Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer

Socket.dev; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Spaceium in Ottawa is seeking a GNC Engineer to design guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for spacecraft attitude determination and orbit control, spanning math on the whiteboard to flight software running on hardware.

You will develop state estimation, sensor fusion, and spacecraft dynamics models, and validate performance with high-fidelity simulations and hardware-in-the-loop verification, collaborating across disciplines for reliable missions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Applied Mathematics, or a related field.
• Strong foundation in control theory, linear algebra, and dynamics.
• Programming experience in Python and/or C/C++.
• Experience with simulation and analysis tools such as MATLAB/Simulink or equivalent Python stacks.
• Experience with version control systems such as Git.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for spacecraft attitude determination and control (ADCS), orbit determination, and maneuver planning.
• Develop state estimation and sensor fusion (e.g., Kalman/nonlinear filters) fusing IMU, star tracker, sun sensor, GPS, and other sensor data.
• Model spacecraft dynamics and orbital mechanics, and design controllers (e.g., PID, LQR, robust/adaptive) for pointing, station-keeping, and trajectory tracking.
• Build high-fidelity simulation environments to validate GNC performance across nominal and off-nominal conditions.
• Implement and test GNC algorithms in flight software, and support hardware-in-the-loop verification.
• Run Monte Carlo analyses and closed-loop verification to characterize performance, stability, and margins.
• Collaborate with software, systems, avionics, and operations engineers to integrate GNC into the full vehicle.
• Support on-orbit operations, commissioning, and anomaly resolution for GNC subsystems.

Skills

Control theory

Python

C/C++

Linear algebra

Dynamics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Applied Mathematics, or a related field

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Git

Job description

At Spaceium, we are building spacecraft systems designed to push the boundaries of what's possible in orbit. As a Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer, you will design the algorithms that let our spacecraft know where they are, decide where to go, and get there precisely. You will own estimation, attitude and orbit determination, and control across the full loop — from math on the whiteboard to flight software running on hardware in high-stakes, resource-constrained environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for spacecraft attitude determination and control (ADCS), orbit determination, and maneuver planning
• Develop state estimation and sensor fusion (e.g., Kalman/nonlinear filters) fusing IMU, star tracker, sun sensor, GPS, and other sensor data
• Model spacecraft dynamics and orbital mechanics, and design controllers (e.g., PID, LQR, robust/adaptive) for pointing, station-keeping, and trajectory tracking
• Build high-fidelity simulation environments to validate GNC performance across nominal and off-nominal conditions
• Implement and test GNC algorithms in flight software, and support hardware-in-the-loop verification
• Run Monte Carlo analyses and closed-loop verification to characterize performance, stability, and margins
• Collaborate with software, systems, avionics, and operations engineers to integrate GNC into the full vehicle
• Support on-orbit operations, commissioning, and anomaly resolution for GNC subsystems

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Applied Mathematics, or a related field
• Strong foundation in control theory, linear algebra, and dynamics
• Programming experience in Python and/or C/C++
• Experience with simulation and analysis tools such as MATLAB/Simulink or equivalent Python stacks
• Experience with version control systems such as Git

Preferred Skills

• Creative problem solver with strong first-principles thinking, capable of assessing risk and making decisions with limited data.
• Experience in a nimble, technical engineering role, with a scrappy, entrepreneurial approach to meeting tight time or budget constraints.
• Hands‑on experience with spacecraft ADCS, orbital mechanics, or trajectory design
• Experience implementing estimators or controllers in embedded / flight software
• Familiarity with sensor calibration, sensor fusion, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing
• Experience with real built hardware — student design teams (rocketry, CubeSat, autonomous vehicles), research, or industry
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, collaborative team player, and detail‑oriented with a focus on quality.

Additional Requirements

• Extended hours and weekend work may be required to support critical project and mission milestones.
• This role requires a physical presence at the Ottawa facility.

Compensation

• Salary: $75,000 – $110,000 CAD per year
• Equity: 0.1% – 0.5%