GNC Engineer, Fleet Management (Starshield)

SpaceX

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Hawthorne, CA
Salary: $125,000–$150,000 / yr
Posted: today

Market check

Salary context

Competitive pay

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $164k

This role $138k

$117k most similar roles pay here $201k

This role pays less than 64% of similar roles. Most pay $135,000–$193,000 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $138k versus about $164k for comparable roles.

Based on 239 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 604 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $130,000–$155,000 across 440 roles with salary data.

Most-posted roles

View all roles at SpaceX

At a glance

TL;DR · GNC Engineer, Fleet Management (Starshield)

Apply Now Log in to save

Join the GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control) Fleet Management team at Starshield as a senior engineer responsible for the entire lifecycle of the constellation, from design through implementation. You will develop reliable algorithms and flight software using C++ or Python, conduct network-level analysis, and support on-call operations to ensure peak performance. This role requires expertise in orbital mechanics, experience with space-based sensor platforms, and proficiency in automating complex systems. The ideal candidate has a strong background in aerospace engineering, physics, or computer science, along with practical experience in spacecraft development and real-world software deployment.

Skills

Python C++ Orbital Mechanics GNC Algorithms Simulation Satellite Software Development State Estimation Attitude Determination Orbit Determination GNSS RF Navigation Structures Propulsion Avionics Dynamics Launch Operations Mission Operations Integration

What you'll do

Develop highly reliable GNC algorithms and flight software using C++ or Python.
Design constellation geometry through analysis and simulation for Starshield's fleet.
Implement orbit raise, station keeping, and collision avoidance algorithms.
Analyze performance data from various elements of the Starshield constellation.
Write technical documentation for programs, algorithms, and analysis.

What we're looking for

Bachelor's degree in computer science, aerospace engineering, physics, or related field
Experience developing and deploying software using C++ or Python
Strong understanding of orbital mechanics and experience with trajectory optimization
Familiarity with numerical probability of collision methods (Alfano, Foster, Hall)
Creative problem-solving skills and exceptional analytical abilities in engineering
Experience verifying GNC algorithm performance through simulation and validation
Knowledge of space-based sensor platforms and state estimation techniques

Save