GNC Systems Engineer [25211]

HE Space is a successful international space company, specialised in providing managed services and human resources to the international space sector for over 40 years.
We hire space experts all over Europe across the whole spectrum of space-related activities, from engineering to science, software development, operations, marketing, finance and administration. Our employees contribute towards a wide range of groundbreaking space programmes including Galileo and Copernicus, ExoMars, Iris2, ESA BASS, ESA GSPT, LISA Pathfinder, Euclid, the Ariane and Vega launchers as well as the International Space Station.
HE Space has joined forces with CS Group and Sopra Steria to lead the engineering and digital space market in Europe and to provide highly skilled consulting.
We are passionate about people and invest in you to support the development of the European space industry. 

As part of the team at ESTEC you will have the following responsibilities:

• Technical support engineering to Projects and Missions:

 Support definition of GNC requirements and contribute to the elaboration of System/Mission Requirements related the GNC domain;

Support analyses and trade-offs for GNC systems, software, and hardware units;

Support execution of GNC performance analyses and performance budgeting;

 Support monitoring the industrial activities concerning design and development of GNC systems, software, and hardware units for ESA projects;

Supporting ESA staff in reviewing the project documentation as produced throughout the project lifetime in the area of GNC functional engineering;

Develop and maintain the engineering support tools needed for the GNC systems tasks;

Support procurement GNC hardware units;

Support monitoring the verification and validation process of GNC systems throughout all project phases;

Support provision of expertise in the GNC discipline to the AIT and AIV processes and to in-flight activities (e.g. LEOP, commissioning, in-flight anomaly investigations);

Support the definition, analysis, and verification of GNC-level and system-level Fault Detection Isolation and Recovery (FDIR);

Support provision of GNC expertise in feasibility studies and project reviews;

• R&D programmes and activities:

Support the definition of the technology development needs and work plans for ESA's technology programmes in the technical domains related to GNC systems

Support in defining, initiating and managing GNC Systems R&D activities covering both long- and short-term needs;

Support in GNC Systems R&D activity reviews and meetings and reporting on the R&D activity development, progress and planning

Support the dissemination of the results of the GNC Systems activities performed and the transfer of knowledge across the Agency;

Suggest lesson learnt, important information and results from GNC Systems R&D developments, Project support and hands-on activities in common repository;

Provide support during execution of R&D activities for mission enabling GNC system concepts, GNC simulation modelling, GNC systems model-based engineering, machine learning application to GNC systems, and advanced guidance, control, navigation/estimation, and optimization techniques.

• GNC Systems facilities:

Support laboratory activities to evaluate and prototype new GNC systems, functions/algorithms and sensors.

Assist ongoing projects with the design implementation, prototyping, testing, evaluation, benchmarking, debugging, and validation on the corresponding facility

Perform integration, functional and performance testing of relevant hardware and software elements in the facility

Support recording, analysis and documentation of test and validation activities and test results, including equipment setup and configuration, and failure incidents

Support the management of the planning of the facility accounting for priorities given by the WP Technical Responsible

You will have the following qualifications and relevant experience:

• Master's University degree from a recognised Institution of secondary studies or equivalent qualification in Master’s Degree in adequate fields, control engineering and/or aerospace engineering and/or electrical engineering (or higher Degree than Master’s degree)  with relevant experience;
• A minimum 4 years of relevant experience in AOCS and GNC systems engineering;
• Strong knowledge of GNC principles: guidance laws, navigation algorithms, control theory (linear and nonlinear), estimation techniques (e.g., Kalman filtering).
• Experience with spacecraft systems: attitude and orbit control systems (AOCS), propulsion, sensors, and actuators.
• Simulation and modeling skills: proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, Python, or similar tools for GNC analysis and prototyping.
• Software development: experience with C/C++, Python, or embedded systems for implementing GNC algorithms.
• Familiarity with ESA standards and ECSS (European Cooperation for Space Standardization) for system engineering and verification.
• Space mission phases: LEOP, commissioning, in-flight anomaly resolution.
• Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR) concepts.
• AIT/AIV processes (Assembly, Integration, and Testing / Verification).
• Sensor technologies: star trackers, gyroscopes, GNSS receivers, IMUs.
• Actuator technologies: reaction wheels, thrusters, magnetic torquers.
• R&D experience in advanced GNC concepts: machine learning applications, optimization techniques, model-based engineering.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory facilities for prototyping and testing.
• Knowledge of procurement processes for hardware units.
• Ability to perform trade-off analyses and performance budgeting.
• Fluency in English is mandatory; knowledge of another European language is an advantage.

This job is located in Noordwijk, the Netherlands.

If you think you have what it takes for this job, please send your CV (in English and in Word or PDF) by clicking on the button “Apply for this job” quoting job NL-HP-25211.

An exciting and dynamic international working environment awaits you!

Inclusive and committed employer, our company works every day to combat all forms of discrimination and promote a respectful working environment. That's why, committed to gender diversity and overall inclusivity, we encourage all applications and profiles. Last apply date: 30/04/2026!