Spacecraft GNC Engineer III

Firefly Aerospace; Leander (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental plan

Vision plan

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement

Short-term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace in Texas is seeking a Spacecraft GNC Engineer to design, analyze, and operate GNC systems across missions. You will develop flight software, run simulations, and support mission operations while growing toward senior GNC roles at Firefly.

Requirements include a BR/Aerospace Eng degree, 4–8 years in GNC or related field, and strong Python/C++ skills. The role offers hands-on modeling of attitude, navigation, and control with CI/CD workflows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or related field.
• 4–8 years in spacecraft GNC or related discipline with strong math.
• Proficiency in Python and C++ for flight-critical software.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing and verification.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate GNC software for spacecraft missions.
• Tune and configure GNC algorithms across flight phases.
• 6DOF simulation analysis of nominal and dispersed profiles.
• Create models for sensors, actuators, and environment effects.
• Automate workflows, process data, and generate reports.
• Collaborate with cross-discipline teams and support operations.

Skills

Guidance & Controls

Python scripting

C++ real-time

Linux

State estimation

Spacecraft dynamics

Sensor modeling

CI/CD

Education

Aerospace Engineering degree

Physics

Tools

Git

CI/CD pipelines

Python tooling

Job description

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACEFirefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the only commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the only company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.ABOUTFirefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the first company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.SUMMARYAs a Spacecraft GNC Engineer at Firefly, you will design, analyze, and operate the GNC systems of operational spacecraft. In this role, you will develop GNC flight and simulation software, perform analyses, and support mission operations while continuing to build breadth across core GNC competencies. This position offers hands-on experience with spacecraft attitude determination and control systems, onboard navigation, sensor and actuator modeling, and real-time mission operations across multiple spacecraft. You will deepen your technical capabilities and refine your desired career trajectory, taking ownership of system elements and software tools as you grow toward a senior GNC role at Firefly.RESPONSIBILITIESDevelop and validate GNC software to ensure successful spacecraft mission executionTune and configure GNC algorithms for all phases of spacecraft flightPerform 6DOF simulation analysis of nominal and dispersed flight profilesDevelop and maintain simulation models for sensors, actuators, and environmental effectsCreate tools to automate workflows, process simulation and flight data, and generate technical reportsConduct stability analysis, sensitivity studies, and hardware-in-the-loop testing of GNC under nominal and off-nominal conditionsInterface with cross-discipline teams to integrate GNC software with spacecraft hardwareServe as a GNC console operator for spacecraft operations and perform post-mission analysis to improve spacecraft modelsAuthor technical documentation and analysis reports that communicate GNC concepts and results to diverse audiencesBuild proficiency across core GNC competencies while contributing to continuous improvement of GNC processes and toolsQUALIFICATIONSRequiredBachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science, or related field4-8 years of professional experience in spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control, or related technical disciplineAdvanced knowledge of spacecraft orbital mechanics, spacecraft dynamics, state estimation, attitude dynamics, and sensor modelingExperience developing high-fidelity sensor and actuator modelsProficiency in a specialization of spacecraft GNC: Navigation, Guidance, Controls, Software DevelopmentProficiency in hardware-in-the-loop testing and requirement verification for mission-critical systemsProficiency with Python for scripting, data analysis, and visualizationExperience with C++ for real-time or flight-critical applicationsSoftware engineering expertise with proficiency in development practices including version control, code review, testing, documentation, and CI/CDDesiredAdvanced degree (master's or PhD) in aerospace engineering or related field with focus on GNCExperience supporting spacecraft GNC across development, integration, and mission operationsExpertise in C++ for embedded systems or real-time applicationsExperience with modern flight software frameworks and real-time operating systemsProficiency with CI/CD workflows and automated testing practicesExperience with Linux development environments and command-line toolsExposure to spaceflight mission operations or spacecraft commissioningFirefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, educational reimbursement, short term disability, and flexible PTO options.To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected statusPrimary Level Salary Range:Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, relocation benefits, educational reimbursement, short term disability, and flexible PTO options.To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.