Spacecraft GNC Autonomy Engineer – Real-Time Ops

Redwire Corporation; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 96,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Redwire Space seeks a seasoned GNC software engineer to lead development of guidance, navigation and control for advanced spacecraft programs. You will build and integrate GNC subsystems and software-defined autonomy across multiple orbital regimes, collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams.

You will design flight software, create high‑fidelity 6‑DOF simulations, and validate through SIL/HIL environments while supporting on‑orbit commissioning and mission operations.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of professional software engineering experience focused on Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC).
• Strong foundation in Aerospace, Dynamics & Controls, Computer Science, Physics, or related disciplines.
• Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C++, and Linux-based development workflows.
• Experience building or debugging simulations or flight‑software components; ability to navigate complex system requirements.
• Background in orbital mechanics, spacecraft dynamics, estimation, and control theory.
• Familiarity with rendezvous/proximity operations, docking, propulsive maneuvering, and resident space object tracking concepts.
• U.S. Person eligible to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Build and integrate GNC subsystems across orbital regimes with spacecraft bus providers and internal teams.
• Develop software-defined autonomy for precise maneuvering, safe navigation and robust mission execution.
• Design flight-software algorithms and high-fidelity 6-DOF simulation environments supporting SIL, HIL, and mission analysis.
• Develop and execute validation plans for ground checkout, on-orbit commissioning, and operations; support launch campaigns.
• Expand sensor-fusion and estimation frameworks (EKF, UKF) for AOD/AOE and refine control laws for stability and performance.
• Conduct trade studies for GNC components and recommend optimal configurations.
• Provide Monte Carlo analysis and hardware-in-the-loop testing to validate behavior across nominal/off-nominal scenarios.
• Define GNC requirements, interfaces, and verification plans with avionics, propulsion, mission ops, and flight software teams.
• Collaborate with operators and mission partners to translate needs into high-performance GNC features.
• Support on-orbit commissioning, calibration, maneuver planning, anomaly resolution and automated fault-response logic development.

Skills

GNC engineering

Orbital mechanics

Spacecraft dynamics

Estimation / state estimation

Control theory

Software engineering

GNC systems design

Matlab/Simulink

Python

C++

Linux development

TS/SCI eligibility

Education

Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

C++

Linux

Job description

Redwire Space seeks a seasoned GNC software engineer to lead development of guidance, navigation and control for advanced spacecraft programs. You will build and integrate GNC subsystems and software-defined autonomy across multiple orbital regimes, collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams.

You will design flight software, create high‑fidelity 6‑DOF simulations, and validate through SIL/HIL environments while supporting on‑orbit commissioning and mission operations.