Full Job Description
As an Autonomy Engineer focused on Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), you'll design and deliver the core systems that determine how our spacecraft orient, navigate, maneuver, and respond on orbit. You'll work across the full lifecycle-from algorithm design and simulation to hardware integration and mission operations-to ensure our vehicles perform reliably in every phase of flight.
In this role, you will:
Build and integrate GNC software and hardware subsystems across all orbital regimes, collaborating closely with spacecraft bus providers and internal engineering teams.
Develop software-defined autonomy that enables precise maneuvering, safe navigation, and robust mission execution.
Design flight-software algorithms and create high-fidelity 6-DOF simulation environments supporting SIL, HIL, and advanced mission analysis.
Develop and execute validation plans for ground checkout, on-orbit commissioning, and operational phases; support launch campaigns and real-time mission operations.
Expand and apply sensor-fusion and estimation frameworks (EKF, UKF, batch least-squares) for AOD/AOE, and refine control laws to meet stability, performance, and robustness requirements.
Conduct trade studies for key GNC components-reaction wheels, torque rods, thrusters, star trackers, sun sensors, IMUs, GNSS, and RF/optical navigation sensors-and recommend optimal configurations.
Provide Monte Carlo analysis and hardware-in-the-loop testing capabilities to validate behavior across nominal and off-nominal scenarios.
Define GNC requirements, interfaces, and verification plans alongside avionics, propulsion, mission operations, systems engineering, and flight software teams.
Collaborate directly with operators and mission partners to translate mission needs into practical, high-performance GNC features.
Support on-orbit commissioning, calibration, maneuver planning, anomaly resolution, and automated fault-response logic development.
Ideal Experience
2+ years of professional software engineering experience focused on Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), designing and delivering core systems.
Strong engineering foundation in Aerospace, Dynamics & Controls, Computer Science, Physics, or related disciplines.
Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C++, and Linux-based development workflows.
Experience building and debugging simulations or flight-software components; ability to navigate complex system requirements.
Background in orbital mechanics, spacecraft dynamics, estimation, and control theory.
Familiarity with rendezvous/proximity operations, docking, propulsive maneuvering, and resident space object (RSO) tracking concepts.
Strong communication skills with the ability to document clearly and collaborate across disciplines.
U.S. Person eligible to obtain and maintain a Top Secret (TS/SCI) security clearance.
Desired Experience
Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related field.
Experience with closed-loop control, orbital maneuvering, filtering/state estimation, fault management, or mission-software development.
Hands-on spacecraft operations experience, including real-time decision-making on console.
Development of 3-DOF and 6-DOF high-fidelity dynamics models for GNC analysis and validation.
Experience validating systems using FlatSats, HIL testbeds, and digital spacecraft simulators across nominal and off-nominal scenarios.
Background in propulsion subsystem testing or environmental lab setups reflecting space conditions.
Familiarity with line-of-sight performance analysis (jitter, smear, pointing accuracy).
Experience using computer-vision/perception algorithms in support of GNC (e.g., feature tracking).
Understanding of U.S. satellite operations policy and mission constraints across orbital regimes.
Ability to maintain TS//SCI clearance.
Pay range
$96,000 - $130,000 per year
