GNC Engineer III, Launch Vehicles

Firefly Aerospace•Cedar Park, TX

About The Position

As a Senior GNC Engineer at Firefly Aerospace, you will design and implement advanced control systems, autonomous flight software, and guidance algorithms for operational launch vehicles. In this role, you will develop and tune attitude control software, design and optimize trajectories, and support hardware-in-the-loop testing and system integration. This position combines advanced control theory, real-time embedded systems development, and hands-on flight operations support while mentoring junior engineers in a fast-paced operational environment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or related field
5-10 years of experience in launch vehicle GNC systems with significant depth in attitude control system design, flight software development, trajectory design, mission planning, or guidance algorithm development
Advanced knowledge of attitude dynamics and control theory, including rotational dynamics, attitude representations, control moment generation, and stability analysis
Strong understanding of classical control theory and frequency domain analysis techniques
Expertise in real-time software development using C++ for flight-critical applications
Experience developing high-fidelity actuator models and attitude control system testbeds
Advanced knowledge of launch vehicle flight mechanics and high-fidelity modeling of gravity, aerodynamics, and propulsion
Strong understanding of numerical optimization and targeting methods applied to trajectory simulation and mission design
Experience conducting mission trade studies, feasibility analysis, and performance verification for launch vehicle missions
Proficiency in hardware-in-the-loop testing and requirement verification for flight-critical systems
Familiarity with software development best practices including version control (Git), code documentation, and testing
Strong proficiency in one or more trajectory design software tools (POST, OTIS, TAOS, or similar)
Proficiency in Python for scripting, data analysis, and automation

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or PhD in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, applied mathematics, or related field
Experience architecting and implementing control systems for operational launch vehicles from development through flight
Expertise in advanced control techniques such as nonlinear control methods, optimal control, model predictive control, or adaptive control applied to launch vehicle applications
Hands-on experience with launch vehicle actuator systems including thrust vector control actuators, reaction control thrusters, and aerodynamic surfaces
Advanced knowledge of state estimation techniques including Kalman filtering, sensor fusion, and covariance analysis
Advanced knowledge of numerical methods for control law tuning, root-solving, and parameter optimization
Experience with modern flight software frameworks and real-time operating systems
Software engineering expertise with proficiency in development practices including version control, code review, testing, documentation, and CI/CD workflows
Working knowledge of launch vehicle systems and mission operations
Proven ability to develop junior engineers while managing technical responsibilities
Track record of thought leadership through publications, presentations, or contributions to industry state-of-the-art

Responsibilities

Design, analyze, and tune launch vehicle attitude control software to ensure stable flight from launch to orbit
Implement control techniques for mission-critical flight phases using thrust vector control actuators, reaction control thrusters, and aerodynamic surfaces
Develop control systems accounting for complex launch vehicle dynamics including aerodynamic effects, structural flex modes, propellant slosh, and control structure interaction
Design, analyze, and optimize launch vehicle trajectories to maximize performance within operational and vehicle constraints
Develop and implement launch vehicle guidance algorithms for powered ascent and orbital insertion
Conduct stability analysis, sensitivity studies, and performance optimization for control systems under nominal and off-nominal flight conditions
Conduct statistical trajectory analysis to quantify performance margins and validate system robustness to off-nominal flight conditions
Establish technical standards and validation methodologies for control system design, software development, and hardware-in-the-loop testing
Support hardware-in-the-loop test campaigns for integrated GNC systems including control algorithm validation, flight software verification, and system-level performance testing
Drive resolution of complex GNC challenges requiring deep technical expertise and rapid problem-solving
Provide technical direction on system architecture and serve as subject matter expert for launch vehicle control and trajectories
Mentor junior engineers in control theory, flight software development, trajectory optimization, and mission design
Author technical documentation and analysis reports that communicate GNC concepts and results to diverse audiences
Interface with cross-discipline teams to integrate control software with vehicle hardware and balance trajectory requirements with vehicle capabilities and operational constraints
Serve as a GNC console operator for launch operations and perform post-flight analysis to improve vehicle models
Champion continuous improvement initiatives for GNC processes, tools, and operational efficiency