GNC Engineer II

firefly; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a GNC Engineer to design, analyze, and operate the GNC systems of operational launch vehicles. You will develop GNC and simulation software, perform dynamic analyses, and support mission operations in a fast-paced environment.

This role offers hands-on experience with ascent guidance, attitude control, and real-time flight operations as you grow toward a senior GNC position within Firefly.

Qualifications

• GNC software concepts and implementation experience.
• Knowledge of attitude control principles and orbit dynamics.
• Experience in dynamic analysis of launch vehicle trajectories.
• Familiarity with simulation tools and flight data processing.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate GNC software to ensure successful launch vehicle missions.
• Tune and configure attitude control algorithms for all flight phases.
• Perform 6DOF dynamic analysis of ascent trajectories.
• Develop and maintain models for sensors, actuators, and environment.
• Create tools to automate workflows and process flight data.
• Interface with cross-discipline teams to integrate GNC software with hardware.

Skills

GNC software

Attitude control

Dynamics analysis

Simulation

Flight data

Tools

Simulation software

Job description

ABOUTFIREFLYAEROSPACE

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the first company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.

SUMMARY

As a GNC Engineer at Firefly, you will design, analyze, and operate the GNC systems of operational launch vehicles. In this role, you will develop GNC and simulation software, perform dynamic analyses, and support mission operations while continuing to build breadth across core GNC competencies. This position offers hands‑on experience with launch vehicle ascent guidance, attitude control systems, and real‑time flight operations in a fast‑paced environment. You will deepen your technical capabilities and refine your desired career trajectory, taking ownership of system elements and software tools as you grow toward a senior GNC role at Firefly.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and validate GNC software to ensure successful launch vehicle mission execution
• Tune and configure attitude determination and control algorithms for all phases of launch vehicle flight
• Perform 6DOF dynamic analysis of nominal and dispersed ascent trajectories
• Develop and maintain simulation models for sensors, actuators, and environmental effects
• Create tools to automate workflows, process flight data, and generate technical reports
• Conduct stability analysis, sensitivity studies, and hardware-in-the-loop testing of GNC systems under nominal and off-nominal flight conditions
• Interface with cross-discipline teams to integrate GNC software with vehicle hardware
• Serve as a GNC console operator for launch operations and perform post-flight analysis to improve vehicle models
• Author technical documentation and analysis reports that communicate GNC concepts and results to diverse audiences
• Build proficiency across core GNC competencies while contributing to continuous improvement of GNC processes and tools