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Gnc Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Senior GNC Engineer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$109K - $150K/yr

Vast is seeking a Senior GNC Engineer to own guidance, navigation, and control for a new constellation-ready spacecraft bus - a product line designed to scale to hundreds of spacecraft per year. The ...

GNC Engineer (I, II) As a GNC Engineer at Argo, you will be a member of the team architecting the full simulation and flight control stack for Argo's refuellable in-space transport vehicles and other ...

To help achieve these efforts, Stratolaunch is seeking a Sr- or Staff-level GNC Engineer to participate in the development of hypersonic flight control systems. You will contribute to the design ...

GNC Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140K - $180K/yr

WHO YOU ARE: You're a GNC engineer who wants real ownership over the guidance and control systems of a clean-sheet autonomous aircraft. You're comfortable working from first principles, collaborating ...

Senior GNC Engineer

Redondo Beach, CA · On-site

$110K - $152K/yr

As a Senior Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer at Impulse Space, you will own all aspects of and provide outstanding technical contribution to vehicle GNC in all phases of development and ...

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 ...

Senior GNC Engineer

Redondo Beach, CA · On-site

$145K - $175K/yr

Description As a Senior Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer at Impulse Space, you will own all aspects of and provide outstanding technical contribution to vehicle GNC in all phases of ...

Principal GNC Engineer Location: Playa Vista, California (in-person, five days per week) The return lane isn't going to build itself. Come build it with us. Outpost is an orbital logistics company ...

Showing results 41-60

Gnc Engineer information

See California salary details

$41.5K

$107.2K

$162.8K

How much do gnc engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 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:

What cities in California are hiring for Gnc Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Gnc Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Gnc Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,216 per year, or $51.5 per hour.

GNC Engineer, Beam Planning (Starshield)

SpaceX

Hawthorne, CA • On-site

$145K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 10 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Develop highly reliable and performant GNC algorithms, flight software, simulations, tools, and services using C++ or Python

  • Build software tools and construct scenarios to analyze system performance

  • Support on-orbit operations and maintain ground and vehicle software at peak performance


SpaceX rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 151 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

16th of 72 rated aerospace companies


Job description

GNC ENGINEER, BEAM PLANNING (STARSHIELD)

Starshield leverages SpaceX's Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads.

As a GNC engineer on this team, you will bring a passion and expertise in areas like state estimation, spacecraft systems design, optimization, and software development to join the Starshield GNC team. Engineers on this team support various payloads through initial conception to on-orbit operation, with a focus on beam planning and algorithm development. You will be driving future hardware design and optimizing current payload performance through modeling and simulation. We are looking for engineers who enjoy solving complex problems, can work effectively in a fast-paced environment, and are passionate about advancing the space industry.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Develop highly reliable and performant GNC algorithms, flight software, simulations, tools, and services using C++ or Python
  • Conduct analyses, recommend designs, and write GNC software that balances competing requirements
  • Build software tools and construct scenarios to analyze system performance
  • Write high-quality technical documentation of programs, algorithms, or analysis
  • Develop software models of the operation and performance of various payloads
  • Support your relevant on-call operations rotation, keep ground and vehicle software continuously operating at peak performance

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, computer science/software engineering, or an engineering discipline
  • Software development experience in C++ or Python

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Master's degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline
  • Experience in verifying GNC algorithm performance via simulation and validation of the simulation's models
  • Experience simulating satellite payload performance
  • Demonstrated experience in developing state estimation algorithms or optimization
  • Experience with RF
  • Linux development experience
  • Capable of identifying and solving complex problems with little to no supervision or direction
  • Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start-up atmosphere
  • Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
  • Active TS/SCI clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Able to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support critical path development and/or critical on-orbit operations
  • An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions; if so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol test

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:    
Pay range:    
GNC Engineer/Level I: $125,000.00 - $150,000.00/per year    
GNC Engineer/Level II: $145,000.00 - $175,000.00/per year       

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.


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About SpaceX

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, data services, guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing and satellite telecommunications

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Hawthorne, CA, US