PHD Position in Spacecraft GNC Engineering (d/f/m)

In order to support the AOCS/GNC & FD Analysis department, Airbus Defence and Space is offering an PHD Position in Spacecraft GNC Engineering (d/f/m), title of thesis: Advanced Integrated Navigation and Sensor Fusion for Rendezvous and Close Proximity Spacecraft Operations You are looking for a PHD position and would like to work on cutting edge GNC system design for complex missions? Then apply now! We look forward to you supporting us in the AOCS/GNC & FD Analysis department as a PhD (d/f/m)! Location: Friedrichshafen Start: 01.11.2026 Duration: 3 years The Department The AOCS/GNC & Flight Dynamics Analysis department in Friedrichshafen is part of the transnational discipline in Airbus for Attitude and Orbit Control Systems (AOCS), Guidance/Navigation/Control (GNC), Flight Dynamics (FD), and control engineering for all kinds of systems. We develop both standardised as well as mission enabling AOCS/GNC & FD systems with the aim of living up to the customer expectations and delivering on quality, on time, and on cost. This includes research, design, development, verification and validation of the end2end AOCS/GNC & FD chain covering analyses, performance campaigns, tests on hardware-in-the-loop benches and supporting LEOP (Launch and Early Operations) as well as nominal mission operations. Our cutting-edge AOCS/GNC and Flight Dynamic systems serve Science, Earth Observation, Telecommunication and Navigation missions on to Constellations. Your location At the Airbus site in Friedrichshafen you will be working on innovation where others spend their holidays. Enjoy panoramic views of Lake Constance while having lunch in our canteen. And after work, join one of our many corporate sports groups to go running, sailing or skiing. Your benefits Attractive salary and work-life balance with an 35-hour week (flexitime). International environment with the opportunity to network globally. Work with modern/diversified technologies. At Airbus, we see you as a valuable team member and you are not hired to brew coffee, instead you are in close contact with the interfaces and are part of our weekly team meetings. Opportunity to participate in the Generation Airbus Community to expand your own network. Thesis Topic As space missions evolve toward complex multi-agent systems and sophisticated on-orbit maneuvers, the demand for high-precision, autonomous navigation has never been greater. We are seeking a highly motivated and scientifically rigorous PhD candidate to join our R&D team in the AOCS/GNC and Flight Dynamics department. This position is uniquely positioned at the intersection of industrial application and advanced research. The successful candidate will be integrated into a specialized R&D team working on a high-profile project in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR). This role offers the rare opportunity to conduct doctoral research that is directly aligned with strategic technological requirements of future space missions. Research Scope & Responsibilities The research will focus on developing robust integrated navigation solutions to support Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO). Your objective is to solve the challenges of robustly estimating the 6-Degree-of-Freedom (6-DoF) relative state of spacecraft during complex orbital interactions.

High-Impact Research: The chance to work on technologies that are central to the strategic roadmaps of the European space ecosystem and its future mission profiles. Scientific Excellence: A unique opportunity to conduct doctoral research at the intersection of industrial application and academic rigor. State-of-the-Art Infrastructure: Access to advanced laboratory facilities, high-performance computing, and specialized hardware testbeds. Mentorship: Professional guidance from world-class GNC experts within a high-performance R&D environment. As a PhD student you will learn about advanced estimation/navigation and multi sensor fusion, spacecraft