Senior GNC Engineer
$150,000–$200,000 year
On-siteLos Angeles, California, United States
Job Summary
Lead spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control development by designing, analyzing, and validating GNC algorithms and operational modes. Develop analytical tools, simulations, and software models to evaluate mission performance and vehicle behavior, while performing mission design, orbital trajectory analysis, maneuver planning, and delta-V budgeting. Conduct Monte Carlo analyses and robustness studies to validate system performance, then collaborate with flight software engineers to integrate GNC algorithms into operational flight systems. Review simulation, flight, and test data to improve vehicle performance and identify anomalies, supporting customer mission evaluations through technical concepts and feasibility assessments. Work across multidisciplinary teams to mature spacecraft capabilities from concept through flight.
Required Qualifications
- BS in Aerospace Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a related technical discipline
- 5+ years of experience in spacecraft guidance, navigation and control, flight dynamics, mission design, astrodynamics, or related fields
- Strong understanding of orbital mechanics, spacecraft dynamics, estimation techniques, control systems, and mission analysis
- Experience developing engineering tools using Python, MATLAB, Simulink, or similar environments
- Experience using mission analysis or spacecraft simulation tools such as STK, ODTK, GMAT, FreeFlyer, Basilisk, or comparable software
- Ability to solve complex engineering problems using first-principles thinking
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced engineering environment with high ownership and technical autonomy
Desired Qualifications
- Experience developing spacecraft attitude determination and control systems
- Background integrating GNC algorithms with embedded or flight software
- Experience performing Monte Carlo simulations and statistical performance analysis
- Knowledge of spacecraft mission operations and trajectory optimization
- Previous experience supporting proposal development or evaluating customer mission concepts
- Startup or early-stage aerospace experience
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