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GNC Engineer, ADCS (Starshield)

SpaceX· Starshield Satellite Engineering
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Hawthorne, CA$125k - $160kFull-timePosted 1mo ago

About the role

GNC Engineer focused on Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) for SpaceX Starshield, designing and validating spacecraft GNC software/hardware, performing high-fidelity simulations, HITL testing, and interfacing with other subsystems to ensure mission success for Starshield satellites.

Responsibilities

  • Design and implementation of satellite GNC software that can facilitate all mission concepts of operations across all phases of flight, including off-nominal/contingency scenarios
  • Design of concepts of operations (CONOPs) that intelligently balance thermal constraints, power budgets, momentum management, satellite-to-ground and satellite-to-satellite contact, and payload-pointing needs
  • Design, development, and flight software implementation of onboard GNC algorithms to achieve a high level of vehicle autonomy and fault tolerance while providing adequate navigation and control performance
  • Update and maintain GNC software configurations for a variety of minor satellite design revisions and mission sets
  • High fidelity time domain 6DOF modeling and simulation of satellite dynamics, sensors, actuators, algorithms, and all of their interactions
  • Monte Carlo simulation analysis to validate safe and reliable flight and quantify navigation and control performance
  • Heavy involvement in integrated hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing efforts, including but not limited to test case design, data review automation, and modeling fidelity improvements
  • Navigation filtering and control systems design and optimization
  • Spacecraft design activities related to ADCS sensor and actuator hardware sizing and layout
  • Develop, validate, and improve upon complex sensor, actuator, and dynamics models for use in 6DOF simulation analysis
  • Maintain a robust and tight interface with other disciplines and subsystems (e.g. thermal, power, communications) to ensure a good and consistent system-level design

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, computer science/software engineering, or an engineering discipline
  • Software development experience in C++, Python, and/or MATLAB/Simulink
  • Experience with attitude determination and/or state estimation algorithms

Skills

Required:GNC software design and implementationOnboard GNC algorithms6DOF high-fidelity modeling and simulationAttitude determination/state estimationSystem interfaces coordination
Nice to have:CONOPs designMonte Carlo analysisHardware-in-the-loop testingNavigation filtering

Benefits

  • Competitive compensation with two level bands (Level 1: $125,000 - $160,000; Level 2: $145,000 - $195,000)
  • Long-term incentives including stock or long-term cash awards
  • Discretionary bonuses and Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  • Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
  • 401(k) retirement plan, disability and life insurance
  • Paid parental leave and other discounts and perks
  • Paid vacation and holidays; paid sick leave
  • 10% differential for active clearance (up to $20,000 annually) for classified work
Last updated Sep 2, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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