Lead GN&C Engineering for Autonomous Spacecraft

Actalent; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Stock options

401k

PTO

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Head of Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) to define the technical direction for autonomous spacecraft control. You will own system-level performance, drive strategy, and lead a team delivering flight-critical GN&C from concept to on-orbit operations, including RPO and formation flying.

The role requires deep control and state estimation expertise, leadership experience, and a strong systems engineering mindset.

Qualifications

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in spacecraft, launch vehicle, or autonomous system GN&C
• Demonstrated ownership of flight-critical GN&C systems from concept through on-orbit operations
• Deep expertise in control systems, nonlinear dynamics, and state estimation (e.g., Kalman filtering)
• Strong experience with relative motion, orbital mechanics, and RPO or formation flying missions
• Proven ability to lead technical teams and deliver complex systems under schedule and performance constraints
• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, Python, and C/C++
• Experience integrating algorithms into embedded flight software and HIL environments
• Strong systems engineering mindset with the ability to operate across disciplines
• U.S. Citizenship required
• Ability to obtain or hold an active TS/SCI clearance

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end GN&C architecture across all spacecraft programs, ensuring performance, robustness, and mission alignment
• Define and drive technical strategy and roadmap for autonomy-enabled control systems in dynamic and contested environments
• Lead the design, implementation, and validation of GNC algorithms for RPO, formation flying, and precision maneuvering
• Oversee development of ADCS, orbit determination, and state estimation systems with flight-level reliability
• Establish and enforce engineering standards, modeling practices, and verification methodologies across the GN&C domain
• Drive integration of GN&C with flight software, autonomy, avionics, and mission systems
• Own simulation, Monte Carlo analysis, and performance validation under uncertainty, off-nominal conditions, and failure scenarios
• Lead hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and flight test campaigns, ensuring readiness for operational deployment
• Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-caliber GN&C team, setting a high bar for technical excellence and accountability
• Act as the technical authority for GN&C, supporting executive decisions, customer engagements, and program reviews

Skills

control theory

state estimation

orbital mechanics

Kalman filtering

GN&C leadership

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

C/C++

embedded software

HIL testing

systems engineering

US citizenship

TS/SCI clearance

Education

Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical Eng

Job description

Actalent is seeking a Head of Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) to define the technical direction for autonomous spacecraft control. You will own system-level performance, drive strategy, and lead a team delivering flight-critical GN&C from concept to on-orbit operations, including RPO and formation flying.

The role requires deep control and state estimation expertise, leadership experience, and a strong systems engineering mindset.