GNC Engineer, Starlink Controls

SpaceX

Confirmed live 2 days ago Trusted

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Redmond, WA
Salary: $125,000–$165,000 / yr
Posted: 15 days ago
Freshness: Confirmed live 2 days ago
Nearby: 99+ roles within 25 mi

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Salary context

Competitive pay

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $165k

This role $145k

$117k most similar roles pay here $201k

This role pays less than 52% of similar roles. Most pay $137,500–$193,000 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $145k versus about $165k 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, Starlink Controls

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GNC Engineer, Starlink Controls (Starlink) joins the Guidance, Navigation, and Control team to develop robust and precise pointing for satellites, payloads, propulsion systems, and mechanisms. This role involves performing vehicle design trades, creating high-fidelity simulations, and implementing flight code for deployment in space. Key responsibilities include designing electromechanical control systems like solar array actuators and antenna gimbals, managing satellite attitude control, and developing fluid and power system controls for hall thrusters. The engineer will perform state estimation for mechanical alignment and provide hardware performance specifications. Required skills include a bachelor's degree in an engineering or physics discipline, C++ software development experience, and expertise in closed-loop control systems. Preferred qualifications include advanced degrees, knowledge of Kalman filters, orbital mechanics, and experience with flexible body dynamics to solve complex problems within the satellite constellation infrastructure.

Skills

C++ Python MATLAB closed loop control systems State Estimation Kalman Filters Embedded C++ Orbital Mechanics Rigid Body Dynamics Flight Software Simulation Firmware Unit Testing GNC Spacecraft Operations

What you'll do

Design and implement electromechanical control systems including solar array actuators and antenna gimbals.
Develop and analyze satellite attitude control and momentum management systems.
Implement fluid and power system controls for Hall thrusters.
Perform optimal state estimation for mechanical alignment and attitude determination.
Define hardware performance specifications and support firmware bringup and production screening.
Build and maintain high-fidelity simulations using C++, Python, and MATLAB.
Write, test, and deploy production flight software in C++.
Provide engineering data review for hardware development and monitor network performance.

What we're looking for

Bachelor's degree in aerospace, physics, or an engineering discipline.
Experience with design and analysis of closed loop control systems.
Software development experience in C++.
Master's degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline is preferred.
Expertise in linear closed loop controls including state space and frequency domain methods.
Experience with flexible body dynamics and reduced finite element models for control systems.
Expertise in state estimation, Kalman filters, and information filters.
Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible for required export control authorizations.

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