GNC Engineer

Voiceflow; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision

Flexible time off

Flexible work environment

Job summary

Astro Mechanica in San Francisco is seeking a skilled GNC engineer to own guidance, navigation, and control systems for a clean-sheet autonomous aircraft, from first principles to flight-ready implementation.

You will collaborate across propulsion, structures, avionics, and software, balancing tradeoffs to deliver robust, testable architectures. This role emphasizes hands-on testing, in-office collaboration five days a week, and a fast-paced environment focused on practical flight performance.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in robotics, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or related discipline.
• 2+ years of professional experience in GNC development for an aerospace or autonomous vehicle program.
• Experience with dynamics, modeling, and simulation.
• Experience with software development best practices.
• Experience with Rust, C++, Python, or other relevant software languages.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement guidance, navigation, and control systems for our products.
• Engage in multi-disciplinary aircraft trades and help define the overall system architecture.
• Develop 6-DOF dynamics simulation models used for analysis and validation.
• Develop tooling to automate control design, monte carlos, and simulation validation.
• Work closely with peers across engineering disciplines to define the control schemes and mechanisms for our products.
• Support flight and ground test operations.
• Conduct post flight/test reviews and correlate performance with analysis for continuous improvement on predictions.

Skills

GNC development

Dynamics modeling

Software development

System architecture

Education

Master’s degree or PhD in robotics, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or related discipline

Tools

Rust

C++

Python

Job description

ABOUT US:

Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company building a faster, more connected future. Our mission is to democratize high-speed flight by making supersonic travel flexible, accessible, and sustainable. We believe that rapid, on-demand, point-to-point global mobility will become the new standard for moving people and goods across the planet. To achieve this, we are integrating our advanced airframe and engine technologies—which include Duality™, our proprietary dual-use propulsion system—with a new flight operations model to make supersonic transport as efficient and economical as commercial air travel is today. In the near term, we are developing adaptable, high-speed systems to close aircraft performance gaps for the United States government.

WHO WE ARE:

We’re a team of passionate engineers dedicated to advancing aerospace. We’re generalists with specialist depth, united by a flat structure and a shared obsession with building things that work well. We move fast, stay pragmatic, and let engineering excellence speak louder than hierarchy.

WHO YOU ARE:

You’re a GNC engineer who wants real ownership over the guidance and control systems of a clean-sheet autonomous aircraft. You’re comfortable working from first principles, collaborating tightly with propulsion, structures, and avionics, and making practical tradeoffs to get hardware flying. You care deeply about how systems behave in the real world—not just in simulation—and you’re motivated by building control architectures that are robust, testable, and ready for flight.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Develop and implement guidance, navigation, and control systems for our products

• Engage in multi-disciplinary aircraft trades and help define the overall system architecture

• Develop 6-DOF dynamics simulation models used for analysis and validation

• Develop tooling to automate control design, monte carlos, and simulation validation

• Work closely with peers across engineering disciplines to define the control schemes and mechanisms for our products

• Support flight and ground test operations

• Conduct post flight/test reviews and correlate performance with analysis for continuous improvement on predictions

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

• Master’s degree or PhD in robotics, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or related discipline

• 2+ years of professional experience in GNC development for an aerospace or autonomous vehicle program

• Experience with dynamics, modeling, and simulation

• Experience with software development best practices

• Experience with Rust, C++, Python, or other relevant software languages.

• Ambition to work in a fast-paced environment

PERKS & BENEFITS:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• 401(k) program and transparent stock option plan

• Self-managed and flexible time-off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time

• Flexible work environment

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

At Astro Mechanica, we highly value in-office work to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. We consider working in the office five days a week an essential part of the employee's role.

Astro Mechanica is an equal opportunity employer. We proudly recruit and hire a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.