Guidance Navigation & Control Engineer, Senior/Principal

Jobtailor; Seal Beach (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in California seeks a senior GN&C engineer to design, implement, and verify guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for spacecraft. You will develop 6-DOF dynamics simulations, model-based tools, and validate flight software with testbeds.

The role emphasizes leadership, mentoring, and effective communication of technical results within cross-disciplinary teams, including systems engineering and avionics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in engineering or related field.
• Active Tier 5 clearance.
• U.S. Person status and citizenship for clearance.
• No employer-sponsored visa.
• 14+ years related work exp or equivalent.
• Experience with spacecraft and GN&C algorithms.
• MATLAB/Simulink experience.
• C/C++ programming for GN&C implementations.
• Leadership and mentoring background.
• Post-offer drug testing and COI process completed.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and verify GN&C algorithms for spacecraft.
• Develop 6-DOF dynamics simulations and tools.
• Integrate flight software with testbeds and avionics.
• Apply astrodynamics to mission design and trajectory optimization.
• Lead project teams and mentor engineers.
• Communicate technical tradeoffs to stakeholders.
• Support troubleshooting of anomalies and tests.
• Produce operations concepts, simulations, and test procedures.

Skills

Guidance, Navigation, And Control

MATLAB/Simulink

C/C++ Programming

Spacecraft Operations

Leadership And Mentoring

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering or related field

Active Tier 5 Clearance

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

C/C++

Job description

• Design, implement, and verify guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for spacecraft
• Develop and maintain 6-DOF dynamics simulations and analysis tools for mission and performance assessment
• Implement and validate GN&C flight software using MATLAB/Simulink models and C/C++ prototypes
• Integrate flight software with testbeds and avionics
• Apply astrodynamics and flight mechanics to mission design, novel orbit concepts, and trajectory optimization
• Develop powered and unpowered guidance laws and autonomy tools for on-orbit operations
• Support troubleshooting of operational anomalies, functional tests, and service incidents
• Produce concepts of operations, simulation artifacts, and test procedures
• Collaborate with systems engineering, avionics, test, and business development teams
• Communicate technical tradeoffs to stakeholders
• Identify inefficiencies, propose solutions, and implement reusable tools and automations
• Lead engineering project teams, mentor engineers, and advance GN&C engineering practices

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology (including Manufacturing Technology), Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or non-US equivalent qualifications directly related to the work statement
• Active Tier 5 (T5) Clearance, formerly known as Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI)
• U.S. Person status as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.62; U.S. Citizenship required for the security clearance
• No employer-sponsored employment visa status
• Level 5: 14+ years of related work experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Engineering experience with spacecraft
• Experience using MATLAB and Simulink
• Experience developing GN&C algorithms, models and simulations
• Preferred Level 6: 20+ years of related work experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Ability to work effectively in broad, minimally defined design spaces and communicate technical results clearly
• Experience with spacecraft operations and space environment effects
• Programming experience in C/C++ or comparable languages sufficient to implement and test GN&C algorithms
• Familiarity with state estimation and sensor fusion, including Kalman filters and GPS/INS
• Background in classical, modern, and nonlinear control theory and design
• Model-based development experience and flight test support
• Leadership, mentoring, and team engagement experience
• Successful completion of the Company’s Conflict of Interest assessment process
• Subject to applicable post-offer drug testing

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in designing and implementing guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for spacecraft, utilizing MATLAB/Simulink and C/C++. Proven ability to lead engineering teams, mentor engineers, and effectively communicate technical results in complex design environments.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Guidance, Navigation, And Control Algorithms
• MATLAB/Simulink
• C/C++ Programming
• Spacecraft Operations
• Leadership And Mentoring

Hard Skills

• 6-DOF Dynamics Simulations
• GN&C Flight Software Development
• Astrodynamics
• Trajectory Optimization
• Kalman Filters
• Sensor Fusion
• Model-Based Development
• Flight Test Support
• Classical Control Theory
• Nonlinear Control Design

Soft Skills

• Effective Communication
• Problem Solving
• Team Engagement

Certifications & Qualifications

• Active Tier 5 Clearance

Industry Keywords

• Spacecraft Engineering
• Mission Design
• Operational Anomalies
• Simulation Artifacts
• Test Procedures