Orbit GNC Engineer: Precision Spacecraft Control

Xona Space Systems; Burlingame (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Xona Space Systems in Burlingame, California is seeking a GNC Orbit Controls Engineer to design and implement onboard software for orbit determination, guidance, and maneuver execution. You will develop controllers for managing altitude and station-keeping while ensuring safe and efficient implementation.

The ideal candidate must have a strong background in C++ and MATLAB, with familiarity in orbital mechanics and experience supporting real maneuvers. This role requires U.S. citizenship or residency due to government compliance.

Qualifications

• Familiar with onboard propagators with perturbation models and integrators on flight targets.
• Experience in GNC software using C++ and MATLAB for analysis, modeling, and test-vector generation.
• Supported real maneuvers and reconciled plan versus truth with post-burn estimation.
• Comfortable at the ADCS and propulsion interface for burn pointing and momentum management.

Responsibilities

• Develop open-loop and closed-loop controllers for altitude management and station-keeping.
• Implement and maintain onboard orbit propagators and validate integrators.
• Built orbit determination pipelines using EKF with GNSS.
• Design burns and optimize delta V and timelines under constraints.

Skills

Orbital mechanics and simulation

GNC software (C++, MATLAB)

Real maneuvers support

ADCS and propulsion interface

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Control Systems, Applied Physics, or a related field

Tools

MATLAB

C++

Job description

Xona Space Systems in Burlingame, California is seeking a GNC Orbit Controls Engineer to design and implement onboard software for orbit determination, guidance, and maneuver execution. You will develop controllers for managing altitude and station-keeping while ensuring safe and efficient implementation.

The ideal candidate must have a strong background in C++ and MATLAB, with familiarity in orbital mechanics and experience supporting real maneuvers. This role requires U.S. citizenship or residency due to government compliance.