be mentor and people manager while providing technical expertise and contributions to various projects within the company. You will guide the team through technical challenges, help develop the team’s skills and enable growth of the team – taking on new challenges (such as formation flying & autonomous control) as the company evolves and our opportunities diversify. You will lead the development of a technology roadmap related to this domain in collaboration with senior company leaders and in-line with company strategic objectives and projects.

As a leader in your field you will represent the company’s expertise related to GNC in front of customers and partners, in public settings (such as conferences) as appropriate, and in proposals.

Role Responsibilities

• Lead the growing Capella GNC team.
• Manage and mentor engineers on the team.
• Provide technical expertise related to GNC within the team and on projects throughout the company.
• Perform resource allocation across company projects
• Define and provide accountability for short-term (quarterly) and long-term (annual) team goals that support company objectives
• Collaborate with and support adjacent teams with operationalizing GNC & Flight Dynamics systems & CONOPS. Support and define on-call support rotation for spacecraft operations.
• Design and implement orbit determination, orbit propagation, and automated thrust maneuvering in an operational system
• Design and implement state estimators and control algorithms for the localization and pointing of radar-imaging spacecraft 
• Support trade studies and concept development for future missions through constellation design, defining system performance requirements to satisfy high level mission objectives, and conducting hardware system sizing, design, and vendor selection
• Manage ADCS and Propulsion vendors and stay up to date on market offerings
• Define & implement the technology roadmap related to GNC in collaboration with senior leaders and in-line with the company strategic objectives.
• Coordinate and/or manage portfolio of development projects in collaboration with the company Program Management Office (PMO).

Qualifications

• 15+ Years in the field of GNC/ADCS/Flight Dynamics on complex space programs.
• Strong working knowledge of orbital mechanics, space system control systems, and the space environment.
• Hands-on, project level experience, in at least one of the following areas: formation flying, repeat orbit acquisition, precision orbit maneuvering.
• Working knowledge of common software tools and languages such as Python and C/C++
• Proven ability to lead a diverse team through complex projects.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with high degree of uncertainty.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability managing conflicting priorities, approaches, ideas, and requirements.
• Willingness to travel to Capella SF and CO offices as needed.
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Capella Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

Compensation 

The annual salary range for this role as it is posted is $176,656 - $234,069. The final job level and annual salary will be determined based on the education, qualification, knowledge, skills, ability, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location and calibrated against relevant market data and internal team equity.  Benefits listed in this posting may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Capella Space.    

Benefits/Perks 

In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation: 

• We offer up to 100% paid medical coverage, with robust vision and dental plans, comprehensive flexible spending accounts, and supplemental health plans 
• Equity 
• 401K Plan to invest in your long-term retirement planning 
• Generous Parental Leave 
• Flexible Paid Time Off Policy 
• Commuter & Parking Benefits 
• Mental Health Resources 
• Monthly phone stipend 
• Daily provided lunches and stocked kitchens.  
• Furry friends? We’ve got you covered with dog-friendly work environment & them with pet insurance options 

Equal Opportunity Statement 

Capella Space is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you need assistance or require an accommodation during the job application process, please notify recruiting@capellaspace.com 

To learn more about us, explore our site: https://www.capellaspace.com/  and follow us on X and LinkedIn to see our SAR imagery!