The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory

Software Guidance Navigation & Control Engineer for Space Applications

Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field required; Master's or PhD preferred.
  • 3-5 years of experience in Software Engineering or related roles, particularly in GN&C.
  • Strong background in control systems theory and state estimation with filtering techniques.
  • Familiarity with MATLAB, Simulink, Python, C/C++ and modern software development standards.
  • Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

  • Evaluate requirements and propose solutions for complex designs.
  • Design and implement algorithms using cutting-edge theory and proven techniques.
  • Develop embedded software based on prototype algorithms for advanced applications.
  • Analyze performance and functionality of designs through rigorous testing.
  • Prepare comprehensive technical documentation, including reports and manuals.
  • Communicate effectively with stakeholders to define requirements and deliverables.
  • Track project priorities, scope, schedules, and costs to ensure project milestones are met.

Benefits

  • Promotes work-life balance with flexible workplace options.
  • Offers employee clubs and social events to foster community.
  • Provides health and financial workshops for personal development.
  • Access to discounts for local cultural activities and museums.
Full Job Description
Job Description Summary:
The Software Guidance Navigation and Control Engineer 2 develops software for cutting-edge space and defense systems used by the US Government and commercial customers as well as internal R&D projects. A Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) Engineer develops, integrates, and deploys advanced GN&C algorithms and software for systems able to operate in complex environments such as underwater, ground, air, and space..

Job Description:

Duties/Responsibilities
• Evaluates requirements, proposes solutions, explores design trades to support a design.
• Designs algorithms using modern theory and proven techniques.
• Develops embedded software based on prototype algorithms.
• Analyzes designs to demonstrate performance and functionality.
• Develops and executes software tests to check compliance with requirements.
• Evaluates results to establish problem causes and develop solutions for inefficient or problems.
• Prepares technical data, procedures, reports, drawings, manuals, and other required documentation.
• Communicates with customers and stakeholders to establish requirements and describe the design and deliverables.
• Contributes content for technical reports and presentations with appropriate guidance.
• Participates in tag-ups and informal meetings with group leads and colleagues.
• Derives task-level or component-level requirements from system requirements.
• Independently contributes high quality content for technical reports and presentations which shows an understanding of their task and an awareness of the intended audience.
• Tracks priorities, scope, schedule, and cost.
• Independently contributes high quality content for technical reports and presentations which shows an understanding of their task and an awareness of the intended audience.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills/Abilities
• Proficient in MATLAB, Simulink, Python, C/C++ or other related tools.
• Proficient in basic software development standards.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Foundational knowledge of autonomy, guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) technology.
• Knowledge of real-time software development tools.
• Knowledge of project execution, designing, developing, and validating real-time algorithms and software.
• Strong background in control systems theory.
• Contributes content for technical reports and presentations with appropriate guidance.
• Written and verbal communication is clear and concise.
• Participates in tag-ups and informal meetings with group leads and colleagues.
• Derives task-level or component-level requirements from system requirements.
• Clearly communicates work assignments to team members.
• Tracks priorities, scope, schedule, and cost.

Education
• Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field is required.
• Masters or PhD in a related field is preferred.

Experience
3-5 years of Software Engineering or related experience is required.

Additional Job Description:

Strong background in control systems theory and/or state estimation using various filtering techniques.

3-5 years of GN&C Algorithm / Software Engineering or related experience is required.

Applicants selected for this position may be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Job Location - City:
Houston

Job Location - State:
Texas

Job Location - Postal Code:


The US base salary range for this full-time position is
$75,000.00 - $156,000.00
Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities. If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you, apply now www.draper.com/careers.

About The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory

Draper Laboratory is an American non-profit research and development organization, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts; its official name is The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. The laboratory specializes in the design, development, and deployment of advanced technology solutions to problems in national security, space exploration, health care and energy. The laboratory was founded in 1932 by Charles Stark Draper at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop aeronautical instrumentation, and came to be called the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory. During this period the laboratory is best known for developing the Apollo Guidance Computer, the first silicon integrated circuit based computer. It was renamed for its founder in 1970, and separated from MIT in 1973 to become an independent, non-profit organization. The expertise of the laboratory staff includes the areas of guidance, navigation, and control technologies and systems; fault-tolerant computing; advanced algorithms and software systems; modeling and simulation; and microelectromechanical systems and multichip module technology.
Learn more about The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory

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