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Gnc Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Reflect Orbital

GNC Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$130K - $220K/yr

About the Role As a GNC Engineer, you will enable us to predict the in-orbit performance of a novel space vehicle. Your work will span from vehicle-level dynamics modeling, to propagated orbital ...

Apex

Spacecraft GNC Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$112K - $180K/yr

About the Role We are seeking a seasoned Spacecraft GNC Engineer to work on a closely integrated team who will drive the design of the GNC system, including hardware and software, to meet the ...

Astrolab

Principal GNC Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$180K - $235K/yr

Principal GNC Engineer Department: Software Engineering Employment Type: Full Time Location: Hawthorne, California Reporting To: Denise Brown Compensation: $180,000 - $235,000 / year Description ...

Anduril Industries

GNC Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA

Develop models required to support functional evaluation of GNC software REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS * Bachelor's degree in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering ...

Anduril Industries

GNC Engineer, Space

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

The GNC engineering team will work closely with related teams, including Systems, Flight Software, Mission Operations, and Ground Software. The GNC Engineer will work algorithm design, truth and ...

Aetherflux

GNC Engineer

San Carlos, CA · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

GNC Engineer Cowboy Space Corp. is building the infrastructure to power and connect the orbital economy. Our satellites operate in Low Earth Orbit to collect sunlight and enable a new class of ...

Benchmark Space Systems

Senior GNC Engineer

Pleasanton, CA · On-site

$116K - $159K/yr

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 our team. In this role you will focus ...

Protingent

Senior GNC Engineer

San Carlos, CA · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

Senior GNC Engineer Position Description: Protingent Staffing has an exciting direct-hire Senior GNC Engineer opportunity. Job Responsibilities: * Design and develop guidance, navigation, and control ...

Astrolab

GNC Engineer (All Levels)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site +1

$130K - $235K/yr

GNC Engineer (All Levels) Department: Software Engineering Employment Type: Full Time Location: Hawthorne, California Compensation: $130,000 - $235,000 / year Description Astrolab is The Lunar ...

Muon Space

GNC Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$124K - $189K/yr

About the Role Muon seeks a talented Spacecraft Attitude Control System (ACS) AKA Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) engineer specializing in attitude control design to join our team. The ideal ...

Long Wall

Sr. GNC Engineer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$155K - $226K/yr

The best engineers, corporate professionals, and technicians make their teammates better. Knowing that complementary skills create force multiplication and drive mission success. Sr. GNC Engineer As ...

Anduril Industries

GNC Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$166K - $220K/yr

Develop models required to support functional evaluation of GNC software REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS * Bachelor's degree in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering ...

Astrolab

Principal GNC Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$180K - $235K/yr

As the Principal GNC Engineer, you will own the GNC systems that enable Astrolab's rovers to operate safely and effectively in extreme environments. You will lead technical strategy and execution ...

SpaceX

GNC Engineer (Starfall)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$145K - $175K/yr

GNC ENGINEER (STARFALL) SpaceX is looking for engineers with backgrounds in orbital mechanics, control theory, state estimation, spacecraft systems design, atmospheric entry, optimization, and ...

Benchmark Space Systems

Senior GNC Engineer

Pleasanton, CA · On-site

$160K - $210K/yr

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 our team. In this role you will focus ...

Astrolab

GNC Engineer (All Levels)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

As a GNC engineer at Astrolab, you will be responsible for designing, analyzing, and testing Guidance, Navigation, and Control algorithms for our lunar rover fleet. You will support development and ...

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All JobsGnc Engineer JobsGnc Engineer Jobs in California

Gnc Engineer information

See California salary details

$41.5K

$107.2K

$162.8K

How much do gnc engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for gnc engineer in California is $107,216.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $87,300.00 and $130,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a GNC engineer?

A GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control) Engineer is responsible for developing algorithms and systems that enable vehicles, such as spacecraft, aircraft, or autonomous robots, to navigate and control their movement accurately. They design control systems, work with sensors and actuators, and develop software for real-time decision-making. GNC engineers use techniques from control theory, signal processing, and machine learning to ensure precision and stability in dynamic environments. Their work is crucial for missions requiring autonomous operation, such as space exploration, missile guidance, and drone navigation.

What are typical day-to-day responsibilities for a GNC engineer?

As a GNC Engineer, your daily responsibilities often include designing and refining algorithms for guidance, navigation, and control; running simulations to test system performance; and analyzing flight data to troubleshoot and optimize system behavior. You may work closely with hardware engineers, software developers, and systems engineers to integrate your solutions into larger aerospace platforms such as rockets, satellites, or UAVs. Collaboration through team meetings, design reviews, and documentation is routine, and you may occasionally participate in field tests or flight demonstrations. Staying organized and adaptive is key, as priorities can shift quickly depending on project timelines and technical challenges.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the GNC engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a GNC Engineer, you need a solid background in control systems, dynamics, navigation algorithms, and aerospace engineering, often complemented by a relevant bachelor's or master's degree. Familiarity with simulation tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, C/C++, and experience with sensor integration or real-time embedded systems are highly valued, along with certifications like EIT or PE being beneficial. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and clear communication skills help you excel in collaborative and interdisciplinary environments. These competencies are critical for designing and optimizing guidance, navigation, and control systems that ensure mission success and safety in aerospace projects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Gnc Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Gnc Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Gnc Engineer jobs in California?

For Gnc Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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Gnc Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Gnc Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,216 per year, or $51.5 per hour.

GNC Engineer

Reflect Orbital

Hawthorne, CA • On-site

$130K - $220K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 17 days ago

Job description

At Reflect, you will be expected to move fast, have a lot of ownership and, most importantly, be able to effect change. If this excites you, we are interested in hearing about your best work and accomplishments across any domain and from any points in your life.
About the Role
As a GNC Engineer, you will enable us to predict the in-orbit performance of a novel space vehicle. Your work will span from vehicle-level dynamics modeling, to propagated orbital dynamics modeling, to controller design that we can implement on flight-ready avionics. We're looking for someone who brings "full-stack" GNC development capability to the table.
Responsibilities
  • Develop and own our 6-DOF simulation for understanding vehicle attitude, station-keeping, and orbital performance.
  • Design and implement controllers on hardware going to space by actually writing software yourself
  • Use simulation to constrain and inform ADCS design
  • Work closely with avionics engineers to have performant, reliable attitude determination and control
  • Analyze orbits, constellation designs, trajectories and attitude motion profiles to maximize vehicle service performance
  • Contribute to high-level vehicle architecture decisions
  • Support prototyping, implement controllers on prototype hardware
  • Come up with creative solutions to novel problems that surround precisely putting a spot of reflected sunlight on the ground from space

Ideal Qualifications
  • 4-6 years of professional GNC engineering experience, ideally on spacecraft or other dynamically controlled vehicles
  • Clear prior technical ownership of functioning vehicle controllers and sim (I designed and simulated the GNC for "xyz" vehicle)
  • Experience bringing up sim environments from scratch, opinionated/familiar with best practices.
  • Experience with implementing attitude control and/or estimation algorithms on spacecraft
  • Experience with verification and validation of GNC flight software in an integrated environment, leveraging 6-DOF simulation and HITL testing.

Even if you don't meet 100% of the above qualifications, we are likely still interested in hearing from you. Hiring exceptional individuals is our #1 priority, and we believe that exceptional people often have highly unusual backgrounds.
We are also interested in carving out unique roles for unconventional people that we are excited about working with.
Benefits
Reflect Orbital's success will hinge on our team, which is why our compensation and benefits plan is designed to reward our employees and support their families as generously as we're able.
  • Broad choice of medical/dental/vision coverage, Reflect covers 100% of each base-policy
  • Access to HSA, FSA, and 401K
  • Unlimited paid time off, two-weeks per year encouraged
  • Healthy lunches provided daily
Equal Opportunity
Reflect Orbital is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Reflect Orbital is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
More about Reflect Orbital:
Learn more about our team here.

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