Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer

Quantum Space; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental & Vision

HSA

401(k) matching

Equity participation

Generous leave

Job summary

Quantum Space is seeking a Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer to own GNC development across the spacecraft lifecycle. You will design algorithms, perform analyses, and integrate GNC with flight software to enable autonomous navigation and maneuvering across diverse missions.

Ideal candidates have 3–8+ years in GNC, strong dynamics/controls background, and experience with sensor fusion, EKF/UKF, and simulation pipelines.

Qualifications

• 3–8+ years of experience in spacecraft or high-reliability GNC development.
• Strong foundation in rigid-body dynamics, orbital mechanics, and classical/modern control theory.
• Experience implementing estimation and control algorithms in C++, Python, or MATLAB/Simulink.
• Experience with sensor fusion for spacecraft sensors (IMUs, star trackers, sun sensors, GNSS, ranging sensors).
• Familiarity with flight software integration, SIL/HIL testing, and simulation pipelines.
• Ability to analyze telemetry, validate performance, and debug GNC-related anomalies.

Responsibilities

• Develop high-fidelity spacecraft dynamics and GNC simulation environments for analysis, verification, and mission design.
• Implement and tune control laws for attitude control, momentum management, orbit maneuvering, RPO, and station-keeping.
• Develop state estimation designs and pipelines (EKF/UKF) and sensor fusion.
• Integrate GNC algorithms into flight software with unit tests, SIL/HIL, and full-vehicle simulations.
• Collaborate with avionics and sensor teams to define ICDs, data flows, timing, and budgets.
• Analyze telemetry from on-orbit and testbeds to improve algorithms and configurations.
• Develop tools to enhance autonomous maneuver planning and attitude/orbit estimation accuracy.
• Support safe-mode and fault management logic in partnership with FSW and systems engineering.
• Specify hardware components with systems team and coordinate with vendors for cost/schedule targets.
• Develop and execute GNC hardware acceptance and performance test plans.

Skills

Spacecraft GNC

C++

Python

MATLAB/Simulink

Sensor fusion

Telemetry analysis

State estimation

Education

B.S./M.S. in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical/Robotics or related

Tools

SIL/HIL testing

Flight software integration

GNC simulation pipelines

MAX FSW

MAX GDS

Job description

Who We're Looking For

Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.

We are seeking a Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer to develop the algorithms, analyses, and flight capabilities that enable our spacecraft to navigate, maneuver, and operate autonomously across a diverse range of space missions. In this role, you will own GNC subsystem development throughout the spacecraft lifecycle, including mission analysis, modeling and simulation, guidance, navigation, and control algorithm development, flight software integration, hardware integration and test, verification and validation, and on-orbit mission support. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys solving complex technical challenges, and is passionate about building next-generation space systems that support mission success.

Where You'll Make an Impact

• Develop high-fidelity spacecraft dynamics and GNC simulation environments to support analysis, verification, and mission design.
• Implement and tune control laws for attitude control, momentum management, orbit maneuvering, RPO, and station-keeping.
• Perform state estimation design and analysis (EKF/UKF, sensor fusion, GPS/IMU, star tracker & sun sensor pipelines).
• Support integration of GNC algorithms into flight software, including validation through unit test, SIL/HIL, and full-vehicle simulation.
• Collaborate with avionics and sensor teams to define GNC-related ICDs, data flows, timing, and performance budgets.
• Analyze both on-orbit and testbed telemetry to evaluate GNC performance and inform updates to algorithms and configuration.
• Develop tools that improve autonomous maneuver planning, control margin analysis, and attitude/orbit estimation accuracy.
• Support safe-mode and fault management logic development in partnership with FSW and systems engineering.
• Work with the systems team to specify hardware components based on system requirements, and coordinate with vendors to acquire hardware that meet program cost and schedule targets.
• Develop and execute GNC hardware acceptance and performance test plans and procedures.
• Participate in MCR/PDR/CDR, test readiness reviews, and support operations during early-orbit commissioning when needed.
• Contribute to rapid iteration cycles that refine autonomy and maneuverability across successive spacecraft builds.

What It Takes

• B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field.
• 3–8+ years of experience in spacecraft or high-reliability GNC development.
• Strong foundation in rigid-body dynamics, orbital mechanics, and classical/modern control theory.
• Experience implementing estimation and control algorithms in C++, Python, or MATLAB/Simulink.
• Experience with sensor fusion for spacecraft-relevant sensors (IMUs, star trackers, sun sensors, GNSS, ranging sensors).
• Familiarity with flight software integration, SIL/HIL testing, and simulation pipelines.
• Ability to analyze telemetry, validate performance, and debug GNC-related anomalies.
• Systems-level awareness across avionics, software, and dynamics.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, hardware-integrated environment with shifting priorities.

Nice-to-Have Experience

• Experience with RPO, proximity operations, autonomous maneuver planning, or high-ΔV vehicle dynamics.
• Familiarity with MAX FSW and MAX GDS or other modern COTS flight software environments.
• Experience with Monte Carlo analysis and large-scale mission simulation.
• Experience with EKF variants, covariance analysis, or nonlinear control approaches.
• Background with thruster-based ACS, high-agility control architectures, or propulsion-coupled dynamics.
• Experience analyzing 6DOF models incorporating propellant slosh and flexible-body dynamics.
• Hands-on experience with testbeds, HITL environments, or closed-loop simulation frameworks.
• Experience with fault management logic, safing modes, and on-orbit anomaly investigation.
• Prior experience working in fast-paced startups or NewSpace organizations.

What You'll Get

• Ownership – Build and validate the GNC capability that defines how our spacecraft maneuver, point, and operate autonomously.
• Innovation – Shape next-generation GNC architectures, algorithms, and tools for high-agility missions.
• Impact – Directly influence spacecraft controllability, autonomy, and mission success across cislunar and GEO operations.
• Growth – Collaborate across avionics, FSW, systems, and mission ops, with opportunities to expand into dynamics modeling, autonomy, or flight operations.
• Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, HSA, 401(k) matching, and equity participation.

Location: Rockville, MD or Hawthorne, CA or Tulsa, OK

The salary range for this role is determined based on a variety of factors including work experience, education, technical expertise, certifications, critical skills, and business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full-time offers and are considered part of Quantum Space's total compensation package.

Additional Requirements

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual under 8 U.S.C. §1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Quantum Space’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.