Head of GN&C

ACE Partners; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 270,000 - 330,000; Full time

Job summary

ACE Partners is seeking a Head of GN&C for a space startup in Torrance, CA. The role is on-site, reporting to the CTO, and requires a US person.

You will lead the GN&C effort for proximity operations, autonomous maneuvers and optical navigation, while also building and mentoring a high-performance engineering team. The position demands hands-on coding in C++, Python or MATLAB/Simulink, and a track record of flight-proven estimation and control algorithms.

Qualifications

• Proven GN&C algorithms that have flown.
• Deep estimation and control expertise including Kalman filtering, sensor fusion, and control law design.
• Experience building simulation infrastructure from scratch.
• Active coding in C++, Python or MATLAB/Simulink.

Responsibilities

• Architect and build a team; write estimation and control algorithms and hire/lead engineers.
• Develop simulation infrastructure and verification tools before assembling the team.
• Maintain hands-on coding and contribute to GN&C development today.

Skills

Kalman filtering

Sensor fusion

Leadership

C++, Python, MATLAB/Simulink coding

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

C++

Job description

Head of GN&C - Space Startup, Torrance CA

Up to $300K base + equity | On-site | US person required

Seed-stage space company in Torrance. Founders are ex-SpaceX and ex-Relativity — the CEO co-founded a company now valued over $1B. Second and third companies for both, not first attempts.

The mission

Space domain awareness and contested space operations: proximity operations, formation flying, autonomous manoeuvring, and deorbiting uncooperative spacecraft.

That last word is the interesting part. The target doesn't know you're coming. Geometry uncertain, tumble unpredictable, lighting shifting through every orbit — and with signal delay and comms gaps, nobody on the ground can fly the approach. The vehicle solves it itself.

Two spacecraft launch this year and become the on-orbit test bed for the sims. Real flight data, not slides.

The role

A hands-on architect who also builds a team, and both halves matter. You'd write the estimation and control algorithms yourself, then hire and lead the engineers who write them alongside you.

There's one principal GN&C engineer in seat. There's no 6DOF sim and no HIL bench — you'd build both before you build the team, because you can't recruit against nothing or validate against nothing.

Reports to the CTO.

What they're after

• GN&C algorithms you personally wrote that have flown
• Deep estimation and control — Kalman filtering, sensor fusion, control law design. Those are the named gaps
• Simulation infrastructure built from scratch, not just used
• Still writing code today, in C++, Python or MATLAB/Simulink
• Startup tempo — SpaceX, Relativity, Rocket Lab, Vast, Impulse, Northrop SpaceLogistics or similar
• You've hired, mentored and led engineers
• Rendezvous and proximity ops, relative navigation against non-cooperative targets, or flown optical nav all move you to the top of the list.

On-site five days in Torrance. Relocation assistance available. US person, no sponsorship, no exceptions.