Principal GNC Engineer Verified today

About the Role

The Principal Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer is the senior technical authority for Voyager Lunar Systems, responsible for modernizing existing GNC algorithms and analysis to industry standards while driving innovation toward state-of-the-art performance. You report to the Software & Controls Manager and are based onsite in Pittsburgh, PA.

Essential Functions

• Lead efforts to raise existing GNC analysis, modeling, and algorithm fidelity to industry best practices and mission-critical standards.
• Advance guidance, navigation, and control algorithms by introducing state-of-the-art methods in state estimation, sensor fusion, trajectory generation, optical navigation, and terrain-based navigation.
• Modernize and expand high-fidelity simulation environments for algorithm verification, Monte Carlo testing, mission analysis, and performance evaluation.
• Develop and validate improved navigation and control strategies for descent, landing, attitude control, and autonomous operations.
• Conduct comprehensive trade studies evaluating sensors, estimation approaches, trajectory strategies, and control architectures, providing clear recommendations backed by rigorous analysis.
• Provide senior technical leadership across Lunar Systems, shaping mission concepts, technology roadmaps, and long-term GNC capability development.
• Collaborate with systems engineering, avionics, software, mission analysis, and mechanical teams to ensure GNC solutions meet mission requirements and integrate seamlessly across the spacecraft.
• Produce clear, high-quality technical documentation, analysis reports, proposals, and review materials for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Mentor and guide GNC engineers, raising team-wide standards for analysis quality, algorithm development, modeling practices, and simulation rigor.
• Identify GNC-related mission risks and propose mitigation strategies, algorithm improvements, or analysis campaigns to address them proactively.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Applied Mathematics, or related field plus 15+ years of relevant experience; advanced degrees may substitute for experience.
• Extensive experience developing, analyzing, and validating GNC algorithms for spacecraft, planetary landers, launch vehicles, or autonomous systems.
• Deep knowledge of non-linear dynamics, state estimation, sensor fusion, modern filtering techniques (EKF, UKF, etc.), guidance algorithms, and control theory.
• Proven success modernizing and improving existing GNC algorithms, modeling methods, and analysis frameworks to industry standards.
• Demonstrated ability to introduce advanced or state of the art approaches in navigation, estimation, control, or simulation environments.
• Strong understanding of lunar and cislunar mission environments and their implications for GNC design and performance.
• Experience producing impactful technical content for proposals, customer presentations, and major reviews.
• Experience developing, decomposing, and validating mission-level and system-level GNC requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with precision landing methods including terrain-relative navigation, lidar-based sensing, optical navigation, or autonomous hazard evaluation.
• Experience transitioning improved or advanced algorithms into embedded or flight software systems.
• Knowledge of rover autonomy, surface mobility GNC, or planetary navigation techniques.
• Expertise with analysis tools such as MATLAB, Python, Simulink, Basilisk, or similar frameworks.
• Familiarity with NASA and industry standards for GNC verification and validation.
• Experience using agile organizational tools such as Confluence and Jira.
• Eligibility to obtain and hold a U.S. security clearance.

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off (FTO)
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with significant company-paid premiums and benefits paid at 100% for employees
• Flexible, affordable gym memberships with 12,700+ options nationwide and no long-term contracts
• 401(k) retirement plan with 50% company match on contributions up to 8%
• Company wellness programs supporting physical and mental well-being
• Additional voluntary benefits and employee support resources