Spacecraft GNC Engineer – Attitude & Navigation

SpaceX Corp.; Hawthorne (CA); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Discretionary bonuses

401(k) retirement plan

Medical, vision, dental coverage

Paid parental leave

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA, is seeking a GNC Engineer for the Attitude Determination and Control System (STARSHIELD). You will design and implement satellite GNC software, develop CONOPs, and advance high‑fidelity 6DOF simulations and HITL testing to ensure mission success.

You will work on cross‑functional teams, own complex models, and contribute to autonomy, fault tolerance, and navigation filtering. Requirements include a Bachelor's in aerospace or related field and experience with C++, Python,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, computer science/software engineering, or an engineering discipline.
• Software development experience in C++, Python, and/or MATLAB/Simulink.
• Experience with attitude determination and/or state estimation algorithms.
• Master's or PhD in aerospace engineering, computer science/software engineering, or an engineering discipline.
• Strong fundamentals in spacecraft attitude and orbit dynamics, navigation filtering and/or control systems design.

Responsibilities

• Design and implementation of satellite GNC software that can facilitate all mission concepts of operations across all phases of flight, including off-nominal/contingency scenarios
• Design of concepts of operations (CONOPs) that balance thermal constraints, power budgets, momentum management, and payload-pointing needs
• Design, development, and flight software implementation of onboard GNC algorithms to achieve autonomy and fault tolerance with good navigation/control performance
• Update and maintain GNC software configurations for minor satellite design revisions and mission sets
• High fidelity time domain 6DOF modeling and simulation of satellite dynamics, sensors, actuators, algorithms, and their interactions
• Monte Carlo simulation analysis to validate safe flight and quantify performance
• Involvement in HITL testing, test case design, data review automation, and fidelity improvements
• Navigation filtering and control systems design and optimization
• Satellite ADCS sensor/actuator hardware sizing and layout
• Develop, validate, and improve complex sensor/actuator/dynamics models for 6DOF simulation
• Maintain robust interfaces with thermal, power, and communications subsystems

Skills

C++

Python

MATLAB/Simulink

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's or PhD in engineering/CS

Tools

Git

Linux

Confluence

Jira

Job description

SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA, is seeking a GNC Engineer for the Attitude Determination and Control System (STARSHIELD). You will design and implement satellite GNC software, develop CONOPs, and advance high‑fidelity 6DOF simulations and HITL testing to ensure mission success.

You will work on cross‑functional teams, own complex models, and contribute to autonomy, fault tolerance, and navigation filtering. Requirements include a Bachelor's in aerospace or related field and experience with C++, Python,