Technical Staff, Guidance Navigation and Controls (GNC) Verified today
About Stratolaunch
Stratolaunch engineers operationally realistic testing at Mach 5+ using air-launched, reusable Talon testbeds. We deliver flight data to validate system performance and enable rapid technology deployment for national security applications.
The Role
We are seeking a subject matter expert in Guidance Navigation and Controls (GNC) for our Technical Staff in Engineering. You will provide company-level technical leadership in GNC, spanning theory through hardware implementation, and solve high-impact engineering problems.
Your Responsibilities
- Provide company-level technical discipline leadership in GNC
- Create technical standards, best practices, and common tool chains in your domain
- Lead problem-solving teams on Failure Review Boards, RCCA, and Tiger Teams
- Develop and maintain engineering capability roadmaps
- Propose and lead Internal Research and Development projects
- Support proposals, white papers, and business development efforts
- Mentor junior colleagues and support recruiting
Required Qualifications
- In-depth expertise in deriving and implementing GNC architectures
- Demonstrated technical leadership ability
- Experience solving high-impact, multi-disciplinary engineering problems
- Excellent verbal and written communication for diverse audiences
- Familiarity with industry and military standards and regulatory specifications
- Experience proposing and leading IRAD projects
- Ability to interact with customers and external stakeholders
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
- Experience with embedded systems and RTOS/FPGA algorithm implementation
- Ability to derive GNC requirements from vehicle constraints and mission objectives
- Experience with system sizing and trade studies
- Familiarity with estimation and data fusion architecture theory
- Knowledge of air vehicle navigation (GPS, TERCOM, Magnetic)
- Familiarity with autopilot architecture theory and application
- Ability to assess multidisciplinary data in GNC algorithm development
- Experience using flight test data to reduce uncertainties and update models
- Strong foundation in flight dynamics, propulsion, controls, and estimation techniques
- MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
- US Citizen with ability to obtain a DOD security clearance
Preferred Qualifications
- Working knowledge of systems engineering principles and MBSE
- Experience owning and implementing technical roadmaps
- Experience on hypersonic vehicle development programs with flight testing
- GNC architecture development for high supersonic or hypersonic systems
- HWIL development across hardware and software
- Experience with high-speed airbreathing systems
- High-performance extensible interface development
- Alternative navigation signals (SoOP, SLAM, Celestial)
- Adjoint methods for analytical requirements derivation
- Control system margins analysis and optimization
- Direct, indirect, and heuristic optimization methods
- Safety-critical software and algorithm requirements
- Git, C++, MATLAB/Simulink, Python
- Active DOD security clearance
Experience and Education
Principle level: Bachelor's degree; Master's or Doctoral degree (graduate degree preferred) in related discipline and 15+ years relevant experience or equivalent combination.
Senior Principal level: Bachelor's degree; Master's or Doctoral degree (graduate degree preferred) in related discipline and 20+ years relevant experience or equivalent combination.
Work Environment
- Location: Mojave, California
- Hybrid work arrangements available for well-qualified candidates
- 9/80 schedule
- Position may involve operation of company vehicles
Compensation and Benefits
Base salary established on a case-by-case basis. Salary ranges: Principle $147,667-$262,294; Senior Principal $168,450-$299,210.
- Healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs)
- Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
- 401(k) savings plan with 50% company match, up to $11,500
- Tuition reimbursement