Hybrid GN&C Automation Engineer for Lunar Missions

Relative Dynamics; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life/Disability

401(k) with match

PTO

Company holidays

Community engagement

Job summary

Relative Dynamics in Houston, TX is seeking a GN&C Automation Engineer to design, develop, and test GNC systems for lunar missions, blending software and hardware expertise in a hybrid role.

You will work on real-time flight software in C/C++, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and contribute to sensor integration, HWIL testing, and simulations to ensure safe, reliable spaceflight performance.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Aerospace Engineering or related field with 3–7 years of relevant experience.
• Experience with real-time software development.
• Familiarity with GN&C hardware including IMU, Star Trackers, GPS, LIDAR, and/or OpNav systems.
• Experience with SWIL and/or HWIL testing and integration.
• Exposure to relative navigation, image processing, or feature detection techniques.
• Experience supporting flight control analysis and evaluating vehicle performance and stability.
• Proficiency in C, C++, and/or Python.
• Experience with GN&C sensor testing, planning, or modeling.
• Experience working in a multi-disciplinary team environment.
• Foundational knowledge of spacecraft dynamics and orbital mechanics.
• Experience with JIRA and Agile development processes.
• Familiarity with VxWorks or other real-time operating systems is a plus.
• Experience with Git version control preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and documentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical concepts clearly and effectively.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the design, development, and testing of the GNC system for a lunar spacecraft, which will provide navigation and communications services to lunar users.
• Support real-time GNC flight software development, flight control automation, HWIL sensor and effector integration, performance analysis, and testing.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams across software and hardware systems
• Develop, test, and peer review GNC flight software in C and C++
• Support the selection, assessment, and integration of GNC sensors and effector systems
• Execute and analyze 6-DOF simulations to evaluate expected on-orbit performance
• Support navigation HWIL sensor and effector integration and testing for a lunar satellite mission
• Assist in real-time flight software development, integration, and testing for a lunar satellite mission

Skills

Real-time software development

C/C++

Python

GN&C hardware

JIRA & Agile

Git version control

HWIL testing

Team collaboration

Education

BS or MS in Aerospace Engineering

Tools

JIRA

Git

VxWorks

Python

Job description

Relative Dynamics in Houston, TX is seeking a GN&C Automation Engineer to design, develop, and test GNC systems for lunar missions, blending software and hardware expertise in a hybrid role.

You will work on real-time flight software in C/C++, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and contribute to sensor integration, HWIL testing, and simulations to ensure safe, reliable spaceflight performance.