Lead GNSS Navigation Engineer — Centimeter-Precision, Real-Time

Xona Space; Burlingame (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Xona Space in Burlingame is seeking a Senior Navigation Engineer to lead the Navigation Software team, shaping core positioning and timing capabilities for real-time and post-processed solutions, and to mentor junior engineers toward production-quality flight software.

You will own the architecture of precise positioning, orbit determination, clock estimation, atmospheric modeling, and integrity monitoring, and serve as a technical liaison with payload and systems engineering to ensure

Qualifications

• The MS or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Geomatics, Applied Mathematics, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in GNSS-based navigation, state estimation, or related domains (aerospace, autonomous systems, geodesy).
• Deep expertise in statistical estimation—extended/unscented Kalman filters, batch least squares, or factor graphs.
• Proven track record shipping navigation algorithms from prototype to production.
• Strong Python skills for rapid prototyping and analysis; proficiency in C++ for flight or embedded implementations.
• Experience with GNSS data formats (RINEX, SP3, RTCM) and tools (GIPSY, Bernese, or similar).
• Familiarity with orbital mechanics, reference frames, and time systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and development of navigation subsystems including Precise Positioning, Orbit Determination, Clock Estimation, Atmospheric Modeling, and Integrity Monitoring.
• Own the technical direction for core positioning and timing capabilities, mentor junior engineers, and bridge the gap between algorithm development and flight-ready implementation.
• Serve as a liaison with payload software and systems engineering to ensure navigation requirements flow down to flight software and hardware interfaces.

Job description

Xona Space in Burlingame is seeking a Senior Navigation Engineer to lead the Navigation Software team, shaping core positioning and timing capabilities for real-time and post-processed solutions, and to mentor junior engineers toward production-quality flight software.

You will own the architecture of precise positioning, orbit determination, clock estimation, atmospheric modeling, and integrity monitoring, and serve as a technical liaison with payload and systems engineering to ensure