GNC Engineer, Attitude Control Systems

Xona Space Systems • Burlingame, CA

1d

About The Position

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth. With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection. We’re looking for a GNC Engineer, Attitude Control Systems to join our Guidance, Navigation, and Control team and help develop the attitude control systems that enable precise spacecraft pointing, maneuvering, and momentum management. In this role, you will design, simulate, implement, and test control algorithms that operate across real mission conditions, from high-fidelity simulation through software- and hardware-in-the-loop validation. This is a hands-on engineering role for someone who enjoys working at the intersection of control theory, spacecraft dynamics, flight software, and rigorous test infrastructure.

Requirements

• Experience with 6DOF attitude dynamics simulations.
• Hands-on experience with PID, LQR, or optimal control design.
• Experience with actuator allocation, momentum management, or desaturation logic.
• Experience with model-based software development processes.
• Experience with SIL/HIL simulation and test environments.
• Experience developing unit or regression tests.
• Strong programming skills in Python, C++, and MATLAB.
• Proficiency with Git and Linux environments.

Nice To Haves

• BS or MS in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Applied Physics, or a related technical field.
• Experience developing ACS algorithms for spacecraft, satellites, UAVs, or autonomous systems.
• Familiarity with reaction wheels, magnetic torque rods, thrusters, star trackers, IMUs, magnetometers, or sun sensors.
• Experience with flight software integration, embedded deployment, or real-time systems.
• Experience with Monte Carlo analysis, robustness testing, or fault-case validation.
• Familiarity with autocoding workflows from MATLAB/Simulink or similar tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain 6DOF attitude simulations for ACS design and verification.
• Design, tune, and validate PID, LQR, and optimal control algorithms.
• Develop actuator allocation logic for reaction wheels, torque rods, thrusters, or other effectors.
• Implement momentum management and desaturation algorithms.
• Support model-based development, integration, and test workflows.
• Run SIL/HIL test campaigns and analyze performance across nominal and off-nominal cases.
• Develop unit, regression, and simulation-based tests.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level