Lead GNC Engineer

Company Description

SKYLAB – Portugal Aerospace Technologies researches, designs, and produces advanced technologies for the aerospace and defense sectors. The company develops reusable suborbital launch vehicles and air defense systems, contributing to next-generation space and security capabilities. SKYLAB also offers additive manufacturing services, supporting product development and production for customers across multiple industries. Our team works in a technology-driven environment that values innovation, precision, and cross-disciplinary problem solving, with the opportunity to work on cutting-edge systems that have real-world impact in both defense and commercial applications.

Role Description:

As the Lead GNC Engineer, you will design, implement, and validate guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for suborbital launch vehicles and air defense platforms. You will have full technical autonomy and responsibility over the GNC subsystem, leading its development from design through testing to flight. Day-to-day responsibilities include developing and tuning control laws, modeling vehicle dynamics, performing simulation and hardware-in-the-loop testing, and analyzing flight data to improve system performance and reliability. The role also includes developing and maintaining SKYLAB’s internal flight simulation tools, such as multi-degree-of-freedom vehicle simulators, Monte Carlo analysis frameworks, and the environment, sensor, and actuator models that support GNC design and verification across programs. You will work closely with the avionics, propulsion, structures, and software teams to integrate GNC solutions into complete systems, document designs, support verification and validation activities, and contribute to safety and performance reviews. This is a full-time hybrid role based primarily at our engineering office in Oeiras, with some work-from-home flexibility and occasional work at our production site in Maia.

Needed Qualifications:

• Strong foundation in guidance, navigation, and control engineering, including control theory, estimation methods, and dynamic modeling.
• Proficiency in simulation and analysis tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, Python, or similar environments) for modeling and validating vehicle behavior.
• Master's degree in Control and Simulation, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a closely related field.
• Ability to use AI tools effectively to support engineering and software development (e.g., code generation, debugging, documentation), while critically reviewing and validating their outputs.
• Fluency in English for technical communication; knowledge of Portuguese is an advantage but not required.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience developing flight simulation software (e.g., vehicle dynamics simulators, Monte Carlo campaigns), with attention to modularity, maintainability, and validation of models against test or flight data.
• Experience with embedded systems or real-time implementation of control algorithms, and familiarity with software development best practices (version control, testing, code review).
• Knowledge of aerospace engineering principles, including flight dynamics, trajectory design, and environmental considerations for launch vehicles.
• Ability to collaborate in multidisciplinary teams, communicate complex technical concepts clearly, and document engineering work to high standards.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing, sensor integration, or avionics systems is highly beneficial.

Why Join Us

• Take part in real flight campaigns, seeing the algorithms and tools you develop fly on actual vehicles.
• Have full autonomy over a complete rocket subsystem, from design through testing to flight.
• Represent SKYLAB at national and international trade fairs and industry events, building your network and professional profile in the aerospace and defense sector.