Founding GNC Architect for Autonomous Spacecraft

Pillar Space; Los Angeles, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental & Vision

401(k)

Equity

PTO & Sick Time

Job summary

Pillar Space seeks a Founding GNC Engineer to own guidance, navigation, and control for autonomous spacecraft. You will define the GNC system, set technical standards, mentor engineers, and help build the team and culture around flight-grade autonomy.

Responsibilities include architecture definition for rendezvous, trajectory design, sensor fusion, HIL/PIL testing, and cross-functional collaboration to shape the company’s technical roadmap from the ground up.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience designing, simulating, implementing, testing, or flight-qualifying GNC algorithms for spacecraft or related high-reliability systems.
• Proven ability to lead technical workstreams, mentor engineers, and build high-performing teams.
• Own complex technical systems from early architecture to flight readiness.
• Strong fundamentals in orbital mechanics, control theory, estimation, dynamics, and sensor fusion.
• Experience with GNC simulation, 6-DOF dynamics, Monte Carlo analyses, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and production languages (C, C++, Python, or Rust).

Responsibilities

• Own the GNC architecture for autonomous rendezvous and related mission phases from design to flight.
• Lead development of guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for proximity maneuvers and safety-critical operations.
• Design and analyze trajectories for orbital operations and mission trades.
• Provide technical leadership across GNC, autonomy, simulation, test, and flight software.
• Hire, mentor, and develop GNC, controls, autonomy, and related engineers as the team grows.
• Establish engineering processes and verification discipline for flight-grade systems.
• Build navigation systems using sensors like vision, LiDAR, GNSS, star trackers, IMUs, etc.
• Develop high-fidelity simulation, Monte Carlo, HIL, and PIL environments to validate performance.
• Define requirements, interfaces, fault-handling, and verification plans for GNC and vehicle-wide systems.
• Test GNC hardware, sensors, actuators, and processors with vendors and internal teams.
• Collaborate with flight software, avionics, propulsion, mechanical, and mission ops teams.
• Shape technical roadmap and long-term GNC strategy with founders and early team.
• Represent GNC in design reviews, investor discussions, and mission planning.

Skills

GNC algorithm design

Leadership / mentorship

System engineering

First-principles reasoning

Cross-functional collaboration

Hardware-in-the-loop testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

C++

Python

Rust

Job description

Pillar Space seeks a Founding GNC Engineer to own guidance, navigation, and control for autonomous spacecraft. You will define the GNC system, set technical standards, mentor engineers, and help build the team and culture around flight-grade autonomy.

Responsibilities include architecture definition for rendezvous, trajectory design, sensor fusion, HIL/PIL testing, and cross-functional collaboration to shape the company’s technical roadmap from the ground up.