ABL Space Systems

Head of GNC

Long Beach, California, United States

$155-215k

Full Time

10 minutes ago

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Job description

Long Wall Company was created in 2025 to accelerate missile defense technology for the U.S. and our allies. Building on the RS1 and GS0 launch systems, Long Wall develops containerized, mass-producible missile defense systems and offers rapid, low-cost flight testing. We believe that the future of global security and stability require defensive technology that is lower cost, higher performing, better tested, and more broadly distributed than is possible today. Join us.

The Head of GNC knows not only how to steer vehicles under both endo- and exo- atmospheric conditions, but can also lead teams to push complex problems to reliable, simple, and robust solutions.

What we look for

Mission-Driven Problem Solvers. The aerospace frontier demands ingenuity. We want engineers who approach challenges with curiosity, embrace failure as a learning opportunity, and stay focused on delivering the best solution for the mission.
Total Ownership. We seek engineers who take full responsibility for delivering flight-ready work while recognizing that no one succeeds alone. The best engineers make their teammates better, knowing that complementary skills create force multiplication and drive mission success.

Responsibilities

Define, document, and refine GNC requirements to support mission and trajectory objectives.
Develop, analyze, and validate GNC algorithms, models, and software to ensure system performance.
Direct test planning, procedure development, and execution for GNC validation.
Conduct modeling, simulation, and "Hardware in the Loop" (HITL) testing to verify design integrity.
Oversee system integration, troubleshooting, and resolution of anomalies.
Define and support avionics and sensor requirements, including IMUs and control actuators (e.g., thrust vector control, throttle valves).
Perform mission-specific analysis for launches and contribute to business development efforts.
Mentor junior engineers, providing technical guidance and fostering skill development.
Take initiative in addressing complex technical challenges and driving innovation in GNC solutions.

Basic Qualifications

B.S. degree from an accredited university
5+ years of experience in the development of aircraft, missile, spacecraft or similar vehicle GNC system

Preferred Skills and Experience

M.S. or PhD degree from an accredited university
Demonstrated skills in modeling, simulation, and analysis software such as MATLAB/Simulink and
Experience in at least one or more high-level programming languages (e.g. C, C++, or FORTRAN)
Experience modeling of interception control systems
Experience with hypersonic flight regime control systems
Proficiency in trajectory planning/design and optimization algorithms or tools (e.g. POST2)
Day of launch or on-orbit systems support including launch limits and loads/GNC capabilities evaluation
Demonstrated leadership of or within a small project team
Demonstrated ability to solve complex and difficult technical problems with simple robust solutions

This is the lowest to highest compensation range we reasonably and in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to information protected under US export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations. As such, US person status (including US citizens, U.S. permanent residents, individuals granted U.S. asylum status, or individuals admitted in U.S. refugee status) is a required qualification for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, genetics, or citizenship status (when otherwise legally authorized to work and access export-controlled data) and will not be discriminated against on the basis of such characteristics or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We encourage applicants of all ages.