GNC Engineer: Spacecraft Attitude & Orbit Control

Cowboy Space Corporation; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement savings plan

Paid time off

10 paid holidays per year

Paid parental leave

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Cowboy Space Corp. is seeking a GNC Engineer to design and implement attitude, navigation, and orbital control algorithms for spacecraft in orbit. You will develop simulations and flight software integrations to ensure precise pointing and reliable maneuvering.

The role spans modeling, simulation, flight software integration, and real-world testing, collaborating with propulsion, hardware, and software teams to achieve mission success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in GNC, controls, or related fields.
• Strong fundamentals in dynamics, control theory, and estimation.
• Experience with simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, Python, or similar).
• Experience implementing or testing control systems in real-world or simulated environments.
• Ability to work in fast-paced, multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for spacecraft attitude and orbit control.
• Build high-fidelity simulations to model spacecraft dynamics, sensors, and actuators.
• Develop state estimation algorithms (e.g., Kalman filters) for navigation and attitude determination.
• Design control laws for pointing, stabilization, and orbital maneuvers.
• Collaborate with propulsion and hardware teams to integrate actuators and sensors into control systems.
• Work with software engineers to implement GNC algorithms into flight software.
• Validate system performance through simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and real-world data.
• Support integration, launch preparation, and on-orbit operations.
• Analyze flight data, troubleshoot anomalies, and improve system performance over time.
• Contribute to system architecture decisions across vehicle and mission design.

Skills

GNC

Controls

Dynamics

Estimation

Kalman filters

Python

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field

Advanced degree (preferred)

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

Job description

Cowboy Space Corp. is seeking a GNC Engineer to design and implement attitude, navigation, and orbital control algorithms for spacecraft in orbit. You will develop simulations and flight software integrations to ensure precise pointing and reliable maneuvering.

The role spans modeling, simulation, flight software integration, and real-world testing, collaborating with propulsion, hardware, and software teams to achieve mission success.