EtherealX
Website:
etherealx.space
Job details:
Founded in 2022, Ethereal Exploration Guild (The Guild) is building the World’s First Fully Reusable Medium-Lift Launch Vehicle/Rocket, Razor Crest Mk-1(RCM1).
Based in India, the team has a combined flight heritage of over 75 launches from the PSLV and GSLV fleets, and more than 300 years of collective experience in the space industry. The Guild is also developing a 700,000 sq ft facility dedicated to Upper Stage Engine Testing, which is going to be India’s largest privately developed Engine Testing Facility.
The Guild has also built and manufactured India’s First Reusable Rocket Engine.
We are looking for a self-motivated individual to join the Hands of the Guild as a Senior Engineer - Navigation, Guidance & Controls (NGC).
Please apply to the job using the link provided below:
https://zfrmz.in/wVrFSj5Pg7SdL5xYJ0pQ
Location: Hebbal, Bengaluru
Job-Type: On-site, Monday - Saturday
Role Summary: As a Senior Engineer - NGC, you will take end-to-end ownership of guidance, navigation, and control systems for a fully-reusable launch vehicle - from trajectory design to real-time flight validation. In a startup setting, you will work across simulation, flight software, and hardware, directly influencing vehicle design, mission success, and rapid iteration cycles.
Core Responsibilities:
Trajectory Generation & Mission Design:
- Design and optimize end-to-end trajectories: ascent, stage separation, boost-back, entry, descent, and precision landing.
- Develop real-time implementable guidance algorithms.
- Balance optimality vs robustness vs computational constraints for onboard implementation.
- Rapidly iterate trajectory designs based on vehicle changes, test data, and evolving requirements.
GNC Algorithm Development & Flight Qualification:
- Build flight-ready guidance and control algorithms from scratch and take them to production
- Design control systems for highly complex, non-linear dynamic systems for ascent and re-entry.
- Develop navigation solutions with multi-sensor fusion.
- Handle perturbations/ errors: delays, noise, actuator limits, failures.
SIL (Software-in-the-Loop):
- Build and own high-fidelity, modular simulation environments.
- Integrate flight software directly into simulations for rapid validation.
- Run large-scale Monte Carlo campaigns to uncover edge cases early.
- Create tools to visualize trajectories, dispersions, and failure modes.
HIL (Hardware-in-the-Loop) – Bridging to Reality:
- Lead or heavily contribute to HIL setup and execution using real avionics.
- Validate GNC performance for real-time constraints, hardware interfaces, communication delays/ faults.
- Work closely with hardware teams to debug integration issues quickly.
Flight Testing & Rapid Learning:
- Support subsystem/ system/ vehicle testing campaigns.
- Analyze flight data and close the loop rapidly (hours/days, not months).
- Identify root causes of anomalies and implement fast, safe fixes.
- Continuously improve landing accuracy, robustness, and reusability metrics
Startup Ownership & Cross-Functional Impact:
- Operate across boundaries: trajectory + GNC + simulation + flight software.
- Influence vehicle design decisions (control authority, sensors, propulsion margins).
- Work directly across technical, operations, assembly & integration, safety & reliability teams for flight qualification.
Educational Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering/ Mechanical Engineering/ Control Systems/ Physics or related field.
- Strong fundamentals in Flight dynamics (3-DOF / 6-DOF), Guidance, Navigation & Control, Orbital and atmospheric mechanics, Numerical optimization, Statistical Methods.
- Ph.D. is desirable, but hands-on experience is valued more than academic credentials.
Required Technical Skills:
- Strong experience in trajectory optimization + real-time guidance implementation.
- Deep understanding of Nonlinear dynamics, Control theory (PID, LQR, MPC, robust/adaptive methods), and State estimation (Kalman filtering variants).
- Ability to translate mathematical formulations to working flight code.
Programming & Systems:
- Python
- C/C++
- MATLAB/Simulink.
- Experience in building simulation frameworks
Optimization & Tools:
- Experience with CasADi/ SNOPT/ IPOPT/ GPOPS-II/ DIDO
Simulation, SIL & HIL:
- Closed-loop 6-DOF simulation environments
- SIL pipelines with automated testing
- HIL systems (real-time constraints, embedded interfaces)
- Familiarity with dSPACE/ Speedgoat or equivalent platforms
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- 3 - 5 years in NGC, trajectory design, or flight simulation
- Experience with Launch vehicles, missiles, satellites, or planetary landers
Click on Apply to know more.