Autonomous GNC Software Engineer (Spacecraft/UAV)

Xona; Burlingame (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Xona is seeking a skilled GNC Software Engineer in California to develop, integrate, and validate flight software for autonomous spacecraft and related platforms. You will build and run SIL/HIL tests, develop estimators, controllers, and state machines, and work with simulation and hardware teams to ensure robust, real-time operation.

Required hands-on experience in MATLAB/Simulink model-based development with code generation, C++, Python, and Git, plus a degree in engineering.

Qualifications

• At least two years of professional GNC software development experience for spacecraft, UAVs, or autonomous platforms.
• Hands-on experience implementing and testing estimators, controllers, and state machines.
• Relevant engineering degree; familiarity with FDIR, SIL/HIL, CI/CD, or ADCS is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop, integrate, and validate spacecraft GNC flight software.
• Build and maintain SIL/HIL test campaigns and regression tests.
• Collaborate with simulation, hardware, GNC, and flight software teams to validate integrated systems.

Skills

GNC

C++

Python

MATLAB/Simulink

Model-Based Development

Automatic Code Generation

Estimators

Controllers

State Machines

FDIR

Flight Software

SIL Testing

HIL Testing

Unit Testing

Git

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

Git

Linux

CI/CD

Job description

Xona is seeking a skilled GNC Software Engineer in California to develop, integrate, and validate flight software for autonomous spacecraft and related platforms. You will build and run SIL/HIL tests, develop estimators, controllers, and state machines, and work with simulation and hardware teams to ensure robust, real-time operation.

Required hands-on experience in MATLAB/Simulink model-based development with code generation, C++, Python, and Git, plus a degree in engineering.