Senior GNC Engineer

Benchmark Space Systems•Pleasanton, CA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Benchmark Space Systems, a leader in small satellite propulsion systems and in-space mobility services, is looking for an experienced Senior GNC Engineer to join their team. This role focuses on the software layer of their propulsion systems, requiring engineers who not only design algorithms but also implement and ship them. The engineer will implement guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for spacecraft propulsion systems, conduct hardware-in-the-loop validation, and establish GNC engineering standards for a growing team. This is a hands-on, self-driven role for individuals with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment. The position is on-site at their Pleasanton, CA office. Benchmark Space Systems is pioneering the future of in-space mobility with propulsion technologies that enable satellites to maneuver, avoid collisions, and maximize mission potential, contributing to a safer and more sustainable space environment. With recent funding and new flight contracts, they are building a workplace where bold ideas and passionate people thrive, tackling tough challenges in spaceflight and turning cutting-edge concepts into real-world solutions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, or related field.
5+ years of GNC experience on space vehicles, with demonstrated ownership of algorithms from design through implementation and test.
Strong proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, including model-based design of flight algorithms.
Solid foundation in control theory and stability analysis (frequency- and time-domain methods, robustness margins).
Working knowledge of spacecraft attitude dynamics, orbital mechanics, and propulsive maneuver design.
Experience validating GNC software through hardware-in-the-loop testing, including defining test objectives and criteria.
Ability to write clear technical documentation and present analysis at design reviews.

Nice To Haves

Experience writing flight or embedded software in C or Rust.
Experience with propulsion-specific GNC: finite-burn effects, thrust/Isp uncertainty, propellant slosh, optimal jet select.
Experience with both chemical and electric propulsion control (long-duration low-thrust guidance a plus).
Experience with strapdown navigation, IMU error modeling, and sensor fusion.
Monte Carlo and linear covariance dispersion analysis experience.
GMAT, STK, FreeFlyer, or equivalent astrodynamics tooling.
Prior experience as a technical lead or mentor on a small team.
Experience supporting government programs (NASA, DoD, SBIR/STTR).
Familiarity with flight software frameworks (cFS, F´) and real-time operating systems.

Responsibilities

Design and implement GNC flight algorithms for spacecraft propulsion systems (chemical and electric), including closed loop burn execution, thrust, delta-v estimation, burn targeting, cutoff logic, and trajectory correction maneuvers.
Own the GNC flight code: architecture, implementation, review standards, configuration management, and verification evidence.
Develop and maintain 6 degrees of freedom simulation capability for burn execution and dispersion analysis across multiple programs.
Perform stability analysis of control loops (classical margins, disturbance and slosh interaction, actuator/sensor dynamics) and document it to flight-review standards.
Define hardware-in-the-loop test campaigns: what to test, pass/fail criteria, fault injection cases, and test procedures.
Validate flight software against simulation truth models and HIL results; close the loop between analysis, code, and test.
Support mission design reviews (PDR/CDR) with GNC analysis products: pointing budgets, execution-error models, and dispersion results.
Mentor and guide other engineers in GNC best practices, code quality, and verification discipline.
Contribute to the evolution of our GNC codebase and toolchain.