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# Principal Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer

- **Company:** Quantum Space
- **Location:** Hawthorne, CA, United States
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Systems Engineering, C++ (Programming Language), Hardware Design, Hardware-In-The-Loop Simulation, Python (Programming Language), MATLAB, Machine Learning, Microsoft Dynamics, Sensor Fusion, Verification and Validation (Software), Test Data, Multi-Agent Systems, Orbital Mechanics
- **Published:** November 9, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.juju.com/job/28_25197_079b866961a480a8382c663396261e0e-2052958164

## About the Role

* B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field.
 * 15+ years of experience in spacecraft GNC/ACS development, including full lifecycle flight programs.
 * Demonstrated ownership of a spacecraft attitude and/or orbit control system through design, integration, and flight.
 * Deep expertise in rigid-body dynamics, orbital mechanics, estimation theory, and modern control methods.
 * Strong experience with thruster-based ACS architectures and propulsion-coupled control systems.
 * Proven ability to independently architect GNC systems and make system-level trade decisions.
 * Experience implementing flight algorithms in C++, Python, or MATLAB/Simulink, with awareness of real-time constraints.
 * Experience integrating GNC with flight software and avionics, including SIL/HIL validation.
 * Ability to analyze telemetry and diagnose complex on-orbit or integrated system anomalies.
 * Systems-level thinking across propulsion, avionics, software, and mission design.
 * Demonstrated technical leadership and mentorship experience.
 * Comfort operating in a fast-paced, hardware-integrated environment with evolving mission needs.

Nice-to-Have Experience

 * Experience with high-ΔV vehicles, cislunar missions, GEO servicing, or RPO missions.
 * Background in autonomous maneuver planning or onboard decision-making systems.
 * Experience with flexible-body dynamics, propellant slosh modeling, or structural-control interaction.
 * Familiarity with MAX FSW and MAX GDS or other modern COTS flight software frameworks.
 * Experience with multi-agent relative navigation or machine learning for estimation, perception, or task planning.
 * Experience leading small technical teams in startup or NewSpace environments.
 * Prior support of on-orbit commissioning or anomaly resolution efforts., 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.

## Description

We are seeking a Principal Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer to serve as the technical authority for the GNC subsystem across multiple spacecraft programs, leading architecture, design, procurement, integration, and verification.

Where You'll Make an Impact

 * Own the end-to-end GNC/ACS architecture from concept development through flight operations.
 * Own GNC subsystem level requirements.
 * Lead spacecraft attitude and control system design, including actuator sizing, sensor selection, control authority, and momentum management strategy.
 * Define and implement control laws for high-ΔV maneuvering, precision pointing, station-keeping, and proximity operations.
 * Architect state estimation frameworks (EKF/UKF, sensor fusion pipelines, covariance management) for robust on-orbit performance.
 * Develop and maintain high-fidelity 6DOF spacecraft simulation environments for analysis, trade studies, verification, and anomaly resolution.
 * Establish GNC verification and validation strategy across analysis, SIL/HIL, hardware integration, and flight test.
 * Support propulsion-coupled dynamics modeling, including thrust misalignment, slosh effects, and flexible-body considerations as needed.
 * Lead GNC participation in system-level reviews (MCR, SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and serve as the primary technical voice for the discipline.
 * Analyze flight telemetry and test data to assess performance, diagnose anomalies, and drive configuration or algorithm updates.
 * Define safe-mode, fault management, and degraded control strategies in partnership with FSW and systems engineering.
 * Mentor and manage GNC engineers, establishing best practices, code standards, simulation frameworks, and technical rigor across the team.
 * Support early-orbit operations and critical mission phases as required.