Principal GNC Engineer

EVONA; California; On-site; USD 175,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Relocation assistance

Ownership of GNC architectures

Job summary

EVONA is seeking a Principal GNC Engineer in Hawthorne, Los Angeles, to take technical ownership of spacecraft guidance, navigation and control systems for ambitious NewSpace missions. You will lead architecture definition, develop robust algorithms and verify flight-critical performance against budgets in a fast-growing environment.

You will mentor engineers, coordinate with flight software, sensors and propulsion teams, and drive SIL/HIL verification, flight readiness reviews, and on-orbit

Qualifications

• Proven ownership of spacecraft attitude control or GNC architecture.
• Strong expertise in control theory, spacecraft dynamics and estimation algorithms.
• Hands-on experience developing flight-critical GNC algorithms.
• MATLAB/Simulink, 6DOF simulation and flight software experience.
• Experience with spacecraft integration, verification and qualification.
• Strong preference for engineers with spacecraft flight heritage, including on-orbit operations.
• Experience leading technical teams or major GNC workstreams.
• RPO or proximity operations experience beneficial but not mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Lead spacecraft GNC architecture, design and algorithm development.
• Own attitude determination, attitude control, state estimation and control law development.
• Define technical requirements, performance budgets and verification approaches.
• Develop and oversee spacecraft dynamics models and 6DOF simulation environments.
• Lead GNC integration with flight software, sensors, actuators and propulsion systems.
• Drive SIL/HIL verification, technical reviews and flight readiness activities.
• Collaborate with engineering leadership across multiple spacecraft programs.
• Mentor engineers and provide hands-on technical guidance.
• Support launch, commissioning and on-orbit operations.

Skills

Control theory

Spacecraft dynamics

Estimation algorithms

MATLAB/Simulink

Flight software

6DOF simulation

GNC architecture

Leadership

Spacecraft integration

Job description

Employment: Full-time, Permanent

Lead the development of flight-critical GNC systems for new spacecraft missions.

EVONA is partnering with a fast-growing NewSpace business developing mission-configurable spacecraft for a wide range of mission requirements.

With $380M+ in funding, including an $80M Series A and a recent $300M PIPE deal, the company is scaling rapidly and investing in multiple new spacecraft programs.

We're searching for a Principal GNC Engineer in Hawthorne, Los Angeles, who can take technical ownership of spacecraft guidance, navigation and control systems.

This isn't a maintenance-focused position. You'll be designing new architectures, developing algorithms and helping deliver spacecraft from initial design through flight.

What you'll be doing

• Lead spacecraft GNC architecture, design and algorithm development.
• Own attitude determination, attitude control, state estimation and control law development.
• Define technical requirements, performance budgets and verification approaches.
• Develop and oversee spacecraft dynamics models and 6DOF simulation environments.
• Lead GNC integration with flight software, sensors, actuators and propulsion systems.
• Drive SIL/HIL verification, technical reviews and flight readiness activities.
• Collaborate with engineering leadership across multiple spacecraft programs.
• Mentor engineers and provide hands-on technical guidance.
• Support launch, commissioning and on-orbit operations.

What we're looking for

• Proven technical ownership of spacecraft attitude control or GNC architecture.
• Strong expertise in control theory, spacecraft dynamics and estimation algorithms.
• Hands-on experience developing flight-critical GNC algorithms.
• MATLAB/Simulink, 6DOF simulation and flight software experience.
• Experience with spacecraft integration, verification and qualification.
• Strong preference for engineers with spacecraft flight heritage, including on-orbit operations.
• Experience leading technical teams or major GNC workstreams.
• RPO or proximity operations experience is beneficial but not mandatory.

What's on offer?

• $175K–$225K base + equity
• $380M+ in funding
• Ownership of new spacecraft GNC architectures
• Multiple spacecraft programs and greenfield engineering
• Significant technical influence in a rapidly scaling organisation
• Relocation assistance available

US citizenship is required.