GNC Engineer III (Controls), Alpha

Firefly Aerospace Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO for exempt employees

Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance

Paid maternity and spouse leave

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace Inc. is seeking a Senior GNC Engineer in Austin, Texas, to design and implement advanced control systems and autonomous flight software for launch vehicles. The role requires expertise in attitude control system design and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. It offers benefits such as unlimited PTO, sabbaticals, and educational reimbursements. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents due to ITAR regulations.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of experience in launch vehicle GNC systems.
• Advanced knowledge of attitude dynamics and control theory.
• Proficiency in hardware-in-the-loop testing.

Responsibilities

• Design and tune launch vehicle attitude control software.
• Implement control techniques for mission-critical flight phases.
• Support hardware-in-the-loop test campaigns.

Skills

Attitude control system design

Real-time software development using C++

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or related field

Tools

Python

Job description

Senior GNC Engineer

As a Senior GNC Engineer specializing in controls and autonomy at Firefly, you will design and implement advanced control systems and autonomous flight software for operational launch vehicles. In this role, you will develop and tune attitude control software, support hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing and system integration, and provide technical leadership while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. This position combines advanced control theory, real‑time embedded systems development, and hands‑on flight operations support while mentoring junior engineers in a fast‑paced operational environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design, analyze, and tune launch vehicle attitude control software to ensure stable flight from launch to orbit
• Implement control techniques for mission‑critical flight phases using thrust vector control actuators, reaction control thrusters, and aerodynamic surfaces
• Develop control systems accounting for complex launch vehicle dynamics including aerodynamic effects, structural flex modes, propellant slosh, and control structure interaction
• Establish technical standards and validation methodologies for control system design, software development, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing
• Conduct stability analysis, sensitivity studies, and performance optimization for control systems under nominal and off‑nominal flight conditions
• Support hardware‑in‑the‑loop test campaigns for integrated GNC systems including control algorithm validation, flight software verification, and system‑level performance testing
• Drive resolution of complex GNC challenges requiring deep technical expertise and rapid problem‑solving
• Provide technical direction on system architecture and serve as subject matter expert for launch vehicle control
• Mentor junior engineers in control theory and flight software development
• Author technical documentation and analysis reports that communicate GNC concepts and results to diverse audiences
• Interface with cross‑discipline teams to integrate control software with vehicle hardware
• Serve as a GNC console operator for launch operations and perform post‑flight analysis to improve vehicle models
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives for GNC processes, tools, and operational efficiency

QUALIFICATIONS – REQUIRED

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or related field
• 5–10 years of experience in launch vehicle GNC systems with significant depth in attitude control system design or flight software development
• Advanced knowledge of attitude dynamics and control theory, including rotational dynamics, attitude representations, control moment generation, and stability analysis
• Strong understanding of classical control theory and frequency domain analysis techniques
• Expertise in real‑time software development using C++ for flight‑critical applications
• Proficiency in hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing and requirement verification for flight‑critical systems
• Excellent communication and presentation skills

QUALIFICATIONS – ADDITIONAL

• Master's degree or PhD in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, applied mathematics, or related field
• Experience architecting and implementing control systems for operational launch vehicles from development through flight
• Expertise in advanced control techniques such as nonlinear control methods, optimal control, model predictive control, or adaptive control applied to launch vehicle applications
• Hands‑on experience with launch vehicle actuator systems including thrust vector control actuators, reaction control thrusters, and aerodynamic surfaces
• Advanced knowledge of state estimation techniques including Kalman filtering, sensor fusion, and covariance analysis
• Proficiency in Python for scripting, data analysis, and automation
• Working knowledge of launch vehicle systems and mission operations
• Experience with modern flight software frameworks and real‑time operating systems
• Track record of thought leadership through publications, presentations, or contributions to industry state‑of‑the‑art

Space for You – Benefits

• Unlimited PTO for exempt employees
• 3‑month sabbatical for every 5 years of service
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• Mental health services
• Paid military leave
• 12 weeks paid maternity leave
• 4 weeks paid spouse leave
• $20k towards family planning: fertility, surrogacy, adoption
• Dog‑friendly workplace

Space for Your Career – Professional Development

• $10k/year towards trade school or college
• Ongoing coaching to advance leadership skills
• Employee‑ownership with stock bonuses
• 4% Safe Harbor 401(k) matching
• $10k bonus for home purchase in Cedar Park, Texas

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.