GNC Software Engineer

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement GNC algorithms for autonomous spacecraft operations, including orbit determination, trajectory optimization, and attitude control systems. 
• Develop mission planning software incorporating orbital dynamics, propulsion constraints, and mission objectives to create optimal flight paths and maneuver plans. 
• Create high-performance propagators and orbital analysis tools using modern software engineering practices and efficient numerical methods. 
• Build and maintain verification frameworks for flight software, ensuring algorithmic correctness through rigorous testing and validation procedures. 
• Collaborate with mission operations to analyze flight data, improve algorithm performance, and enhance system reliability. 
• Develop and maintain simulation environments for testing GNC algorithms and validating mission scenarios. 
• Implement SITL/HILS test systems to validate GNC performance in realistic conditions

Qualifications

• Required 
  • 3+ years of experience in spacecraft GNC systems or related field. 
  • Strong foundation in orbital mechanics, attitude dynamics, and control theory. 
  • Proficiency in Python, C++, or Rust for implementing numerical algorithms and simulation systems. 
  • Experience with coordinate frame transformations, quaternion mathematics, and geometric algebra. 
  • Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Preferred
  • Experience with modern GNC software development practices, including version control, continuous integration, automated testing, and V&V. 
  • Familiarity with astrodynamics software libraries (SPICE, Orekit, Astropy, or similar). 
  • Experience with optimization algorithms and numerical methods for trajectory planning. 
  • Proficiency in implementing Kalman filters and other state estimation techniques. 
  • Strong software engineering practices including documentation, testing, and code review. 
  • Experience with distributed computing for large-scale mission simulations. 
  • Experience with real-time embedded systems and flight software development. 
• Nice to have
  • Experience with GPU acceleration for numerical computations. 
  • Familiarity with modern observability tools (logging, metrics, tracing) for complex distributed systems. 
  • Knowledge of space environment models and perturbation effects. 
  • Background in optimal control theory and trajectory optimization. 
  • Experience with uncertainty quantification and Monte Carlo analysis. 
  • Publications or contributions to aerospace research. 
  • Prior work on flight/ground software for successful space missions. 

• This position may include access to technology and/or software source code that is subject to U.S. export controls. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158,  or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. 

Benefits

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement Plans: Access to a 401(k) plan.
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, personal days, and holidays to ensure you have time to recharge.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for ongoing training, workshops, and courses to advance your skills and career growth.
• Team Building Activities: Regular social events, team outings, and company-sponsored activities to foster a positive work environment.
• Diverse and Inclusive Culture: A commitment to diversity and inclusion, with initiatives to support a welcoming and equitable work environment.