Senior GNC Engineer – Spacecraft Guidance & Control

True Anomaly, Inc.; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 145,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare – 100% company-paid medical

Dental & Vision coverage

Time off – up to 25 days PTO

HSA/HRA options

Lunch & snacks in-office

Equity participation

Dog Fridays

Job summary

True Anomaly, Inc. seeks an experienced GNC engineer to own architecture, design, verification, and on-orbit operations for spacecraft. You will develop and validate Attitude and Orbit Determination algorithms, sensor fusion, and embedded flight software across multiple orbit regimes.

The role requires 5–7 years in GNC within aerospace/defense, strong C++/Python skills, and a collaborative, multidisciplinary mindset to advance autonomous spacecraft capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, or related field.
• 5 - 7 years of relevant GNC Engineering experience in the aerospace and defense industry.
• Coursework or project experience in spacecraft attitude dynamics, orbital mechanics, and control systems.
• Experience with C++ and/or Python for algorithm development, numerical methods, or simulation.
• Exposure to filtering or estimation methods (e.g., Kalman filters) through internships, coursework, or projects.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to work in a multidisciplinary engineering environment.

Responsibilities

• Own all aspects of Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) system development, including architecture definition, algorithm design, verification, hardware integration, and on-orbit operations.
• Design, test, and validate GNC flight software and embedded algorithms for spacecraft operating in LEO, GEO, and other orbit regimes.
• Develop and maintain spacecraft Attitude and Orbit Determination & Estimation (AOD/AOE) algorithms, including sensor fusion and filtering frameworks.
• Conduct trade studies and provide design recommendations for GNC hardware such as reaction wheels, torque rods, thrusters, star trackers, sun sensors, IMUs, and RF/optical navigation sensors.
• Develop GNC algorithms and implement them in flight software; verify performance and robustness through high-fidelity simulation, Monte Carlo analysis, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Design, implement, and improve high-fidelity 6-DOF simulation environments for SIL, HIL, and advanced mission analysis.
• Utilize and enhance frequency-domain and time-domain control analysis tools to ensure stability margins, disturbance rejection, and performance in off-nominal conditions.
• Define system- and subsystem-level GNC requirements, interfaces, and verification plans in collaboration with systems engineering.
• Work cross-functionally with avionics, propulsion, software, mission operations, and systems teams to ensure seamless integration of GNC functionality.
• Support on-orbit commissioning, system calibration, maneuver planning, and anomaly resolution throughout mission operations.

Skills

GNC Engineering

Control systems

Software development

Python

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, or related field

Tools

C++

Python

Job description

True Anomaly, Inc. seeks an experienced GNC engineer to own architecture, design, verification, and on-orbit operations for spacecraft. You will develop and validate Attitude and Orbit Determination algorithms, sensor fusion, and embedded flight software across multiple orbit regimes.

The role requires 5–7 years in GNC within aerospace/defense, strong C++/Python skills, and a collaborative, multidisciplinary mindset to advance autonomous spacecraft capabilities.