Clearance Requirement: A current, active Top Secret security clearance is required.

Powered by endlessly curious people with an unwavering mission focus, Ball Aerospace pioneers discoveries that enable our customers to perform beyond expectation and protect what matters most.

We create innovative space solutions, enable more accurate weather forecasts, drive insightful observations of our planet, deliver actionable data and intelligence, and ensure those who defend our freedom go forward bravely and return home safely. For more information, visit Ball Aerospace Career Site or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

The Engineering Strategic Support Unit comprises the organizational talent and technical leadership that enables the successful delivery of high-impact discriminating technologies for our customers’ missions. Our collaborative, cross-functional teams are committed to innovation, integrity, continual learning and strong execution.

Staff Consultant– Guidance, Navigation, & Control (GN&C)

This leadership position is for an experienced GN&C engineer to lead geolocation development for National Defense, Commercial and Civil programs. This position will report to the manager of the Systems Engineering department. The responsibility includes architecture design, detailed design, analysis, modeling, test, performance verification of the sub-elements needed for geolocating remote sensing data, and the performance of the system during operations.

What you’ll do:
•Responsible for leading the design, analysis, modeling, test, and performance verification of a space-based system capable of producing exquisite geolocation performance for Civil, Commercial, and DoD customers.
•Responsible for system level geolocation performance following system development.
•Provide engineering skill and leadership supporting space borne remote sensing systems.
•Responsibilities include technology assessments and supporting system (primarily electro-optic and/or electro-mechanical) concept development from definition of the requirements through system design test and production. This includes instrument and spacecraft requirements flow-down to sub-elements of the architecture.
•Work with existing models and help create new algorithms and models for processing geolocation data, including attitude sensor data, GPS data and payload data.
•Work with existing models and algorithms, and develop new algorithms required to calibrate sensors and payloads.
•Primarily interface with Systems Engineering, Software/Electrical Engineering, Integration and Test, Operations, plus other engineering disciplines supporting the development of system concepts, trade studies, concepts for operations, and plans for verification/validation for aerospace products. This person will also interface with customers and vendors, potentially in a subcontract management role.
•Perform in a leadership role by integrating, trading, and adjudicating requirements and performance across multiple technical disciplines. Will establish and negotiate performance allocations to meet system level performance in an affordable manner.
•Contribute using background in dynamics and control to projects in the areas of line-of-sight (LOS) pointing control of airborne and space borne payloads, control of structural interactions, thermal control systems, and vehicle vibration isolation/rejection.
•Create and deliver presentations to internal and external customers.
•Maintain a regular and predictable work schedule.
•Establish and maintain effective working relationships within the department, the Strategic Business Units, Strategic Support Units and the Company. Interact appropriately with others in order to maintain a positive and productive work environment.
•Perform other duties as necessary.

What you’ll need:
•BS degree or higher in Engineering or a related technical field is required plus 16 or more years related experience.
•Each higher-level degree, i.e. Master’s Degree or Ph.D., may substitute for two years of experience. Degree(s) must be from a university, college, or school which is accredited by an agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education, US Department of Education.
•Degree in Physics, Mathematics, or a related technical field is preferred.
•Experience with procuring the hardware and developing the software capable of producing highly accurate attitude estimates and covariances, both in real time and with post-processed data.
•Experience with procuring the hardware and developing the software capable of producing highly accurate orbit determination estimates, including covariances, both in real time and with post-processed data.
•Experience calibrating attitude sensors, and payloads using real time and post-processed techniques.
•Experience with design trades, design concepts, system specifications, system analysis, and test and verification design and execution.
•Strong knowledge and practical experience in modeling dynamics of complex electro-optical systems and development of data processing algorithms.
•Familiarity with MATLAB-Simulink, modeling of flexible dynamics (NASTRAN exposure preferred), and the space environment is highly desired. Additionally, other analytical tools, C, C++ a plus.
•Proven leadership capabilities in Systems Engineering and multidisciplinary product design, development, test, and fielding.
•Ability to interact with customers' engineers to develop functional and verifiable requirements, test plans, and roadmaps for implementing integrated control products.
•Superb writing and presentation skills with experience communicating to senior decision-makers and technical audiences.
•Experience with simulator/hardware test development and execution, as well as mission operations is a plus.
•A strong technical foundation with a desire to learn and grow.
•Flexibility to manage differing technical opinions, evolving customer needs, challenging budgets and schedules, and limited resources is required.
•Effective in small teamwork environment with broad responsibilities and minimal oversight.
•A desire to learn - our culture fosters intellectual curiosity in a highly collaborative environment.
•Customer Relationships: Knowledge/experience working with customers and matching needs with cost and schedule requirements.
•Top candidates will be goal oriented individuals with excellent organizational skills, a team mindset, and capable of coming up to speed quickly on assigned programs.

Working Conditions:
•Work is performed in an office, laboratory, production floor, or cleanroom, outdoors or remote research environment.
•May occasionally work in production work centers where use of protective equipment and gear is required.
•May access other facilities in various weather conditions.
•Travel and local commute between Ball campuses and other possible non-Ball locations may be required.

This position may be eligible for a Hiring Incentive of a minimum of $15,000 for external hires only.

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Current Clearance Required:

Verification that your current security clearance or government customer access meets the requirement for this position will be required.

Relocation for this position is available.

Compensation & Benefits

• HIRING SALARY RANGE: $159,000 - $200,500 (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.)
• This position includes a competitive benefits package. Click here to learn more.

US CITIZENSHIP IS REQUIRED

Ball Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.