True Anomaly
Principal GNC Engineer
2mo ago
USALeadguidancenavigationcontrolalgorithmskalman filteringsimulationsoftware implementationhardware integration
Lead the end-to-end development of spacecraft Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) systems including design, software implementation, hardware integration, and flight operations.
Responsibilities
- Own end-to-end development of spacecraft Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) systems, including architecture definition, algorithm design, software implementation, hardware integration, verification, and flight operations
- Design, test, and validate GNC flight software for spacecraft operating in LEO, GEO, and cislunar environments
- Develop advanced attitude and orbit determination algorithms, including sensor fusion, state estimation, covariance analysis, and Kalman filtering (EKF/UKF/batch)
- Design control laws for attitude control, orbit control, maneuver execution, and closed-loop guidance, ensuring required performance and robustness under uncertainties
- Lead creation and improvement of high-fidelity 6-DOF simulations, sensor/actuator models, disturbance environments, Monte Carlo pipelines, and SIL/HIL integration
- Conduct system-level GNC trade studies and develop recommendations for hardware such as reaction wheels, torque rods, thrusters, star trackers, IMUs, GNSS units, and optical navigation sensors
- Define GNC subsystem requirements, interfaces, calibration procedures, verification/validation plans, and support design reviews (SRR/PDR/CDR)
- Work cross-functionally with avionics, software, propulsion, mechanisms, mission operations, and systems engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of GNC functionality
- Support on-orbit commissioning, calibration, maneuver planning, fault investigation, and anomaly resolution
- Mentor junior engineers, lead design/code reviews, and help establish GNC best practices, tools, and development standards
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, or related discipline (advanced degree preferred)
- 15+ years of hands-on experience developing and fielding spacecraft GNC systems
- Strong proficiency in C++ and Python, including software development, numerical methods, and algorithm implementation
- Deep understanding of spacecraft attitude dynamics, orbital mechanics, environmental perturbations, and actuator/sensor physics
- Significant experience with estimation and filtering (EKF, UKF, batch least squares), sensor fusion, covariance analysis, and navigation performance assessment
- Experience designing control laws and performing stability, robustness, and frequency-domain analysis
- Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain complex high-fidelity simulations and Monte Carlo frameworks
- Experience testing and integrating GNC algorithms with flight hardware, including star trackers, IMUs, reaction wheels, GN&C avionics, and propulsion components
- Experience defining subsystem requirements, verification plans, and participating in formal design reviews
- Ability to lead cross-disciplinary technical efforts and deliver results with minimal direction
- Strong communication skills and ability to mentor and guide less experienced engineers
- U.S. Citizen and eligible for DoD Secret or TS/SCI clearance
- Work Location —This is an onsite position, successful candidates will be located near Long Beach, CA or Denver, CO.
- Work environment —the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
- Physical demands —the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.
- This position will be open until it is successfully filled. To submit your application, please follow the directions below. #LI-Onsite
- To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
- True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us.
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Nice to have
- Experience developing GNC systems for proximity operations, formation flying, optical navigation, autonomous maneuvering, or precision pointing missions
- Expertise with FDIR related to GNC components, including failure detection, isolation, and recovery techniques
- Experience with autonomous guidance or onboard trajectory optimization
- Familiarity with safety-critical or fault-tolerant flight software architectures
- Experience with real-time operating systems, embedded software, and hardware-in-the-loop testbeds
- Track record of technical leadership, ownership of major subsystem design, or architecting full GNC solutions
Conditions
- Colorado Base Salary: $180,000 - $305,000
- Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave
- Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience.
Other
- Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it.
- OUR MISSION
- True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors — enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.
- OUR VALUES
- Be the offset. We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity.
- What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results.
- It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together.