GNC Engineer II (Hypersonics)

Firefly Aerospace; Cedar Park (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental and vision plans

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement

Short term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a GNC Engineer to design, analyze, and operate the GNC systems for the Alpha Launch Vehicle and emerging hypersonic programs. You will develop GNC software and simulations for high‑speed flight regimes, perform dynamic analyses, and support mission operations while expanding capabilities across multiple vehicle programs.

You will gain hands‑on experience with ascent guidance, hypersonic guidance algorithms, and real‑time flight operations in a fast‑paced environment,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical, electrical, physics, math, CS or related field.
• 2-5 years of experience in aerospace guidance, navigation, and control or related discipline.
• Strong understanding of flight mechanics and aerodynamics.
• Experience with Python for scripting, data analysis, and visualization.
• C++ experience for real‑time or flight‑critical applications.
• Familiarity with Git, code documentation, and testing.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate GNC software for multiple vehicle programs.
• Design and tune attitude control algorithms for all flight phases.
• Perform 6DOF dynamic analysis of trajectories and heating effects.
• Develop simulation models for aerodynamics, propulsion, and sensors.
• Create tools to automate workflows and generate technical reports.
• Conduct stability analyses and hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing.
• Interface with cross‑discipline teams to integrate GNC software.
• Support trajectory optimization for mission profiles including hypersonics.
• Serve as GNC console operator and perform post‑flight analysis.
• Author technical documentation communicating GNC concepts and results.
• Build proficiency across GNC competencies and improve processes.

Skills

GNC

Flight dynamics

Trajectory optimization

State estimation

Embedded systems

Python scripting

C++

Linux

Real-time software

Kalman filtering

Education

Bachelor’s in aerospace/related field

Master’s or PhD in aerospace/controls (preferred)

Tools

Git

CI/CD

Job description

Career Opportunities with Firefly Aerospace

Come be a part of the 21 st Century Space Race!

Careers At Firefly Aerospace

Share with friends or Subscribe!

Current job opportunities are posted here as they become available.

Subscribe to our RSS feeds to receive instant updates as new positions become available.

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 for operational launch vehicles including the Alpha Launch Vehicle and emerging hypersonic programs. In this role, you will develop GNC and simulation software tailored to high-speed flight regimes, perform dynamic analyses across diverse trajectory profiles, and support mission operations while building breadth across multiple vehicle programs.

This position offers hands‑on experience with launch vehicle ascent guidance, hypersonic guidance algorithms, attitude control in high dynamic pressure environments, and real‑time flight operations in a fast‑paced environment. You will deepen your technical capabilities in flight mechanics and controls, with particular emphasis on hypersonic applications, taking ownership of system elements and software tools supporting Firefly’s expanding vehicle portfolio.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and validate GNC software to ensure successful mission execution across multiple vehicle programs
• Design and tune attitude determination and control algorithms for all phases of flight including boost, ascent, and terminal phases
• Perform 6DOF dynamic analysis of nominal and dispersed trajectories including aerodynamic heating effects, trajectory shaping, and range optimization
• Develop and maintain simulation models for aerodynamics, hypersonic thermal constraints, propulsion systems, sensors, and actuators
• Create tools to automate workflows, process flight data, and generate technical reports for vehicle performance
• Conduct stability analysis, sensitivity studies, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing of GNC systems under flight conditions including off‑nominal scenarios
• Interface with cross‑discipline teams (aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, thermal) to integrate GNC software with vehicle hardware
• Support trajectory optimization and targeting for mission profiles including launch vehicles and high‑speed flight regimes
• Serve as a GNC console operator for vehicle launch operations and perform post‑flight analysis to improve vehicle models and performance predictions
• Author technical documentation and analysis reports that communicate GNC concepts and results to diverse audiences
• Build proficiency across GNC competencies while contributing to continuous improvement of GNC processes and tools

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science, or related field
• 2-5 years of professional experience in aerospace guidance, navigation, and control, or related technical discipline
• Understanding of flight mechanics, aerodynamics, and attitude dynamics
• Familiarity with numerical simulation techniques, integration methods, and modeling of dynamic systems
• Experience with Python for scripting, data analysis, and visualization
• Familiarity with C++ for real‑time or flight‑critical applications
• Understanding of software development best practices including version control (Git), code documentation, and testing
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Advanced degree (master’s or PhD) in aerospace engineering or related field with focus on GNC, flight mechanics, hypersonics, or controls
• Experience supporting launch vehicle or hypersonic vehicle GNC across development, integration, and flight
• Experience with high‑speed or hypersonic flight test, wind tunnel testing, or flight dynamics analysis
• Knowledge of aerodynamic and aerothermal effects on vehicle performance and control, particularly in high‑speed flight regimes
• Understanding of trajectory optimization techniques for hypersonic mission profiles including skip trajectories, boost‑glide profiles, and multi‑phase mission design
• Proficiency in C++ for embedded systems or real‑time applications
• Knowledge of state estimation techniques including Kalman filtering, sensor fusion, and covariance analysis
• Experience with control allocation and adaptive control techniques for vehicles with varying control authority
• Familiarity with modern flight software frameworks and real‑time operating systems
• Familiarity with CI/CD workflows and automated testing practices
• Experience with Linux development environments and command‑line tools
• Exposure to flight test campaigns, launch operations, or mission operations
• Understanding of multi‑phase trajectory design for vehicles transitioning between propulsion modes or flight regimes

Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, educational reimbursement, short term disability, and flexible PTO options.

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.

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status