Senior Staff GNC Engineer

Intuitive Machines, LLC; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 143,000 - 238,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health and welfare insurance

401(k) plan

Incentive eligible

Job summary

Lanteris Space LLC, a subsidiary of Intuitive Machines, seeks a Senior Staff GNC Engineer to serve as the technical lead for a Palo Alto, CA program. You will design, analyze, and test advanced GNC algorithms and orbital analysis while guiding the team.

You will lead GNC system design, mentor engineers, conduct reviews, and interface with customers and stakeholders as part of a cross-functional spaceflight program. The base pay is disclosed for California and reflects market conditions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace (Space) or related field; 8+ years in spacecraft GNC systems (Master's = +2 years, PhD = +2)
• US citizenship required and demonstrated leadership on space programs
• Deep expertise in GNC algorithms and spacecraft dynamics

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of GNC systems and act as SME for attitude control
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers; lead technical reviews and design discussions
• Interface with customers and stakeholders; collaborate with Flight Software and Systems Engineering teams
• Present findings to technical and executive leadership

Skills

GNC algorithms

Spacecraft dynamics

Technical leadership

Programming languages

Education

Aerospace/related degree

Tools

Git/Gitlab/Github

Linux/Windows

AWS Pipelines

Job description

Please review the job details below. Lanteris Space LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intuitive Machines, is seeking a Senior Staff Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) Engineer to serve as the technical lead for an upcoming program in Palo Alto, CA. As a technical leader, you will design, analyze, and test advanced GNC algorithms and orbital analysis while providing technical leadership to the team.

Intuitive Machines is a leading space infrastructure company that builds spacecraft, connects networks, and operates infrastructure-as-a-service for commercial, civil, and national security customers. With a proven track record across the space domain, the Company, through organic growth and portfolio expansion, has built over 300 spacecraft, delivered over 260 kilograms of payload to the lunar surface, and provided precision navigation expertise that has guided spacecraft across our solar system.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of GNC systems
• Serve as subject matter expert for spacecraft attitude control
• Drive technical decisions and architectural choices
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers
• Lead technical reviews and design discussions

Technical Analysis & Development

• Design and analyze spacecraft attitude control system performance
• Lead simulation and modeling of complex GNC algorithms
• Analyze and interpret telemetry data from on-orbit spacecraft
• Develop innovative GNC flight software components
• Create and validate sophisticated MATLAB/Simulink models
• Author technical documentation, analysis reports, and white papers

Testing & Validation

• Lead GNC hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing activities
• Develop sensor models (gyroscopes, star trackers, magnetometers, etc.)
• Develop actuator models (reaction wheels, CMGs, magnetic torque rods, thrusters)
• Design test procedures and advanced data analysis scripts
• Investigate and resolve complex anomalies

Collaboration

• Lead design reviews and technical meetings
• Interface with customers and stakeholders
• Collaborate with Flight Software, Systems Engineering, and other teams
• Present findings to technical and executive leadership

Minimum Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace (Space), Astronautics, Mechanical (Dynamics), Electrical (Controls), Physics (Astrodynamics, Orbits), Applied Math or related field
• 8 years of related industry experience in spacecraft GNC systems, a Master's degree may count for 2 years of experience and a PHD may count for 2 years of experience
• Demonstrated technical leadership on successful space programs
• Deep expertise in GNC algorithms and spacecraft dynamics

Technical Skills

• Expert-level proficiency with C/C++/MATLAB/Simulink/Python/Julia
• Strong experience with Git/Gitlab-Github, Linux/Windows, AWS Pipelines

Proven track record of successful GNC system designs

In support of pay transparency at Lanteris Space Systems, we disclose salary ranges on all U.S. job postings. The successful candidate’s starting pay will fall within the salary range provided below and is determined based on job-related factors, including, but not limited to, the experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills, geographic work location, and market conditions. Candidates with the minimum necessary experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skillsets for the position should not expect to receive the upper end of the pay range.

• The base pay for this position within California is: $143,000.00 - $238,000.00 annually.

For all other states, we use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop market-driven ranges for our roles, and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, health and welfare insurance, and 401(k) to eligible employees. More information on our benefits will be shared with candidates as they move forward in the recruitment process.

Additionally, this position is incentive eligible with a target based on contribution, company performance, and/or individual results achieved; the specific incentive plan and target amount will be determined based on the role and breadth of contributions.

The application window is three days from the date the job is posted and will remain posted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire. If the job is reposted regardless of reason, it will remain posted three days from the date the job is reposted and will remain reposted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire.

Lanteris Space Systems values diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.