GNC Engineer – Phased-Array Antennas & Space Navigation

SpaceX; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

401(k) plan

Health, vision and dental insurance

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Parental leave

Disability insurance

Job summary

United States Digital Space LLC seeks an engineer for GNC algorithm design and development for Starshield user terminals, focusing on production-ready C++ software deployed to space-grade hardware.

The role emphasizes real-time navigation, beam-steering, and high-velocity mission contexts, with requirements for advanced state estimation, GNSS-independent PNT, and close collaboration with hardware teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, computer science/software engineering, or an engineering discipline.
• Software development experience in C++, Python, and/or MATLAB/Simulink.
• Experience with attitude determination and/or state estimation algorithms.

Responsibilities

• Design and analysis of GNC logic for Starshield phased array antennas
• Real-time angular and translational navigation using onboard sensors and optimal state estimation techniques
• Design of beam-steering logic to track and hand-off satellites while maximizing link integrity in challenging operational environments
• Development of GNSS independent PNT (position, navigation, and timing) algorithms
• Design and implementation of all of the above for high-velocity/high-maneuverability platforms
• Provide engineering and data review support for hardware development, special projects, and customer support triage
• Work with hardware engineers on the design and specification of future user terminal products and their navigation sensor packages
• Model derivation and high fidelity simulation for development and validation of prototype features
• Implementation, validation, unit testing, and deployment of production software (C++) pertinent to the systems described above

Skills

C++

Python

MATLAB/Simulink

State estimation

GNC algorithms

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Simulink

Job description

United States Digital Space LLC seeks an engineer for GNC algorithm design and development for Starshield user terminals, focusing on production-ready C++ software deployed to space-grade hardware.

The role emphasizes real-time navigation, beam-steering, and high-velocity mission contexts, with requirements for advanced state estimation, GNSS-independent PNT, and close collaboration with hardware teams.