Senior Spacecraft GNC Architect

Menlo Ventures; Laguna Beach (CA); On-site; USD 220,000 - 315,000; Full time

Job summary

True Anomaly seeks a senior GNC engineer to lead end-to-end development of spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control systems. You will architect, implement, test, and integrate GNC software for missions in LEO, GEO and cislunar environments, coordinating with avionics, propulsion, and mission operations teams.

The role requires deep expertise in Kalman filtering, attitude dynamics, and high-fidelity simulations, plus mentoring of junior engineers.

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.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end development of spacecraft 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, GN&C 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

GNC Systems

Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics

Sensor Fusion

Mathematical Modeling

Leadership

Mentoring

Communication

US Citizenship

Education

Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

True Anomaly seeks a senior GNC engineer to lead end-to-end development of spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control systems. You will architect, implement, test, and integrate GNC software for missions in LEO, GEO and cislunar environments, coordinating with avionics, propulsion, and mission operations teams.

The role requires deep expertise in Kalman filtering, attitude dynamics, and high-fidelity simulations, plus mentoring of junior engineers.