Autonomy GNC Engineer — Spacecraft Guidance & Control

Redwire Corporation; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 102,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Redwire Corporation seeks an Autonomy Engineer specializing in GNC to design core spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control systems; you will work across the full lifecycle from algorithm design and simulation to hardware integration and mission operations.

The role involves building subsystems, developing autonomous software, creating high-fidelity 6-DOF simulations, validating on ground and on orbit, and collaborating with avionics, propulsion, and mission operations teams to deliver robust

Qualifications

• Strong 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 RS0 tracking concepts.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to document clearly and collaborate across disciplines.
• U.S. Person eligible to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Build and integrate GNC software and hardware subsystems across all orbital regimes, collaborating with spacecraft bus providers and internal 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.

Skills

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

C++

Linux development

Education

Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

Job description

Redwire Corporation seeks an Autonomy Engineer specializing in GNC to design core spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control systems; you will work across the full lifecycle from algorithm design and simulation to hardware integration and mission operations.

The role involves building subsystems, developing autonomous software, creating high-fidelity 6-DOF simulations, validating on ground and on orbit, and collaborating with avionics, propulsion, and mission operations teams to deliver robust