Principal Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer
Quantum Space · Rockville, MD or Hawthorne, CA
Who We're Looking For
Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.
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.
What It Takes
- 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.
- Experience designing control systems for agile or propulsive maneuvering spacecraft.
- 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.
What You'll Get
- Ownership – Build and validate the GNC capability that defines how our spacecraft maneuver, point, and operate autonomously.
- Innovation – Shape next-generation GNC architectures, algorithms, and tools for high-agility missions.
- Impact – Directly influence spacecraft controllability, autonomy, and mission success across cislunar and GEO operations.
- Growth – Collaborate across avionics, FSW, systems, and mission ops, with opportunities to expand into dynamics modeling, autonomy, or flight operations.
- Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, HSA, 401(k) matching, and equity participation.
Location: Rockville, MD or Hawthorne, CA
Base Salary: $175,000 - $225,000
The salary range for this role is determined based on a variety of factors including work experience, education, technical expertise, certifications, critical skills, and business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full-time offers and are considered part of Quantum Space's total compensation package.
Additional Requirements
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.
Apply now. Join us in building the next generation of spacecraft.