GNC Engineer

Darwin Recruitment; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-backed space company in San Francisco is seeking a Senior GNC Engineer to take responsibility for GNC algorithms and systems that control their rockets. You will design and implement algorithms, build simulations in Simulink, and support real launches. Ideal candidates have over 5 years of aerospace GNC experience and a strong background in Simulink. This role offers a unique opportunity for hands-on work impacting flight systems in a mature yet dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of GNC or flight dynamics experience in aerospace.
• Strong background in Simulink and programming languages like C++ or Python.
• Understanding of real-time systems and aerospace dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement guidance, control, and estimation algorithms.
• Build models and full vehicle simulations in Simulink.
• Analyze test and flight data to validate models and improve system performance.

Skills

GNC or flight dynamics experience

Simulink

Communication skills

Education

Degree in engineering, physics, or a similar technical field

Tools

C++

Python

Job description

Senior GNC Engineer

San Francisco, CA | Onsite | Small Launch & Propulsion

A well-backed space company is hiring a Senior GNC Engineer to help take ownership of the algorithms and systems that fly their rockets. This is a tight-knit team that designs, simulates, and tests the full guidance, navigation, and control stack across their orbital launch vehicles.

This role is ideal for someone who’s already developed GNC algorithms in a fast-paced environment, and wants broader ownership over how those systems behave in the real world. You won’t just be writing code in a vacuum. You’ll be defining requirements, collaborating with cross-functional teams, helping with component and interface decisions, supporting launches from mission control, and tuning models based on live test and flight data.

The company is small enough that your work has real impact, but mature enough that launches are routine and the flight software is solid. If you’re looking for hands-on, end-to-end GNC work on systems that fly, this is worth a look.

What you’ll be doing

• Designing and implementing guidance, control, and estimation algorithms
• Building models and full vehicle simulations in Simulink
• Testing across multiple environments including HIL and engine cells
• Owning large portions of the GNC architecture across the full vehicle lifecycle
• Supporting real launches from mission control
• Analyzing test and flight data to validate models and improve system performance
• Collaborating with software, propulsion, avionics, and systems teams to align design and test coverage

You’ll need

• 5+ years of GNC or flight dynamics experience in aerospace
• Background in Simulink and either C++ or Python
• Understanding of real-time systems, aerospace dynamics, and simulation
• A hands-on approach and strong communication skills
• A degree in engineering, physics, or a similar technical field

Nice to have

• Experience integrating GNC code into flight software
• Technical leadership or ownership of a full GNC stack
• Familiarity with fast-paced or startup-style development environments

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Adam Slade