Staff GNC Engineer (Guidance)
$161,000–$221,000 year
On-sitePlaya Vista, Estado de Chiapas, Mexico
Job Summary
Own the guidance architecture for a maneuvering reentry vehicle from concept through flight, developing algorithms that replan trajectories onboard in response to real-time mission updates. Build and exercise 3-DOF and 6-DOF flight simulations to validate performance, while developing plant models of vehicle and subsystem dynamics to support algorithm design. Collaborate with the GNC, simulation, and mission design teams to close vehicle-level performance and mentor engineers across the team. This role requires a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance and is based on-site in Playa Vista, CA.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, a related field, or equivalent experience
- Typically, 9+ years of applicable experience developing and testing guidance or GNC algorithms and systems
- Experience with modern convex optimization methods for guidance (e.g., successive convexification / sequential convex programming, lossless convexification)
- Experience developing and exercising 3-DOF and 6-DOF flight simulations
- Strong fundamentals in flight mechanics, optimal control, and trajectory optimization
- Proficiency in programming languages such as MATLAB, Python, or C++ for simulation and analysis
- Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Capable of working in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment
- This position is on-site at Inversion HQ in Playa Vista, CA
- Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance
Desired Qualifications
- Master's or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, a related field, or equivalent experience
- Experience with real-time onboard optimization solvers (e.g., ECOS, CVXGEN, OSQP, or custom solvers) in compute-restricted environments
- Experience with atmospheric entry guidance methods (e.g., numerical predictor-corrector approaches)
- Experience building plant models of aerospace systems (aerodynamics, propulsion, actuators, sensors)
- Experience with state estimation using limited data (Kalman filtering, sensor fusion)
- Experience building guidance code deployed to real flight hardware
- Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) test experience
- Prior experience working in startups and/or small independent teams
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