GNC Engineer II

Menlo Ventures; Laguna Beach (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity & Benefits

PTO & parental leave

Job summary

True Anomaly seeks talented engineers to develop GNC systems for autonomous spacecraft. You will own architecture, algorithms, verification, hardware integration, and on-orbit operations to advance space superiority.

Join a multidisciplinary team across avionics, propulsion, software, and mission operations. Expect work on state estimation, Kalman filtering, and robust flight software with rigorous simulation and testing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical engineering, physics, or related field.
• 2–4 years of GNC engineering experience in aerospace/defense.
• Coursework or projects in attitude dynamics, orbital mechanics, and control systems.
• Strong understanding of physics, attitude dynamics, orbital mechanics, and software development principles.
• Internship or project experience in GNC, control systems, or simulation.
• Experience with C++ and/or Python for algorithms or simulation.
• Familiarity with spacecraft GNC concepts (sensors, actuators, state estimation).
• Exposure to Kalman filters through internships, coursework, or projects.
• Ability to build, test, and debug software and simulation tools.
• Strong analytical skills and multidisciplinary teamwork.
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership and learn quickly.

Responsibilities

• Own all aspects of GNC system development, including architecture definition, algorithm design, verification, hardware integration, and on-orbit operations.
• Design, test, and validate GNC flight software and embedded algorithms for spacecraft operating in LEO, GEO, and other orbit regimes.
• Develop and maintain spacecraft Attitude and Orbit Determination & Estimation (AOD/AOE) algorithms, including sensor fusion and filtering frameworks.
• Conduct trade studies and provide design recommendations for GNC hardware such as reaction wheels, torque rods, thrusters, star trackers, sun sensors, IMUs, and RF/optical navigation sensors.
• Develop GNC algorithms and implement them in flight software; verify performance and robustness through high‑fidelity simulation, Monte Carlo analysis, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing.
• Design, implement, and improve high‑fidelity 6‑DOF simulation environments for SIL, HIL, and advanced mission analysis.
• Utilize and enhance frequency‑domain and time‑domain control analysis tools to ensure stability margins, disturbance rejection, and performance in off‑nominal conditions.
• Define system‑and‑subsystem‑level GNC requirements, interfaces, and verification plans in collaboration with systems engineering.
• Work cross‑functionally with avionics, propulsion, software, mission operations, and systems teams to ensure seamless integration of GNC functionality.
• Support on‑orbit commissioning, system calibration, maneuver planning, and anomaly resolution throughout mission operations.

Skills

GNC Engineering

Python

C++

Control systems

Simulation development

Attitude dynamics

Orbital mechanics

Software development

Problem solving

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace/Mechanical/Physics

Master's degree in aerospace engineering or related

Tools

Kalman filters

Simulation software

GNC simulation tools

Job description

Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it.

OUR MISSION

True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors — enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.

OUR VALUES

• Be the offset.We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity.
• What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results.
• It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own all aspects of Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) system development, including architecture definition, algorithm design, verification, hardware integration, and on-orbit operations.
• Design, test, and validate GNC flight software and embedded algorithms for spacecraft operating in LEO, GEO, and other orbit regimes.
• Develop and maintain spacecraft Attitude and Orbit Determination & Estimation (AOD/AOE) algorithms, including sensor fusion and filtering frameworks (e.g., EKF, UKF, batch least-squares).
• Conduct trade studies and provide design recommendations for GNC hardware such as reaction wheels, torque rods, thrusters, star trackers, sun sensors, IMUs, and RF/optical navigation sensors.
• Develop GNC algorithms and implement them in flight software; verify performance and robustness through high‑fidelity simulation, Monte Carlo analysis, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing.
• Design, implement, and improve high‑fidelity 6‑DOF simulation environments for SIL, HIL, and advanced mission analysis.
• Utilize and enhance frequency‑domain and time‑domain control analysis tools to ensure stability margins, disturbance rejection, and performance in off‑nominal conditions.
• Define system‑and‑subsystem‑level GNC requirements, interfaces, and verification plans in collaboration with systems engineering.
• Work cross‑functionally with avionics, propulsion, software, mission operations, and systems teams to ensure seamless integration of GNC functionality.
• Support on‑orbit commissioning, system calibration, maneuver planning, and anomaly resolution throughout mission operations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, or related field
• 2 - 4 years of relevant GNC Engineering experience in the aerospace and defense industry
• Coursework or project experience in spacecraft attitude dynamics, orbital mechanics, and control systems
• Strong understanding of physics, attitude dynamics, orbital mechanics, and software development principles
• Internship or project experience in GNC, control systems, or simulation development
• Experience with C++ and/or Python for algorithm development, numerical methods, or simulation
• Familiarity with spacecraft GNC concepts, such as sensors, actuators, state estimation, and control laws
• Exposure to filtering or estimation methods (e.g., Kalman filters) through internships, coursework, or projects
• Ability to build, test, and debug software and simulation tools
• Strong analytical skills and ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary engineering environment
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of tasks and learn new concepts quickly

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in aerospace engineering or equivalent discipline
• Experience with closed‑loop control, orbital maneuvering, filtering, state estimation, fault management, and software development
• Experience developing simulation environments for spaceflight physics
• Experience with flight operations and solving problems real‑time on console
• Experience performing line of sight performance analysis such as jitter, smear, and pointing accuracy
• Experience doing hands‑on GNC hardware testing
• Ability to maintain or obtain TS//SCI US government security clearance

COMPENSATION

• Base Salary: $115,000 - $165,000
• Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job‑related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work Location—This is an onsite position, Successful candidates will be located near Denver, CO or Long Beach, CA
• Work environment—the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
• Physical demands—the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.

True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.