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Gnc Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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, 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 ...

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 ...

MBDA INC.

GNC Engineer

Huntsville, AL

About the Role MBDA is seeking a highly skilled Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer to join our dynamic engineering team. This role supports the design, development, and verification of ...

Auterion

GNC Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$140K - $170K/yr

As a GNC Engineer, you will be responsible for developing and sustaining the guidance, navigation, and control software that powers Auterion's Skynode platform, built on PX4. Your primary focus will ...

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 ...

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 ...

Lux Aeterna

GNC Engineer

Denver, CO · On-site

... GNC Engineer to design, implement, and validate the flight-critical guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) software that flies our reusable spacecraft platforms. This is a hands-on role where your ...

SpaceX

GNC Engineer, ADCS (Starlink)

Redmond, WA

$145K - $175K/yr

GNC ENGINEER, ADCS (STARLINK) SpaceX is looking for engineers with backgrounds in orbital mechanics, control theory, state estimation, spacecraft systems design, optimization, physics, and software ...

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 ...

New

SpaceX

GNC Engineer (Starlink)

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$155K - $185K/yr

GNC ENGINEER (STARLINK) SpaceX is looking for engineers with backgrounds in orbital mechanics, control theory, state estimation, spacecraft systems design, optimization, and software development to ...

AeroVironment

Principal GNC Engineer

Huntsville, AL · On-site

The GNC Principal Engineer is the overall technical authority for the Kinetic Air and Missile Defense Division. The GNC PE is responsible for supporting the development, integration, and testing of ...

iQuasar LLC

GNC Engineer

Blanco, TX · On-site

$120K - $180K/yr

We are seeking a GNC Engineer to help support a contract in Cedar Park, TX. The chosen candidate will design and optimize trajectories and guidance algorithms for operational launch vehicles. In this ...

Actalent

GNC Engineer

Niceville, FL

Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer This full-time, onsite Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer role supports the design, development, integration, and testing of advanced ...

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How much do gnc engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for gnc engineer in the United States is $108,638.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,500.00 and $132,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 is a GNC Engineer job?

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.

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Gnc Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Gnc Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 95% In-person, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,638 per year, or $52.2 per hour.
Principal GNC Engineer

Principal GNC Engineer

Astrolab

Hawthorne, CA • On-site

$180K - $235K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 21 days ago

Job description

Principal GNC Engineer
Department: Software Engineering
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Hawthorne, California
Reporting To: Denise Brown
Compensation: $180,000 - $235,000 / year
Description
Venturi Astrolab, Inc. (Astrolab) is pioneering new ways to explore and operate on distant planetary bodies. We are singularly focused on designing, building, and operating a fleet of multi-purpose commercial planetary rovers to extend and enhance humanity's presence in the solar system. We are seeking motivated, creative, and exceptional people to join our world-class team.
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 across guidance, navigation, control, and perception while managing and mentoring a high-performing engineering team.
This role combines deep technical leadership with people leadership. You will set system vision, make critical design decisions, drive execution, and ensure autonomy systems perform reliably on flight-ready vehicles operating on the lunar surface.
What you'll do:
  • Lead the design, verification, validation, testing, and characterization of GNC and perception systems for manual, semi-autonomous, and autonomous rover operations in a fast-moving, schedule-constrained development environment.
  • Define GNC and perception technical direction and system architecture with inputs from stakeholders across GNC, avionics, and software
  • Manage and mentor a team of GNC and perception engineers
  • Work with avionics responsible engineers to select, test, characterize, and calibrate GNC and perception sensors
  • Work closely with the simulation and software teams to prototype and analyze GNC algorithms in the vehicle simulation and software test environment
  • Work closely with the flight software team to support implementation and testing of GNC and perception flight software
  • Define and oversee testing and validation of the integrated GNC solution on a variety of simulation and test platforms in lab and analog environments
  • Ensure the GNC and perception system design, implementation, and testing are closely coordinated with affected stakeholders such as vehicle engineering (for sensor and lighting placement), avionics, software, and mission operations team
  • Ensure the GNC and perception system design and implementation meet all applicable safety, reliability, and fault tolerance requirements
  • Balance performance, risk, and embedded compute constraints
  • Ensure that rover GNC and perception systems support the required tele-operated, semi-autonomous, and fully autonomous vehicle operations
  • Ensure the GNC team provides support during rover operations on the lunar surface

What you'll bring:
  • Bachelor's degree in a STEM related field
  • Experience developing guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), perception, or autonomy systems for autonomous vehicles or robotic platforms
  • Experience developing GNC software using C++
  • Experience leading engineering teams and delivering complex technical programs
  • Experience supporting the full product development lifecycle, including system architecture, implementation, integration, testing, and operations
  • Experience developing perception, navigation, or autonomy software, including sensor integration, localization, navigation, or path planning
  • Experience designing and executing verification and validation testing for autonomy or navigation systems
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Master's degree or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field
  • 10+ years of experience developing guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), perception, and autonomy systems
  • Experience developing GNC, perception, or autonomy systems for space vehicles, extraterrestrial rovers, or other aerospace applications
  • Experience developing embedded autonomy, perception, or navigation software for compute- or power-constrained systems
  • Experience with image processing, multi-sensor odometry, terrain-relative navigation, pose estimation, hazard detection, terrain mapping, or route planning
  • Experience designing and executing simulation, laboratory, field, or analog test campaigns, including statistical analysis methods such as Monte Carlo
  • Experience implementing and testing GNC or perception software on flight hardware or embedded platforms
  • Experience supporting programs that follow NASA or other aerospace mission assurance standards

Benefits and Perks
  • Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
  • Equity ownership in the company
  • Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
  • 401(k) plan with company match
  • Flexible PTO and parental leave
  • Home office set up reimbursement
  • Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
  • Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks

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