Samara Aerospace

Spacecraft Control Systems Engineer

San Francisco · Exec

Sponsorship not specifiedDetected 22 hours ago

PythonC++MATLABAlgorithmsSystems EngineeringSensorsControlsResearchActuators

About the role

At the core of our technology is the patented Multifunctional Structures for Attitude Control (MSAC) system.
Unlike traditional wheel-based pointing control systems, MSAC utilizes actuators embedded in the hinges of deployable solar panels to provide 3-axis attitude control and active jitter cancellation.
This role will work closely with the CTO (who invented MSAC) and the embedded GNC engineer to characterize, simulate, and iterate on a novel spacecraft attitude control and noise cancellation system.

Responsibilities

Develop a high fidelity simulation of the spacecraft plant in MuJoCo
Perform system identification and develop algorithms to automate the process on-orbit
Design feed-forward/back control for a synchronized multi-joint actuator system to perform momentum control, taking into account structural resonance for a vibrating actuator system
Design Active Noise Cancellation loops for platform jitter suppression, ensuring that it can coexist with momentum control

Requirements

BS and 5+ years experience and/or MS and 3+ years experience and/or PhD
3+ years of experience building control systems
Experience with state estimation and sensor fusion (e.g. Kalman filtering)
Strong experience with scientific computing in Python/Matlab/etc.
Experience designing feedback control for flexible, lightly damped, or resonant plants

Nice to have

Experience working with MuJoCo
Experience with embedded C or C++
Experience with Active Noise Cancellation in audio
Spacecraft attitude dynamics (attitude representations, momentum management)
Hands-on experience with system identification from measured data
Be a key player in a groundbreaking aerospace startup

Company info

Samara Aerospace is revolutionizing satellite design by addressing the challenges of deploying and managing large satellite constellations. Our innovative Hummingbird spacecraft bus offers a modular and scalable platform that streamlines satellite production and deployment, significantly reducing launch costs. Hummingbird's compact architecture maximizes launch capacity, making it the most efficient and agile spacecraft in the industry. At the core of our technology is the patented Multifunctional Structures for Attitude Control (MSAC) system. Unlike traditional wheel-based pointing control systems, MSAC utilizes actuators embedded in the hinges of deployable solar panels to provide 3-axis attitude control and active jitter cancellation. This design eliminates the need for spinning wheels, reducing mass and potential points of failure, while enhancing pointing precision.
The Engineering team at Samara is looking for a Controls System Engineer to join us in building a next-generation attitude control system for satellites. We are looking for someone who is curious, kind, and has high standards. This person will help develop the control that operates our first flight vehicle: Hummingbird. This role will work closely with the CTO (who invented MSAC) and the embedded GNC engineer to characterize, simulate, and iterate on a novel spacecraft attitude control and noise cancellation system. Expect to go deep, collectively be wrong often, iterate, learn a lot, and to work alongside a team who is passionate about building something truly new.
If you have a background in satellite attitude control, reaction wheel or control moment gyro design, multi-joint robotic trajectories, or audio control/noise cancellation, please apply! If you do not meet all of the below criteria, we encourage you to apply anyway. We are more interested in folks who are collaborative with high standards, a learning mindset, and most of the skills than in a perfect technology match.
Samara Aerospace is revolutionizing satellite design by addressing the challenges of deploying and managing large satellite constellations.
Our innovative Hummingbird spacecraft bus offers a modular and scalable platform that streamlines satellite production and deployment, significantly reducing launch costs.
Hummingbird's compact architecture maximizes launch capacity, making it the most efficient and agile spacecraft in the industry.
This design eliminates the need for spinning wheels, reducing mass and potential points of failure, while enhancing pointing precision.
The Engineering team at Samara is looking for a Controls System Engineer to join us in building a next-generation attitude control system for satellites.
We are looking for someone who is curious, kind, and has high standards.
This person will help develop the control that operates our first flight vehicle: Hummingbird.
Expect to go deep, collectively be wrong often, iterate, learn a lot, and to work alongside a team who is passionate about building something truly new.
If you have a background in satellite attitude control, reaction wheel or control moment gyro design, multi-joint robotic trajectories, or audio control/noise cancellation, please apply!
If you do not meet all of the below criteria, we encourage you to apply anyway.
We are more interested in folks who are collaborative with high standards, a learning mindset, and most of the skills than in a perfect technology match.

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