GNC Engineer - 176792

Zachary Piper Solutions; Seal Beach (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Zachary Piper Solutions seeks an experienced GNC Engineer to support a leading aerospace and defense program in Seal Beach, CA. The role is onsite with active TS/SCI clearance required, targeting mission-critical space, hypersonic, and autonomous vehicle programs.

You will design, develop, simulate, and test GN&C capabilities across engineering, software, avionics, and test teams, delivering rapid transitions from development to flight testing while ensuring rigorous verification and system

Qualifications

• 5+ years of engineering experience in GN&C or related aerospace systems.
• Hands-on GN&C algorithm development experience.
• Expertise with MATLAB/Simulink for modeling and simulation.
• Experience with 6-DOF vehicle dynamics modeling and simulation.
• Active Tier 5 TS/SCI clearance and ability to work onsite in Seal Beach, CA.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and validate GN&C algorithms for spacecraft and aerospace vehicles.
• Develop and maintain high-fidelity 6-DOF simulations for dynamics and mission analysis.
• Develop GN&C flight software using MATLAB/Simulink and C/C++.
• Apply flight mechanics and controls to trajectory design and performance.
• Support system integration, verification, flight testing, and anomaly resolution.
• Collaborate across systems, software, avionics, and test teams.

Skills

GNC engineering

Flight dynamics

System integration

Embedded software development

Python programming

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

C/C++

Python

Job description

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking an experienced GNC Engineer to support a leading aerospace and defense organization rapidly developing and fielding advanced space, hypersonic, and autonomous vehicle capabilities for mission-critical U.S. government programs. This role is fully onsite in Seal Beach, CA (NO FLEXIBILITY) and requires an active Tier 5 TS/SCI security clearance*

The GNC Engineer will support the design, development, simulation, and testing of guidance, navigation, and control capabilities for advanced space, hypersonic, and autonomous vehicle systems, working across engineering, software, avionics, and test teams to rapidly transition concepts from development through flight testing.

Responsibilities of the GNC Engineer:

• Design, develop, and validate GN&C algorithms for spacecraft, hypersonic, re-entry, and other aerospace vehicles.
• Develop and maintain high-fidelity 6-DOF simulations for vehicle dynamics, mission, and performance analysis.
• Develop and integrate GN&C flight software using MATLAB/Simulink and C/C++.
• Apply flight mechanics, controls, and astrodynamics to trajectory design, guidance, navigation, and vehicle performance.
• Develop atmospheric/re-entry flight controls, navigation, autonomy, and powered/unpowered guidance laws.
• Support system integration, verification, flight testing, troubleshooting, and anomaly resolution.
• Develop simulation artifacts, CONOPS, analysis products, and test procedures supporting prototype-to-flight development.
• Collaborate with systems, software, avionics, integration, and test teams throughout development and testing.

Qualifications for the GNC Engineer:

• 5+ years of relevant engineering experience supporting aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, autonomous platforms, hypersonic vehicles, or similar aerospace systems.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant STEM discipline — Engineering, Engineering Technology, CS/Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, or directly related field. Advanced education can offset some experience per the original requirement.
• Hands-on GN&C algorithm development — guidance, navigation, and/or control algorithms, not simply general aerospace/systems engineering.
• MATLAB + Simulink expertise.
• 6-DOF modeling/simulation development — experience developing high-fidelity vehicle dynamics simulations and associated analysis tools.
• Flight mechanics + control systems knowledge applicable to aerospace vehicles.
• Software development experience in C/C++, Python, or C#.
• Aerospace vehicle systems experience — aircraft, missile, spacecraft, autonomous vehicle, or similar.
• Active Tier 5 TS/SCI clearance*
• Ability & Willingness to work fully onsite in Seal Beach, CA.
• Preferred:
  • Spacecraft, hypersonic, and/or re-entry vehicle experience.
  • State estimation and sensor fusion, including Kalman filtering and GPS/INS integration.
  • Advanced control theory, including classical, modern, and nonlinear controls.
  • Model-based development and flight test support experience.
  • Astrodynamics/orbital mechanics and trajectory optimization experience.

Compensation for the GNC Engineer:

• Salary Range: $120,000 - $160,000 *depending on experience*
• Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k Plan, PTO, Holidays, Sick Leave if required by law

This job opens for applications on 10/01. Applications for this job will be accepted for at least 30 days from the posting date.

#LI-MS1

#LI-ONSITE

Keywords: GN&C, GNC, Guidance Navigation and Control, Guidance Navigation & Control, Guidance, Navigation, Controls, Guidance Engineer, Navigation Engineer, Controls Engineer, GNC Engineer, GN&C Engineer, Flight Controls Engineer, Flight Dynamics Engineer, Aerospace Engineer, Aerospace Systems Engineer, Space Systems Engineer, Spacecraft Engineer, Autonomy Engineer, Flight Software Engineer, Modeling and Simulation Engineer, Simulation Engineer, Spacecraft, Space Systems, Space Vehicle, Hypersonic, Hypersonics, Hypersonic Vehicle, Re-entry, Reentry, Re-entry Vehicle, Atmospheric Flight, Autonomous Vehicle, Aircraft, Missile, Missile Systems, Launch Vehicle, Aerospace Vehicles, 6-DOF, 6DOF, Six Degree of Freedom, Six Degrees of Freedom, 6-DOF Simulation, Dynamic Simulation, High Fidelity Simulation, Vehicle Simulation, Vehicle Dynamics, Flight Dynamics, Flight Mechanics, Aerospace Dynamics, MATLAB, Simulink, Stateflow, C, C++, Python, C#, Flight Software, Embedded Software, Algorithm Development, GNC Algorithms, Guidance Algorithms, Navigation Algorithms, Control Algorithms, Modeling and Simulation, M&S, System Modeling, Dynamic Modeling, Model-Based Development, Model Based Design, Model Based Engineering, Control Systems, Flight Control Systems, Control Theory, Classical Control, Modern Control, Nonlinear Control, Nonlinear Dynamics, State Estimation, Navigation Estimation, Sensor Fusion, Kalman Filter, Kalman Filtering, Extended Kalman Filter, EKF, Unscented Kalman Filter, UKF, GPS, GNSS, INS, IMU, Inertial Navigation, Inertial Navigation System, GPS/INS, GNSS/INS, Integrated Navigation, Air Data Systems, Sensors, Avionics, Astrodynamics, Orbital Mechanics, Orbital Dynamics, Orbit Determination, Mission Design, Mission Analysis, Trajectory Design, Trajectory Optimization, Trajectory Analysis, Guidance Laws, Powered Guidance, Unpowered Guidance, Re-entry Guidance, Reentry Guidance, Atmospheric Guidance, Autonomous Guidance, Autonomy, Navigation Systems, Attitude Determination, Attitude Control, Attitude Dynamics, ADCS, AOCS, Flight Control Law, Control Law Development, Stability Analysis, Performance Analysis, Aerodynamics, Atmospheric Flight Mechanics, Flight Testing, Flight Test, Hardware-in-the-Loop, HIL, Software-in-the-Loop, SIL, Testbed Integration, Avionics Integration, Systems Integration, Verification, Validation, V&V, Integration and Test, I&T, Simulation Testing, Algorithm Verification, System Verification, Anomaly Resolution, Troubleshooting, CONOPS, Concept of Operations, Rapid Prototyping, Advanced R&D, Research and Development, Experimental Systems, Space Operations, Spacecraft Operations, Mission Operations, Defense, DoD, Department of Defense, Tier 5, T5, SSBI, TS/SCI, Top Secret SCI, Top Secret, SCI, Security Clearance