Principal GNC Engineer

True Anomaly; Long Beach, Denver (CA, CO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Health benefits

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401K

Parental Leave

Job summary

A space technology company is seeking an experienced engineer to lead the development of Guidance, Navigation, and Control systems for spacecraft. The ideal candidate will have over 15 years of experience in GNC systems, strong skills in C++ and Python, and a background in aerospace engineering. Responsibilities include overseeing GNC system development, software validation, and mentoring junior engineers. This role is onsite, with a compensation package including equity and benefits.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of hands-on experience in spacecraft GNC systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-disciplinary technical efforts.
• Experience testing and integrating GNC algorithms with flight hardware.
• Deep understanding of spacecraft attitude dynamics, orbital mechanics, environmental perturbations, and actuator/sensor physics.
• Significant experience with estimation and filtering (EKF, UKF, batch least squares), sensor fusion, covariance analysis, and navigation performance assessment.
• Experience designing control laws and performing stability, robustness, and frequency-domain analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain complex high-fidelity simulations and Monte Carlo frameworks.
• Experience testing and integrating GNC algorithms with flight hardware, including star trackers, IMUs, reaction wheels, GN&C avionics, and propulsion components.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end development of spacecraft GNC systems.
• Design, test, and validate GNC flight software.
• Support on-orbit commissioning and anomaly resolution.
• Design control laws for attitude control, orbit control, maneuver execution, and closed-loop guidance, ensuring required performance and robustness under uncertainties.
• Lead creation and improvement of high-fidelity 6-DOF simulations, sensor/actuator models, disturbance environments, Monte Carlo pipelines, and SIL/HIL integration.
• Conduct system-level GNC trade studies and develop recommendations for hardware such as reaction wheels, torque rods, thrusters, star trackers, IMUs, GNSS units, and optical navigation sensors.
• Define GNC subsystem requirements, interfaces, calibration procedures, verification/validation plans, and support design reviews (SRR/PDR/CDR).
• Work cross-functionally with avionics, software, propulsion, mechanisms, mission operations, and systems engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of GNC functionality.
• Support on-orbit commissioning, calibration, maneuver planning, fault investigation, and anomaly resolution.
• Mentor junior engineers, lead design/code reviews, and help establish GNC best practices, tools, and development standards.

Skills

C++

Python

Estimation and filtering (EKF, UKF)

Sensor fusion

Covariance analysis

Communication skills

RTOS

Hardware integration

System design

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or related discipline

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

High-fidelity simulations

Monte Carlo frameworks

GN&C avionics

Job description

A new space race has begun. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build innovative technology that solves the next generation of engineering, manufacturing, and operational challenges for space security and sustainability.

OUR MISSION

The peaceful use of space is essential for continued prosperity on Earth—from communications and finance to navigation and logistics. True Anomaly builds innovative technology at the intersection of spacecraft, software, and AI to enhance the capabilities of the U.S., its allies, and commercial partners. We safeguard global security by ensuring space access and sustainability for all.

OUR VALUES

• Be the offset. We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity
• What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results
• It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own end-to-end development of spacecraft Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) systems, including architecture definition, algorithm design, software implementation, hardware integration, verification, and flight operations
• Design, test, and validate GNC flight software for spacecraft operating in LEO, GEO, and cislunar environments
• Develop advanced attitude and orbit determination algorithms, including sensor fusion, state estimation, covariance analysis, and Kalman filtering (EKF/UKF/batch)
• Design control laws for attitude control, orbit control, maneuver execution, and closed‑loop guidance, ensuring required performance and robustness under uncertainties
• Lead creation and improvement of high‑fidelity 6‑DOF simulations, sensor/actuator models, disturbance environments, Monte Carlo pipelines, and SIL/HIL integration
• Conduct system‑level GNC trade studies and develop recommendations for hardware such as reaction wheels, torque rods, thrusters, star trackers, IMUs, GNSS units, and optical navigation sensors
• Define GNC subsystem requirements, interfaces, calibration procedures, verification/validation plans, and support design reviews (SRR/PDR/CDR)
• Work cross‑functionally with avionics, software, propulsion, mechanisms, mission operations, and systems engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of GNC functionality
• Support on‑orbit commissioning, calibration, maneuver planning, fault investigation, and anomaly resolution
• Mentor junior engineers, lead design/code reviews, and help establish GNC best practices, tools, and development standards

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, or related discipline (advanced degree preferred)
• 15+ years of hands‑on experience developing and fielding spacecraft GNC systems
• Strong proficiency in C++ and Python, including software development, numerical methods, and algorithm implementation
• Deep understanding of spacecraft attitude dynamics, orbital mechanics, environmental perturbations, and actuator/sensor physics
• Significant experience with estimation and filtering (EKF, UKF, batch least squares), sensor fusion, covariance analysis, and navigation performance assessment
• Experience designing control laws and performing stability, robustness, and frequency‑domain analysis
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain complex high‑fidelity simulations and Monte Carlo frameworks
• Experience testing and integrating GNC algorithms with flight hardware, including star trackers, IMUs, reaction wheels, GN&C avionics, and propulsion components
• Experience defining subsystem requirements, verification plans, and participating in formal design reviews
• Ability to lead cross‑disciplinary technical efforts and deliver results with minimal direction
• Strong communication skills and ability to mentor and guide less experienced engineers
• U.S. Citizen and eligible for DoD Secret or TS/SCI clearance

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience developing GNC systems for proximity operations, formation flying, optical navigation, autonomous maneuvering, or precision pointing missions
• Expertise with FDIR related to GNC components, including failure detection, isolation, and recovery techniques
• Experience with autonomous guidance or onboard trajectory optimization
• Familiarity with safety‑critical or fault‑tolerant flight software architectures
• Experience with real‑time operating systems, embedded software, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop testbeds
• Track record of technical leadership, ownership of major subsystem design, or architecting full GNC solutions

COMPENSATION

• Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job‑related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work Location—This is an onsite position, successful candidates will be located near Long Beach, CA or Denver, CO.
• Work environment—the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
• Physical demands—the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.

This position will be open until it is successfully filled. To submit your application, please follow the directions below. #LI-Onsite

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws.