Senior GNC Engineer

Astro Mechanica

$120K — $150K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's degree or PhD in robotics, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or related discipline
  • 5+ years of professional experience in GNC development for aerospace or autonomous vehicle programs
  • Strong background in dynamics, modeling, and simulation
  • Proficient in software development best practices
  • Experience in algorithm design for autonomous vehicles
  • Expertise in fly-by-wire control design for aircraft
  • Skilled in Rust, C++, Python, or other relevant programming languages
  • Mentoring experience for junior engineers in GNC concepts
  • Strong communication skills for cross-disciplinary collaboration
  • Desire to work across all aspects of the GNC stack
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement guidance, navigation, and control systems for autonomous aircraft
  • Engage in multi-disciplinary aircraft trades to define overall system architecture
  • Create 6-DOF dynamics simulation models for analysis and validation
  • Automate control design tools, Monte Carlo simulations, and validation processes
  • Collaborate with engineering peers to define control schemes and mechanisms
  • Support flight and ground test operations
  • Conduct review of post-flight/test performance and correlate with analysis for improvements

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance with Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
  • 401(k) program with transparent stock option plan
  • Flexible time-off policy including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time
  • Flexible work environment setup
Full Job Description
WHO YOU ARE:

You're a GNC engineer who wants real ownership over the guidance and control systems of a clean-sheet autonomous aircraft. You're comfortable working from first principles, collaborating tightly with propulsion, structures, and avionics, and making practical tradeoffs to get hardware flying. You care deeply about how systems behave in the real world-not just in simulation-and you're motivated by building control architectures that are robust, testable, and ready for flight.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:
  • Develop and implement guidance, navigation, and control systems for our products
  • Engage in multi-disciplinary aircraft trades and help define the overall system architecture
  • Develop 6-DOF dynamics simulation models used for analysis and validation
  • Develop tooling to automate control design, monte carlos, and simulation validation
  • Work closely with peers across engineering disciplines to define the control schemes and mechanisms for our products
  • Support flight and ground test operations
  • Conduct post flight/test reviews and correlate performance with analysis for continuous improvement on predictions


WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:
  • Master's degree or PhD in robotics, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or related discipline
  • 5+ years of professional experience in GNC development for an aerospace or autonomous vehicle program
  • Experience with dynamics, modeling, and simulation
  • Experience with software development best practices
  • Experience in algorithm design for autonomous vehicles
  • Experience in fly-by-wire control design for aircraft
  • Experience with Rust, C++, Python, or other relevant software languages.
  • Experience and/or an interest in mentoring junior engineers on GNC work and concepts
  • Experience communicating to teams of different disciplines about implications of GNC on their work and vice versa
  • Interest and drive to work on all aspects of GNC stack
  • Ambition to work in a fast-paced environment

PERKS & BENEFITS:
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
  • 401(k) program and transparent stock option plan
  • Self-managed and flexible time-off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time
  • Flexible work environment

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

At Astro Mechanica, we highly value in-office work to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. We consider working in the office five days a week an essential part of the employee's role.

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Astro Mechanica

  • Strategic Sourcing Specialist
    $90K — $130K *
    San Francisco, CA 94112 (San Francisco County)
    Aerospace & Defense
    In-Person
  • Technical Buyer
    $70K — $95K *
    San Francisco, CA 94112 (San Francisco County)
    Aerospace & Defense
    In-Person
  • Senior Propulsion Test Engineer
    $120K — $150K *
    San Francisco, CA 94112 (San Francisco County)
    Aerospace & Defense
    In-Person
  • Head of People
    $120K — $180K *
    San Francisco, CA 94112 (San Francisco County)
    Aerospace & Defense
    In-Person
  • Senior GNC Engineer
    $120K — $150K *
    San Francisco, CA 94112 (San Francisco County)
    Aerospace & Defense
    In-Person

More Aerospace & Defense Jobs

Find similar Senior GNC Engineer jobs: