GNC Engineer, ADCS

SpaceX

Confirmed live yesterday Trusted

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Redmond, WA
Salary: $125,000–$165,000 / yr
Posted: 16 days ago
Freshness: Confirmed live yesterday
Nearby: 99+ roles within 25 mi

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Salary context

Competitive pay

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $161k

This role $145k

$118k most similar roles pay here $195k

This role pays more than 51% of similar roles. Most pay $135,000–$187,250 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $145k versus about $161k for comparable roles.

Based on 240 similar postings.

Employer

About SpaceX

SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft with the mission of enabling humans to become a multi-planetary species. It operates the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starship launch vehicles, as well as the Starlink satellite internet constellation.

SpaceX currently has 680 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $130,000–$165,000 across 442 roles with salary data.

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At a glance

TL;DR · GNC Engineer, ADCS

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GNC Engineer, ADCS (Starlink) joins the Starlink guidance, navigation, and control team to develop autopilot algorithms for a massive satellite constellation. This role involves designing and implementing production-level software in C++ or Python to ensure satellites remain properly oriented throughout their mission lifetimes. Key responsibilities include developing high-performance GNC algorithms, performing bulk data analysis, creating 6DOF models for simulation, and conducting Monte Carlo analyses to validate flight safety. The engineer will also manage hardware-in-the-loop testing, design concepts of operations that balance thermal and power constraints, and maintain system interfaces with other subsystems. Candidates should possess expertise in orbital mechanics, control theory, state estimation, and spacecraft systems design. The role focuses on solving complex problems related to vehicle autonomy, fault tolerance, and navigation performance for a large-scale satellite network providing global high-speed broadband internet access.

Skills

C++ Python GNC ADCS Orbital Mechanics Control Theory State Estimation 6DOF Modeling Monte Carlo Simulation Hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) Flight Software Spacecraft Systems Design Dynamics Navigation Propulsion Avionics

What you'll do

Develop high-performance GNC algorithms, tools, and production code using C++ or Python.
Design and implement flight software for autonomous vehicle navigation and fault tolerance.
Create 6DOF models to simulate vehicle dynamics, sensors, actuators, and their interactions.
Perform Monte Carlo simulations to validate flight safety and quantify control performance.
Conduct hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing including test case design and data review automation.
Analyze bulk performance data from the Starlink constellation to optimize system operations.
Design concepts of operation that balance thermal, power, and momentum constraints for satellite missions.
Participate in on-call rotations to command satellites and monitor network performance.

What we're looking for

Bachelor's degree in computer science, aerospace, physics, or an engineering discipline.
Master's degree or PhD in an engineering discipline or physics is preferred.
Experience in software development using C++ or Python.
Experience developing, debugging, and deploying software for real-world applications.
Strong understanding of orbital mechanics, including low thrust trajectory optimization and stationkeeping.
Experience with state estimation, specifically attitude determination, orbit determination, GNSS, and radio navigation.
Ability to perform 6DOF modeling, simulation analysis, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or have applicable export control authorizations.

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