AOCS Engineer

About the company

ICEYE is a Finnish spacetech company that builds and operates the world's largest SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite constellation for persistent Earth observation and intelligence.

About this role

- AOCS Engineer - Spacecraft Analysis, Orbit and Attitude Control - Engineering - Location: Espoo, Finland / Warsaw, Poland - Reports to Engineering Lead, AOCS Hardware - Permanent - Hybrid - Employment is subject to applicable security screening (incl. SUPO)     The Mission of the AOCS Engineer You will bring your expertise and passion in topics related to attitude and orbit control for a fleet of tens of Earth-Observation satellites. You work in a multidisciplinary AOCS domain, which is responsible for developing and maintaining all systems directly involved in controlling the spacecraft attitude and orbit. Your work will have direct impact on our constellation of 40+ satellites in orbit. You will be involved in the complete lifecycle of AOCS systems from design phases to maintenance of existing systems. By analyzing and improving on-orbit performance, defining verification procedures, and leading anomaly investigations, you will ensure our satellites maintain precise attitude control and optimal orbital performance, directly enabling the high-quality SAR imagery we deliver to our customers. Who We Are ICEYE delivers space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to governments and allied nations. This includes sovereign and turnkey ISR missions leveraging ICEYE’s world-leading synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite technology, as well as access to data from the world’s largest SAR satellite constellation. These capabilities enable partners to detect and respond to critical changes anywhere on Earth with unprecedented speed and accuracy – day or night and in any weather, supported by ultra high-resolution imagery and high-frequency revisits. As a trusted partner for defense, intelligence, security, and maritime domain awareness, ICEYE’s near real-time data creates a tactical advantage for mission-critical operations. Designed for dual use, the platform also serves civil protection and commercial users for natural-catastrophe intelligence, insurance, maritime monitoring (including oil-spill detection), and finance, contributing to global security and community resilience. ICEYE operates internationally with offices in Finland, Poland, Spain, Japan, the UAE, Greece, and the US. The company has more than 900 employees, inspired by the shared vision of improving life on Earth by becoming the global source of truth in Earth Observation. Expected Outcomes - AOCS Performance & System Design - Analyze and improve on-orbit performance of AOCS components across the constellation - Perform performance analyses and trade studies to evaluate different ADCS and propulsion hardware solutions - Lead market studies and designs for AOCS components and introduce new AOCS components into satellites following established processes - Operational Reliability - Define, execute and maintain verification procedures for AOCS components - Lead or participate in AOCS anomaly investigations involving engineers from multiple engineering domains to understand root causes - Participate in definition, execution and maintenance of operational procedures related to AOCS - Technology Development & Continuous Improvement - Propose, evaluate and implement process improvements that affect spacecraft constellation with 40+ satellites in orbit - Lead introduction of new AOCS equipment and/or design updates - Interface with other teams and departments (satellite operations, radar, mechanical, electronic, manufacturing, product) Role-specific Competences - Thinking from a first-principles mindset - your work will often involve resolving in-orbit anomalies, which you will need to tackle in a systematic manner to understand their root-cause and propose solutions to mitigate those in the future. - Strong understanding of AOCS fundamentals: rigid body motion, differential equations, coordinate transformations, 3d geometry, feedback loops, state estimation. Basic understanding of orbital dynamics. - Strong understanding of underlying principles of operation and failure modes of sensors and actuators used in AOCS: reaction wheels, magnetorquers, star trackers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, GNSS. - Strong understanding of performance drivers of AOCS systems. - Proven track record of owning cross-domain systems involving feedback control loops over their complete lifecycle including maintenance and operations. - Demonstrated broad knowledge across multiple engineering disciplines including controls, mechanical and electronics. AOCS is an electromechanical system in the and requires broad perspective to understand it fully - Proficiency in Python, C++ or Matlab. Role-specific Competences - BS/MS in Physics, Aerospace, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or similar field - 2-4 years experience in designing, operating or testing AOCS equipment or space equipment in general - Good understanding of astro-dynamics and fundamental principles of attitude determination and control - Experience working with electronic laboratory hardware (power supplies, oscilloscopes, etc.) - Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills - Working knowledge of Python and Git - Preferred: Experience in multi-disciplinary environments (electrical, controls, mechanical, thermal) - Preferred: Experience with libraries and/or software used in flight dynamics (e.g. STK, GMAT) - Preferred: Experience working with GNSS - Preferred: Experience with C++ Key Competences In addition to the requirements above, we evaluate candidates on these key qualities throughout the hiring process: 1. Intellectual Firepower: Rapidly comprehends, structures and synthesizes complex information, draws accurate conclusions, and communicates them with clarity. 2. Passion & Work Ethic: Brings sustained motivation, resilience, and high personal standards to every challenge. 3. Ownership & Action: Assumes f