Principal GNC Engineer

Lux Aeterna•Denver, CO

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Lux Aeterna is seeking a Principal GNC Engineer to own guidance, navigation, and control for its reusable satellite platform, covering attitude determination and pointing on orbit, deorbit, controlled reentry, descent, and recovery. The engineer will establish the GNC architecture, develop simulation and Fault Detection, Isolation and Response (FDIR) capabilities, and support the vehicle through flight operations. The role also serves as the technical lead for GNC engineers, without direct reports, and collaborates with software, avionics, propulsion, mechanical, aerothermal, and mission operations teams. The position includes developing high-fidelity simulations and real-time estimation and control software; validating software in hardware-in-the-loop environments; planning orbital and reentry missions; supporting spacecraft design and integration; and using test data and flight telemetry to improve models and software. The role is based onsite in Denver, Colorado, five days per week by default, with flexibility when needed. Travel to vendor and partner sites, test facilities, launch sites, and recovery zones is required in preparation for and during flight.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Control Systems, Physics, or a related technical field.
10 or more years of experience in GNC for spacecraft or advanced robotics applications, including hands-on work on a flight-proven GNC subsystem.
Proficiency with estimation algorithms, including Kalman filters and batch processing techniques.
Experience designing and validating control and guidance algorithms for space systems.
Strong background in simulation environments, including six-degree-of-freedom Monte Carlo modeling.
Prior experience in hardware-in-the-loop test environments, integrating GNC software with flight sensors and actuators.
Programming proficiency in Python, including NumPy and SciPy, and C++; experience with Git and production C++ in a continuous integration environment.
Willingness to work onsite in Denver five days per week by default, with flexibility when needed, and travel to vendor and partner sites, test facilities, the launch site, and recovery zone.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Control Systems, Physics, or a related technical field.
Knowledge of orbit determination and trajectory optimization methods.
Experience with reentry or hypersonic vehicle GNC, aerodynamic control effector modeling, or multi-body dynamics modeling.
Experience with Rocket Lab MAX Flight Software or comparable modular flight software frameworks.
Familiarity with spacecraft propulsion systems and orbital mechanics for low Earth orbit missions.
Experience with robotic manipulators or autonomous vehicle navigation.
Experience with embedded systems and implementing flight software on real-time hardware, including Rust for flight or embedded software.
Exposure to dual-use commercial and government satellite programs.

Responsibilities

Own GNC for the reusable satellite platform, including orbit, deorbit targeting, reentry, and descent.
Lead development of high-fidelity six-degree-of-freedom dynamics simulations and Monte Carlo environments.
Own the FDIR architecture and guide subsystem responsible engineers in developing algorithms to autonomously handle anomalies.
Develop real-time estimation techniques, including sensor fusion and extended Kalman filtering.
Build, test, and deploy flight control software for trajectory and pointing operations, validating it in hardware-in-the-loop environments.
Own deorbit targeting and reentry guidance, including landing footprint and dispersion analysis with aerothermal and mission operations teams.
Support GNC system design, component selection, architecture, and trade studies.
Lead flight planning, concept of operations, and mission execution strategies; serve as GNC lead on console for flight.
Analyze ground test data and flight telemetry to refine models and flight software between flights.
Assist with hands-on testing, subassembly integration, and spacecraft flight validation.
Set standards, review designs, and mentor GNC engineers without direct reports.
Collaborate with software, avionics, propulsion, and mechanical teams.