GN&C Hardware Engineer

Relative Dynamics; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with match

PTO & holidays

Community engagement

Job summary

Relative Dynamics seeks a GN&C Hardware Engineer to support the lunar mission portfolio for a Commercial Space customer. This hybrid role requires regular on-site work in Houston, TX and is not eligible for remote work.

You will help select, specify, and integrate GN&C flight hardware, develop interfaces with GN&C and avionics teams, and support testing, qualification, and documentation throughout the hardware lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's or Ph.D. in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Experience supporting spacecraft GN&C hardware development, integration, or test.
• Experience with aerospace flight hardware suppliers and qualification processes.
• Familiarity with GN&C sensors and actuators (IMUs, star trackers, sun sensors, reaction wheels, thrusters).
• Experience with camera and lens design parameters, calibration, and hardware testing.
• Understanding of spacecraft avionics architectures and hardware interfaces.
• Experience with environmental and functional testing of flight hardware.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting and documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Support the selection, specification and integration of GN&C flight hardware across missions.
• Develop hardware requirements and interface definitions with GN&C, avionics and systems teams.
• Support procurement, vendor management, and hardware qualification activities.
• Perform hardware trade studies, performance analyses and risk assessments.
• Support environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMI/EMC) and acceptance testing of GN&C hardware.
• Assist with hardware integration and anomaly resolution during AIT.
• Support GN&C hardware verification and validation activities, including test planning/execution.
• Contribute to hardware-in-the-loop and integrated system test campaigns.
• Generate hardware documentation including specs, test procedures and verification reports.
• Support flight readiness and mission operations preparation.

Skills

GN&C hardware

Spacecraft integration

Cross-functional teamwork

Documentation

Problem solving

Communication skills

Education

Engineering degree (Aerospace/Electrical/Mechanical)

Tools

ZEMAX

FRED

Job description

Career Opportunities with Relative Dynamics

A great place to work.

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At Relative Dynamics we value knowledge as a process rather than knowledge as an answer. Founded in 2011 our goal is to define the new space era by continuously pushing the boundaries of engineering services and technology development. Visit us at www.relativedynamics.space.

Relative Dynamics is a subcontractor supporting a Commercial Space contract. In this role, you will be employed by Relative Dynamics and assigned to work on projects in support of a Commercial Space project.

Relative Dynamics is seeking a GN&C Hardware Engineer to support the lunar mission portfolio for a Commercial Space customer. This is a hybrid role requiring regular on-site work in Houston, TX. This role is not eligible for remote work.

What You’ll Get to Do:

Support the selection, specification, and integration of GN&C flight hardware, including sensors and actuators, across multiple missions.

Develop hardware requirements and interface definitions in collaboration with GN&C, avionics, and systems engineering teams.

Support procurement, vendor technical management, and hardware qualification activities.

Perform hardware trade studies, performance analyses, and risk assessments.

Support environmental testing (vibration, thermal vacuum, EMI/EMC) and acceptance testing of GN&C hardware.

Assist with hardware integration, troubleshooting, and anomaly resolution during assembly, integration, and test (AIT).

Support GN&C hardware verification and validation activities, including test planning and execution.

Contribute to hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and integrated system test campaigns

Generate hardware documentation, including specifications, test procedures, and verification reports.

Support flight readiness, mission operations preparation, and post-test/post-flight analysis as required.

What You’ll Need:

Required Skills & Experience

Bachelor's, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.

Experience supporting spacecraft GN&C hardware development, integration, or test.

Experience working with aerospace flight hardware suppliers and qualification processes.

Familiarity with GN&C sensors and actuators such as IMUs, star trackers, sun sensors, reaction wheels, and thrusters.

Experience with camera and lens design parameters (focal length, IFOV, FOV, etc.), camera calibration, and hardware testing.

Understanding of spacecraft avionics architectures and hardware interfaces.

Experience supporting environmental and functional testing of flight hardware.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and documentation skills.

Flexible and adaptable to changing program needs and schedules.

Preferred Skills & Experience

Experience with integrated optical design and software tools (ZEMAX, etc.), multi-bounce ray-tracing tools (FRED, etc.), camera baffledesignand optimization.

Experience with camera/optical thermal and radiation testing.

Experience with principles of optical navigation and/or observational astronomy, including image processing as it pertains to spacecraft navigation.

Who You Are:

Effective communicator who can translate complex technical concepts across multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders

Customer-focused, with the ability to support government and agency partners while maintaining high service standards

Dependable and accountable, consistently meeting commitments in regulated and deadline-driven environments

Productive and results-oriented, balancing quality, efficiency, and innovation across projects

Collaborative team player who contributes to shared goals and overall organizational success

What You'll Enjoy:

Grow your career with mobility, continuous learning, tuition reimbursement, and a personal development program in a culture that rewards innovation and impact

Join a high-performing team that works together on meaningful, mission-driven work and support each other.

Enjoy comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, life/disability coverage, 401(k) with match, PTO, company holidays, and community engagement opportunities

Relative Dynamics conducts a comprehensive background check that includes drug testing. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability status.