Freelance Guidance Navigation Control Gnc Engineer Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

Senior Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer – Lead

Long-Term Contract | Fully Remote (U.S.) 

Company

SET Development, LLC
SET Development is a premier aerospace engineering and consulting firm providing deep technical expertise across spacecraft systems, software, avionics, mission operations, and advanced space technologies. Our engineers support both commercial and government space programs, emphasizing technical excellence, collaboration, and long-term mission success.

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Position Overview

SET Development is seeking a Senior Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer (Lead) to support spacecraft and satellite programs through full lifecycle GNC development. This role is a long-term independent contractor position, fully remote within the United States, with limited travel (up to 15%) as program needs require.

The Senior GNC Engineer will serve as a technical lead, contributing to system architecture, analysis, simulation, verification, and integration of spacecraft GNC solutions across multiple missions or platforms.

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Key ResponsibilitiesGuidance, Navigation & Control Engineering

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of GNC architectures for spacecraft and satellite systems.
• Develop and analyze GNC algorithms for attitude determination, control, and navigation.
• Model and evaluate spacecraft sensors and actuators.
• Support GNC flight software development, integration, and verification.
• Develop and support mission concepts of operations (CONOPS) and mission planning activities.
• Participate in subsystem-level requirements development and flow-down, with attention to technical performance, manufacturability, and testability.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with systems engineering, software, hardware, AI&T, and mission operations teams.
• Provide technical leadership across multiple programs or mission phases as required.

Simulation, Modeling & Analysis

• Develop and maintain high-fidelity GNC simulations, including spacecraft dynamics and space environment models.
• Support Monte Carlo analysis and performance trade studies.
• Develop and validate software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test environments.
• Support real-time and non-real-time simulation frameworks for verification and validation activities.

Additional Engineering Support

• Contribute to the evolution and sustainment of SET Development’s spacecraft GNC capabilities and engineering practices.
• Support design reviews, test readiness reviews, and technical documentation as required.

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Required QualificationsEducation

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field.

Experience

• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in guidance, navigation, and control system analysis, design, and verification for spacecraft or satellite systems.
• Demonstrated experience across multiple phases of the spacecraft development lifecycle.

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in MATLAB / Simulink, including simulation-based design and analysis.
• Experience with automatic code generation and model-based testing.
• Proficiency using Systems Tool Kit (STK) for mission analysis and visualization.
• Strong experience modeling spacecraft dynamics, sensors, actuators, and control algorithms.
• Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) practices (SysML/UML).
• Experience with software development, verification, and validation processes.
• Working knowledge of object-oriented programming (e.g., C, C++) and scripting languages such as Python.

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Work Location & Travel

• Fully remote within the United States.
• Up to 15% travel may be required to customer sites, partner facilities, or integration/test locations.

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Employment Classification

• Independent Contractor (long-term engagement).
• This position does not include employee benefits, relocation assistance, or visa sponsorship.

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Eligibility Requirements

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• U.S. citizenship may be required for certain programs or customer requirements.

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Physical & Work Environment Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to work for extended periods at a computer workstation.
• Ability to participate in virtual meetings and teleconferences.
• Ability to travel domestically as required.

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Equal Opportunity Statement

SET Development, LLC is an Equal Opportunity organization. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.

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