GNC Engineer (Dragon)

SpaceX • Hawthorne, CA

1d

About The Position

As a GNC Engineer on the Dragon team, you will perform mission design and implement new guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for crewed and cargo spacecraft operations. You will support the full lifecycle of Dragon missions, from capturing requirements from NASA and commercial partners through design reviews, simulation and analysis of orbital maneuvers, docking, and reentry profiles, to real-time operations from mission control.

The role supports launch, rendezvous and docking with the ISS, deorbit and splashdown recovery, and abort system integration for Dragon missions. Work includes Commercial Resupply Services, Commercial Crew Program, private astronaut missions aboard Crew Dragon and Cargo Dragon, and development of the United States Deorbit Vehicle for safe ISS disposal, including precise deorbit trajectories and end-of-life maneuvering. The position requires solving complex problems in a fast-paced environment and contributing to human spaceflight reliability.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline or physics.
• At least 1 year of experience with orbital mechanics, classical dynamics, and modeling and simulation; school or class projects and internships count.
• At least 1 year of experience with C++ and/or Python; school or class projects and internships count.
• Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
• Must meet U.S. Government export-control eligibility requirements: U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or eligible to obtain required authorizations.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline.
• At least 2 years of professional experience in orbital mechanics, classical dynamics, modeling and simulation, and the software languages C++ and Python.
• Project or professional experience in launch vehicle and/or spacecraft systems.
• Ability to solve complex problems with little to no supervision, on schedule, individually or as part of an integrated team.
• Passion for advancing the commercial space industry and human spaceflight.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform trajectory design, optimization, and dispersion analysis for Crew and Cargo Dragon missions.
• Implement software or algorithms to support mission-unique capabilities.
• Select flight constants and guidance parameters.
• Review post-flight data and correlate results with analyses to improve predictions.
• Manage mission operations support.
• Analyze and verify compliance with contractual mission requirements, including direct customer interface with NASA.
• Test flight software and document analysis and test results, emphasizing automation and efficient reporting.

Benefits

• Potential eligibility for long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards.
• Potential discretionary bonuses.
• Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Comprehensive medical coverage.
• Vision coverage.
• Dental coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Paid parental leave.
• Various other discounts and perks.
• Up to 3 weeks of accrued paid vacation.
• 10 or more paid holidays per year.
• Paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy.

What This Job Offers

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