Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer

Vast; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company dedicated to revolutionizing space exploration by developing artificial gravity space stations. As a Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer, you'll play a crucial role in modeling and simulating flight control algorithms for the Haven-1 space station. This full-time position offers a dynamic work environment where your contributions will directly impact the future of humanity in space. With a commitment to safety and innovation, you'll collaborate with talented professionals to ensure the success of groundbreaking projects. If you're passionate about space and technology, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

100% medical coverage

dental coverage

vision coverage

flexible paid time off

paid parental leave

short and long-term disability insurance

life insurance

free catered meals

401(k) retirement plan

ClassPass credits

Qualifications

• 3+ years experience in GNC or a Master's degree in a STEM discipline.
• C/C++ programming skills required; Python is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Maintain GNC simulation architecture and conduct hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Design and validate GNC flight software and develop control laws.

Skills

C/C++ programming

Python programming

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Experience in orbital mechanics

Experience in attitude dynamics and control

Experience in feedback control systems

Experience in non-linear simulations

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master's degree in STEM

PhD in STEM

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

Job description

Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer

Pay Competitive

Location: Long Beach, California

Employment type: Full-Time

Job Description

• Req#: 4232526006

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero-gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low earth orbit in August 2025. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.

Vast is looking for a Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer who will support high fidelity modeling and simulation as well as research and development of flight control algorithms for our Haven-1 space station. This is a dynamic and fun organization involved in deploying forward-leaning avionics, guidance, navigation, and control systems for developmental concepts for spacecraft, both unmanned and human-rated.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain high fidelity GNC simulation architecture, including hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Design, implement, and validate GNC flight software.
• Develop control laws to meet vehicle performance and stability margin requirements.
• Support flight activities and analyze flight performance data.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) discipline.
• 3+ years of experience OR Master’s degree in a STEM discipline.
• 1+ years of experience OR PhD in a STEM discipline.
• C/C++ programming skills.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Python programming skills.
• Excellent communication, analysis, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in orbital mechanics as well as attitude dynamics and control.
• Experience using linear control principles and tools to design feedback control systems.
• Experience analyzing non-linear simulations of closed-loop dynamics.
• Working knowledge of outer loop control law performance requirements.
• Experience using MATLAB to create, process, analyze, and visually represent data.
• Experience using Simulink to model dynamic systems.

Salary Range: California $105,000 — $165,000 USD

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, flexible paid time off for exempt staff and up to 15 days of vacation for non-exempt staff, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, free catered meals and snacks and beverages, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, One Medical membership, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast 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.

About the company

Vast is developing artificial gravity space stations to expand humanity across the solar system.