ADCS Engineer

Role: ADCS Engineer

Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India (On-site)

Employment type: Full-time

Industry: Space Technology

About Catalyx Space:

Catalyx Space is building the world's best reentry systems. Our reusable ReX vehicles return payloads from orbit at unprecedented scale, up to 12 tons and 60m³ of cargo, while operating the full mission lifecycle from launch to recovery. Our core innovation is a Origami-inspired deployable heat shield that combines the scalability of an inflatable system with the robustness of a rigid structure. Built from commercial off-the-shelf components, it enables the world's widest heat shields, the largest payload return volumes, and a scalable pathway for returning everything from commercial cargo to future space nuclear assets.

Role:

Catalyx Space is looking for a driven ADCS Engineer with experience in developing, simulating, and implementing attitude determination and control algorithms for nanosatellites or CubeSats. You will be responsible for designing control logic, simulating satellite dynamics, integrating sensors and actuators, and ensuring the spacecraft maintains its desired orientation in orbit.

This role requires strong analytical, modeling, and embedded implementation skills.

Key responsibilities:

• Design and simulate attitude control algorithms for nanosatellites
• Develop attitude estimation filters such as EKF, TRIAD, and QUEST using sensor data
• Select, size, and integrate ADCS hardware including magnetorquers, reaction wheels, gyros, star trackers, and sun sensors
• Model spacecraft dynamics and validate control system performance using MATLAB/Simulink, Python, or C++
• Implement ADCS firmware on onboard flight computers
• Support HIL (hardware-in-the-loop) and SIL (software-in-the-loop) testing for flight readiness
• Perform FMECA (Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis) to ensure ADCS reliability and robustness
• Coordinate with mechanical, thermal, and mission teams to define attitude modes and constraints
• Work with procurement to identify, evaluate, and source ADCS components and sensors
• Prepare and maintain detailed documentation for ADCS design, simulation, testing, and flight operations
• Analyze in-orbit telemetry and tune control parameters post-launch for improved pointing accuracy

Qualifications:

• B.E./B.Tech or M.E./M.Tech in Aerospace, Electronics, Controls, Mechatronics, or a related field
• 2–5 years of experience working on ADCS systems for satellites
• Strong understanding of orbital mechanics, control theory, and spacecraft attitude dynamics
• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, Python, or C/C++
• Familiarity with embedded implementation and communication protocols
• Hands-on experience with inertial sensors and actuator control

Nice to have:

• Practical experience with reaction wheel control or magnetorquer boards
• Knowledge of Kalman filters and high-fidelity spacecraft modeling
• Familiarity with STK, GMAT, or Orekit for orbit and attitude visualization
• Experience working on spaceflight missions with in-orbit validation of ADCS systems

Compensation & benefits:

• Competitive salary (details will be shared with shortlisted candidates),
• health insurance
• Provident fund.

How to apply:

Apply via Zoho Recruit: https://catalyxspace.zohorecruit.in/jobs/Careers/193193000000349773/ADCS-Engineersource=CareerSite

We only contact candidates from @catalyx.space emails. No fees are required at any stage of our hiring process.

Equal Opportunity: Catalyx Space is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on any protected characteristic.