Engineer Aerospace/Space Engineering, Control Engineering, Mathematics or similar (f/m/x)

Enter the fascinating world of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) and help shape the future through research and innovation! We offer an exciting and inspiring working environment driven by the expertise and curiosity of our 11,000 employees from 100 nations and our unique infrastructure. Together, we develop sustainable technologies and thus contribute to finding solutions to global challenges. Would you like to join us in addressing this major future challenge? Then this is your place!

For our Institute of Space Systems in Bremen we are looking for a

Development of Technologies for Navigation Systems for Space Applications

What to expect:

The Institute of Space Systems in Bremen designs and analyzes future spacecraft and space missions (launchers, orbital and exploration systems, and satellites), and assesses them with regard to their technical performance and cost. It applies state-of-the-art methods of multi-disciplinary engineering in system design and analysis – for example, a computerized system for concurrent design. The Guidance, Navigation and Control Systems Department focuses on the capability to analyze, design, develop, implement, simulate, test, and verify attitude and orbit control systems (AOCS) / guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) systems for space applications and their components. This involves a range of disciplines, including requirements management, systems engineering, algorithm development, software implementation, systems analysis/simulation/verification, and hardware-in-the-loop testing. The GNC Systems Department is also conducting research and development of promising and strategic technologies for AOCS and GNC systems.

The GNC Systems Department is actively involved in several internal and international projects. This encompasses among others the project ReFEx (Reusability Flight Experiment), the project CALLISTO – an international cooperation between DLR and the space agencies JAXA (Japan) und CNES (France), and the EU H2020 project EURISA with partners in France and Switzerland. The work comprises the development of navigation technologies for different space flight applications.

• Development of strapdown integration algorithms for inertial measurements in scenarios such as space transportation, operation in the vicinity of Earth and other planetary bodies, and landing on the Moon, Mars, and asteroids.
• Development of navigation filters/data fusion algorithms with the focus on the combination of inertial measurements and measurements of GNSS receivers, cameras, star trackers, altimeters, Sun sensors, etc.
• Development of algorithms and procedures for post-processing of mission data and for health monitoring of sensors and navigation systems.
• Modelling of realistic environments, dynamics, and sensor signals.
• Full characterization of inertial sensors.
• Integration and utilization of sensors such as cameras, IMUs, etc. in a real-time environment.
• Project/activity results documentation, presentation, and publication.
• Commitment to group activities such as maintenance and development of laboratories, development and improvement of procedures, knowledge management, or acquisition of external funding.

What we expect from you:

• conformance with the personal requirements for handling of export controlled goods and information according to German, European and American export control laws
• willingness to domestic and international travels on official business
• practical experience with methods of inertial navigation is desired (e.g. modelling of space vehicle dynamics; modelling of inertial sensors; strapdown integration algorithms in different types of reference frames; estimation of sensor parameters)
• experience in modelling complementary sensors such as GNSS receivers, cameras, star trackers, altimeters, Sun sensors is a plus
• experience in methods of parameter estimation is advantageous
• experience in handling hardware is ideal
• PhD in the area of INS/GNSS navigation is an advantage
• supervision of Bachelor or Master theses desirable
• mastery of written and spoken German is an advantage

What we offer:

DLR stands for diversity, appreciation and equality for all people. We promote independent work and the individual development of our employees both personally and professionally. To this end, we offer numerous training and development opportunities. Equal opportunities are of particular importance to us, which is why we want to increase the proportion of women in science and management in particular. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are qualified.

Further information:

Starting date: 01.01.2025
Duration of contract: 2 years
Type of employment: full-time (part-time possible)

Remuneration: up to the German TVöD 13

Vacancy-ID: 98803

Contact:
Dr.-Ing. Stephan Theil Institut für Raumfahrtsysteme
Tel.: 0421 24420 1113