GNC Engineer (Optical Systems)

Optical Society of Southern California; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, vision & dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Impulse Space is seeking a GNC Engineer (Optical Systems) to own star trackers and optical navigation systems across development and operations, collaborating within Autonomous Systems and a fast-paced team.

The role requires a Bachelor's in engineering and 2+ years in image processing, with proficiency in Matlab and C++. You will contribute to flight code, simulations, and mentor junior engineers in attitude determination and sensor integration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering discipline is required.
• 2+ years of experience in image processing and optical analysis.
• Proficiency in Matlab and C++.
• Experience with camera systems and attitude determination.
• Experience with sensor noise modeling, photometric calibration, or low-light imaging.

Responsibilities

• Implement GNC flight, analysis, and test artifacts for high-performance GNC-adjacent optical systems.
• Develop robust identification, attitude resolution, and object detection algorithms for star trackers and imaging systems
• Support relative navigation through imaging systems
• Quantify and verify sensor performance via first-principles, simulation, and hardware verification
• Contribute to vehicle-level attitude determination improvements and analyses
• Participate in software development, both flight code and simulation
• Create tools for ground and on-orbit development, alignments, and verification, enabling new iterations and design decisions to be realized quickly
• Resolve technical issues with innovative, resourceful solutions
• Communicate design needs, intent, and capability to the broader engineering team
• For Senior and higher, mentor other engineers and define the best practices for sensor-level design and integration into space vehicles

Skills

Image processing

C++

Matlab

Camera systems

Attitude determination

Sensor noise modeling

Low-light imaging

Kalman filtering

Computer vision

Pattern recognition

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's degree in aerospace, electrical, computer science, or related field

PhD in relevant field

Job description

Stefan Forschner

9/8/2026 3:03 PM

Contact me at [e-mail] with any questions.

GNC Engineer (Optical Systems)

Department

Autonomous Systems

Employment Type

Full Time

Location

Redondo Beach

Workplace type

Onsite

Compensation

$125,000 - $155,000 / year

As a Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer (Optical Systems) at Impulse Space, you will own all aspects of and provide outstanding technical contribution to star trackers and optical navigation systems in all phases of development and operation while working closely with a fast paced, agile team.

Responsibilities

• Implement GNC flight, analysis, and test artifacts for high-performance GNC-adjacent optical systems produced at scale
• Develop robust identification, attitude resolution, and object detection algorithms for star trackers and other imaging systems
• Support relative navigation through imaging systems
• Quantify and verify expected sensor performance via first-principles, simulation, and hardware verification
• Contribute to vehicle-level attitude determination improvements and analyses
• Participate in software development, both flight code and simulation
• Create tools for ground and on-orbit development, alignments, and verification, enabling new iterations and design decisions to be realized quickly
• Resolve technical issues with innovative, resourceful solutions
• Communicate design needs, intent, and capability to the broader engineering team
• For Senior and higher, mentor other engineers and define the best practices for sensor-level design and integration into space vehicles

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering discipline
• 2+ years of experience in image processing and optical analysis
• Proficiency in Matlab and C++
• Demonstrated experience with camera systems and fundamentals of attitude determination
• Experience with sensor noise modeling, photometric calibration, or low-light imaging

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Master's or PhD in aerospace, electrical, computer science, or related degree
• Strong mathematical background in Kalman filtering and probability analysis
• Demonstrated experience in developing star tracker starlight-in-quaternion-out algorithms
• Experience with ground-based testing of optical systems
• Experience with computer vision, machine learning, or pattern recognition in imaging systems
• Experience in a startup or agile development environment
• Experience in spacecraft GNC fundamentals and vehicle interactions with high-performance optical systems

Additional Information

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

Impulse Space's spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of 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.