Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer (Senior, Level III)

Lockheed Martin; Highlands Ranch (CO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

Flexible work arrangements (e.g., 4x10

401(k) match

Paid time off

Job summary

Lockheed Martin Space is seeking an experienced GN&C engineer to design, analyze, and validate spacecraft control systems, including attitude determination and Kalman filtering. You will develop GN&C algorithms using MATLAB/Simulink, C++, and Python, and perform hardware-in-the-loop testing to verify performance.

Join a fast-paced, collaborative team delivering end-to-end space flight software and mission hardware integration.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in spacecraft controls design, analysis, simulation and test.
• Experience with simulation and programming tools (MATLAB/Simulink, C++, Python) and Kalman Filtering / Attitude Determination
• Experience in GN&C design and analysis tasks

Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, and simulate spacecraft control systems, including attitude determination and Kalman filtering.
• Develop and validate GN&C algorithms using MATLAB/Simulink, C++, and Python.
• Perform hardware in the loop and flight software testing to verify control performance.
• Collaborate with cross functional engineers, mission operators, and customers to integrate GN&C hardware suites.
• Communicate technical concepts clearly to peers, management, subcontractors and customers.

Skills

Spacecraft controls design

GN&C design & analysis

Attitude determination

Jitter analysis

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering or related discipline

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

C++

Python

Job description

Standard Job Description

At Lockheed Martin Space, we aim to harness the full potential of space to cultivate innovation, reduce costs, and push the boundaries of what technology can achieve. We’re creating future‑ready solutions, focusing on resiliency and urgency through our 21st Century Security® vision.

Standard Job Description

At Lockheed Martin Space, we aim to harness the full potential of space to cultivate innovation, reduce costs, and push the boundaries of what technology can achieve. We’re creating future‑ready solutions, focusing on resiliency and urgency through our 21st Century Security® vision.

About The Team

The Military Space Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) team is made up of enthusiastic and talented individuals that design and produce the hardware, algorithms, and software required to solve the challenging problems of controlling these systems in a harsh, zero-g environment.

Due to the classified nature of this opportunity, we can’t talk about everything you’ll do on this program but know that you will play a part in building end-to-end solutions and game‑changing technology.

What You’ll Do

• Design, analyze, and simulate spacecraft control systems, including attitude determination and Kalman filtering.
• Develop and validate GN&C algorithms using MATLAB/Simulink, C++, and Python.
• Perform hardware in the loop and flight software testing to verify control performance.
• Contribute to flight software development and auto code generation to C++.
• Conduct jitter and performance analyses for high precision missions.
• Collaborate with cross functional engineers, mission operators, and customers to integrate GN&C hardware suites.
• Communicate technical concepts clearly to peers, management, subcontractors, and customers.

How You’ll Deliver

• Build and maintain simulation models that reflect real world spacecraft dynamics.
• Implement and tune Kalman filters and attitude determination algorithms.
• Execute test plans, capture data, and produce verification reports.
• Generate and review technical documentation, including requirement specifications and design reviews.
• Support rapid iteration cycles in a fast paced, collaborative environment.
• Provide technical briefings and status updates to stakeholders throughout the program lifecycle.

Successful applicants will generally have 3+ years of related experience and may have a post‑secondary degree or training in a related discipline.

The information below reflects the standard job description for this position:

Designs, develops, implements, verifies and tests algorithms to perform guidance, navigation and control of aircraft, spacecraft, launch vehicles and upper stages during powered and coast phases of flight, earth orbit, interplanetary cruise and orbital insertion, as well as during staging events. Navigation functions include the statistical processing of measured data points and their substitution into algorithms simulating physical reality. Guidance functions include the formulation of specific equations and control laws to achieve a desired position in space. Control design and analyses processes consist of the development of the control requirements for aircraft, launch vehicles and/or spacecraft.

Basic Qualifications

Skill Requirements

• Strong Experience in Spacecraft Controls Design, Analysis, Simulation and Test
• Experience with simulation and programming tools (ex. MATLAB/Simulink, C++, Python) and Kalman Filtering / Attitude Determination
• Experience in performing GN&C design and analysis tasks

Security Clearance / Work Authorization

• To meet requirements of the program/customer, this position requires the selected employee to be a U.S. Citizen.
• Although not required to start, for long term employment on this program, the selected applicant must:
• Be eligible to obtain (and maintain) Top Secret with adjudicated SCI Eligibility (i.e. TS/SCI).
• Be willing to consent to customer required Polygraph examination and receiving favorable results.

Desired Skills

• 5+ years of related professional experience
• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering or related discipline focusing on control system design & analysis
• Possess active TS/SCI clearance with CI Poly
• Experience with flight software development and autocode to C++
• Jitter Analysis Experience (highly desired)
• Familiarity with a GN&C hardware suite for space applications
• Mission operations experience
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced, dynamic, collaborative team environment
• Demonstrated good communication skills with the ability to articulate complex technical issues to peers, management, subcontractors and customers.
• Proficient in AI prompting as it applies to this position and practice

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $110300.00 - $204900.00

At Lockheed Martin, we know mission success starts with taking care of our people. Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract top talent, support your well‑being, and help you grow—both professionally and personally.

The salary range for this position is as listed on the requisition. Please note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market(work location) and business considerations when extending an offer.

Benefits offered

Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10), 401(k) match, Paid time off, Holidays, Parental Leave, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, Education Assistance, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability.

• Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics.
• For (Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.