Technical Staff, Guidance Navigation and Controls (GNC)

Stratolaunch; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 148,000 - 262,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid maternity leave

401(k) match up to $11,500

Hybrid work options

Job summary

Stratolaunch is seeking a subject matter expert in Guidance Navigation and Controls (GNC) to join the Technical Staff in Engineering. The successful candidate will provide company-level technical leadership in GNC, deriving architectures, developing algorithms and hardware implementations to solve practical engineering problems.

The role includes leading teams, driving capability roadmaps, supporting IRAD projects, mentoring colleagues, and assisting recruiting activities.

Qualifications

• GNC architectures derivation and implementation experience.
• Strong technical leadership demonstrated in complex programs.
• Ability to solve high-impact engineering problems with analytical rigor.
• Excellent written and verbal communication to diverse audiences.
• Familiar with industry and military standards and regulatory specs.
• Experience proposing and leading IRAD projects.
• US Citizenship with ability to obtain DOW security clearance.
• Experience with embedded systems and RTOS/FPGA implementations.
• Ability to derive GNC requirements from vehicle constraints and mission objectives.
• Comfort interacting with customers and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide company-level GNC discipline leadership from theory to hardware.
• Create standards, best practices, and common tool chains in domain expertise.
• Lead teams through high-impact problem solutions and reviews.
• Develop capability roadmaps and realize future capabilities.
• Propose Internal Research and Development projects to generate IP.
• Support white papers, proposals, and front-end business efforts.
• Mentor junior colleagues and support recruiting activities.

Skills

GNC architectures

Technical leadership

Flight test analysis

Embedded systems

C++ / MATLAB/Simulink / Python

System-level thinking

Communication skills

Customer interaction

Regulatory standards familiarity

Security clearance ready

Education

Bachelor's degree, Master’s or Doctoral degree in related discipline

15+ years relevant experience or equivalent

Tools

Git

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

Job description

Technical Staff, Guidance Navigation and Controls (GNC)

Stratolaunch is a technology accelerator that engineers operationally realistic testing at Mach 5+. Our air-launched, Talon testbeds are reusable, cost-effective platforms that enable routine access to the hypersonic environment. We deliver flight data critical to validating system performance and achieving rapid technology deployment. Together with our customers, we drive innovations that are imperative to advancing national security.

Stratolaunch is seeking a subject matter expert in Guidance Navigation and Controls (GNC) to join the Technical Staff in Engineering. Members of the Technical Staff at Stratolaunch are the company’s foremost functional area experts, providing company-level technical leadership as they solve today’s execution problems and develop innovative solutions for the future. The successful candidate will have demonstrated leadership capability and a track record applying deep technical expertise in architecture derivation, algorithm development, and hardware implementation to solve practical engineering problems.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide company-level technical discipline leadership in GNC spanning theory to hardware
• Enable world class engineering through the creation of technical standards, best practices, and common tool chainsin domain(s) of expertise
• Support program execution by leading teams through and/or participating in high-impact problem solutions (e.g. Failure Review Boards, RCCA, Tiger Teams)
• Develop and maintain engineering capability roadmaps and lead the realization of those capabilities
• Propose and lead Internal Research and Development projects to generate intellectual property and enable future business success
• Support white papers, proposals, and other front end of the business efforts
• Engage in in mentoring and developing more junior colleagues
• Support recruiting and hiring activities

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Qualifications:

• In-depth expertise and experience in deriving and implementing GNC architectures
• Demonstrated ability as a technical leader
• Demonstrated ability applying technical expertise to solve high-impact problems
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills: Capable of conveying complex technical information to diverse audiences
• Familiarity with relevant industry and military standards and regulatory specifications
• Experience proposing and leading IRAD projects
• Ability to interact with customers and/or external stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience applying analytical and critical thinking skills to solve multi-disciplinary, open-ended engineering problems
• Ability to work independently in a dynamic environment to achieve business goals
• US Citizen with the ability to obtain a DOW security clearance
• Experience with embedded systems and RTOS / FPGA implementation of algorithms
• Ability to derive GNC requirements based on vehicle constraints and mission objectives
• Ability to support system sizing and trade study activities based upon mission objectives
• Familiarity with estimation & data fusion architecture theory and application
• Familiarity with theory and hardware for air vehicle navigation (GPS, TERCOM, Magnetic)
• Familiarity with autopilot architecture theory and application
• Ability to objectively assess multidisciplinary data utilized in development of GNC algorithms
• Experience utilizing flight test data to quantitatively reduce uncertainties and update models
• Strong first principles in flight dynamics, propulsion, controls, and estimation techniques

Required Computer Skills:

• MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of systems engineering principles and best practices, especially relating to requirements verification through test and MBSE
• Experience owning and implementing technical roadmaps
• Experience supporting hypersonic vehicle development programs culminating in flight testing
• Experience developing GNC architectures for high supersonic or hypersonic systems
• Ability to aid in HWIL development across both hardware and software domains
• Experience working on high speed airbreathing system with hysteretic, multi-modal behavior
• Experience developing high performance extensible interfaces both in hardware and software
• Familiarity with less common navigation aiding signals and approaches (SoOP, SLAM, Celestial)
• Experience utilizing adjoint methods to analytically derive requirements
• Familiarity with control system margins (gain, phase, vector) and performance (time const, undershoot, overshoot) metrics and how to appropriately analyze and optimize
• Familiarity with direct, indirect, and heuristic optimization methods and SOTA algorithms
• Experience with requirements and approaches for safety critical software and algorithms
• Familiarity with and ability to adapt to industry standard version control and programming languages and toolchains (Git, C++, MATLAB/Simulink, Python, etc.).
• Active DOW security clearance

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Principle ($147,667-$262,294): Bachelor’s degree, Master’s or Doctoral degree (graduate degree preferred) in related discipline from an accredited institution and 15+ years relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Senior Principal ($168,450-$299,210): Bachelor’s degree, Master’s or Doctoral degree (graduate degree preferred) in related discipline from an accredited institution and 20+ years relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience

Special remarks regarding work environment, if applicable

• Position based in Mojave, CA. Consideration for hybrid (partial remote/on-site work) work arrangements for well-qualified candidates may be provided.

Base salary and leveling are established on a case‑by‑case basis. We consider several factors to ensure a competitive offer, including your location, educational background, and a comprehensive assessment of the skills and experience demonstrated during your interviews. Benefits and our location(s) :

• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
• 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500

This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties.

Mojave Air & Spaceport is located just outside of Lancaster/Palmdale and is only 95 miles north of Los Angeles. The area offers both affordability and central access to a variety of California's best attractions and landmarks.

Not much for the outdoors and prefer the city life? You’re within a half day’s drive or less of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco where you can find a variety of live entertainment, museums, tours, and historical sight‑seeing. Theme parks are in abundance, with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm ready to meet the needs of rollercoaster thrill seekers.

Food and drink fanatics are in a haven of delectable choices. Wine aficionados will also find easy access to some of the state’s best vino in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and even more locally in Tehachapi and Agua Dulce. Beer fanatics will find some of the best West Coast IPAs at Bravery and Lucky Luke’s in Lancaster. Any food option you crave is covered, and we always recommend the authentic and fresh Mexican food that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States.

Stratolaunch is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at our company. We encourage people from all walks of life to apply, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our management team does not tolerate discrimination or harassment at any point during our employees’ and applicants’ time with us, especially with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment. For purposes of transparency, U.S. Citizenship may be required for some positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law :