Head of GN&C for Autonomous Spacecraft

W3Global Inc.; California; On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

W3Global Inc. in Torrance, CA, seeks a Head of Guidance, Navigation & Control (GN&C) to lead architecture, development, and delivery of flight-critical control systems across an autonomous spacecraft portfolio.

This hands-on leader designs GN&C from concept to flight while guiding high-performing teams. The ideal candidate has deep expertise in orbital mechanics, control theory, state estimation, RPO, and formation flying, and will be the technical authority for GN&C while remaining actively

Qualifications

• Degree in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years GN&C experience with spacecraft, launch vehicles, or autonomous systems.
• Experience owning flight-critical GN&C systems from concept to deployment.
• Deep knowledge of orbital mechanics, nonlinear control, and state estimation.
• Proficient in MATLAB/Simulink, Python, and C/C++; experience integrating into embedded software.
• Demonstrated leadership of highly technical engineering teams; U.S. Citizenship; TS/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

• Own the GN&C architecture across all spacecraft programs.
• Define technical strategy and roadmap for autonomous spacecraft control systems.
• Lead development of GN&C algorithms for rendezvous, proximity operations, and formation flying.
• Oversee ADCS, orbit determination, and state estimation systems.
• Drive integration between GN&C, flight software, avionics, and mission systems.
• Establish engineering standards, modeling practices, and verification methodologies.
• Lead simulation, Monte Carlo analysis, and performance validation activities.
• Oversee hardware-in-the-loop testing and flight readiness.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop GN&C engineers; act as technical authority during reviews.

Skills

GN&C engineering leadership

Orbital mechanics

Control theory

State estimation

RPO & formation flying

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

C/C++

Embedded flight software

Systems engineering mindset

Education

Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical Eng degree

Tools

HIL testing tools

Embedded flight software

Job description

W3Global Inc. in Torrance, CA, seeks a Head of Guidance, Navigation & Control (GN&C) to lead architecture, development, and delivery of flight-critical control systems across an autonomous spacecraft portfolio.

This hands-on leader designs GN&C from concept to flight while guiding high-performing teams. The ideal candidate has deep expertise in orbital mechanics, control theory, state estimation, RPO, and formation flying, and will be the technical authority for GN&C while remaining actively