ADCS/Control Systems Engineer III

Job Title: Attitude Determination and Control System Engineer Level III (Controls)Location: Leander, TXEmployment: Contract to Hire (6 months)Industry: Aerospace & DefenseCompensation: $65-$75/hour Schedule: 40 hours /weekAbout the Opportunity:As a Senior ADCS Engineer specializing in controls and autonomy at client, you will design and implement advanced control systems and autonomous flight software for operational spacecraft.

In this role, you will develop and tune attitude control software, support hardware-in-the-loop testing and system integration and provide technical leadership while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. This position combines advanced control theory, real-time embedded systems development, and hands-on flight operations support while mentoring junior engineers in a fast-paced operational environment.Why You'll Love Working Here:Supportive, team-driven culture that values collaboration, transparency, and accountability Opportunity to grow your career with a global workforce solutions leader serving multiple industries People-first environment that encourages employees to bring their authentic selves to work Strong focus on partnership, innovation, and delivering meaningful results for clients and candidates Why This Opportunity is Exciting:This role offers the chance to join a company that prioritizes both people and performance-where your contributions directly impact client success while giving you room to grow and develop professionally. About Acara SolutionsAcara is a premier recruiting and workforce solutions provider-we help companies compete for talent. With a legacy of experience in various industries worldwide, we partner with clients, listen to their needs, and customize visionary talent solutions that drive desired business outcomes. We leverage decades of experience to deliver contingent staffing, direct placement, executive search, and workforce services worldwide.Sound like a good fit?APPLY TODAYWhat You'll Do:Design, analyze, and tune spacecraft attitude control software to ensure accurate pointing across all mission phasesImplement control techniques for critical mission phases using reaction wheels, control moment gyros, magnetic torque rods, and thruster systemsDevelop control systems accounting for complex spacecraft dynamics including structural flex modes, propellant slosh, gimbal dynamics, and control structure interactionEstablish technical standards and validation methodologies for control system design, software development, and hardware-in-the-loop testingConduct stability analysis, sensitivity studies, and performance optimization for control systems under nominal and off-nominal conditionsSupport hardware-in-the-loop test campaigns for integrated ADCS systems including control algorithm validation, flight software verification, and system-level performance testingDrive resolution of complex ADCS challenges requiring deep technical expertise and rapid problem-solvingProvide technical direction on system architecture and serve as subject matter expert for spacecraft controlMentor junior engineers in control theory and flight software developmentAuthor technical documentation and analysis reports that communicate ADCS concepts and results to diverse audiencesInterface with cross-discipline teams to integrate control software with spacecraft hardwareServe as an ADCS console operator for spacecraft operations and perform post-mission analysis to improve spacecraft modelsChampion continuous improvement initiatives for ADCS processes, tools, and operational efficiencyWhat You'll Bring:Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science.5+ years of experience in spacecraft ADCS systems with significant depth in attitude control system design or flight software development.5+ years of experience in developing high-fidelity actuator models and attitude control system testbeds.What Sets You Apart:Master Degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics.Doctor of Philosophy in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics.Advanced knowledge of attitude dynamics and control theory, including rotational dynamics, attitude representations, control moment generation, and stability analysisStrong understanding of classical control theory and frequency domain analysis techniquesProficiency in hardware-in-the-loop testing and requirement verification for mission-critical systemsUnderstanding of software development best practices including version control (Git), code documentation, and testingExcellent communication and presentation skillsExperience architecting and implementing control systems for operational spacecraft from development through mission operationsExpertise in advanced control techniques such as nonlinear control methods, optimal control, model predictive control, or adaptive control applied to spacecraft applicationsHands-on experience with spacecraft actuator systems including reaction wheels, control moment gyros, magnetic torque rods, and thruster systemsAdvanced knowledge of state estimation techniques including Kalman filtering, sensor fusion, and covariance analysisAdvanced knowledge of numerical methods for control law tuning, root-solving, and parameter optimizationExperience with modern flight software frameworks and real-time operating systemsSoftware engineering expertise with proficiency in development practices including version control, code review, testing, documentation, and CI/CD workflowsProficiency in Python for scripting, data analysis, and automationWorking knowledge of spacecraft systems and mission operationsProven ability to develop junior engineers while managing technical responsibilitiesTrack record of thought leadership through publications, presentations, or contributions to industry state-of-the-artExpertise in real-time software development using C++ for mission-critical applications