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Guidance Navigation Control Engineer Jobs in Baltimore, MD

Contribute to guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) subsystem design and evaluation * Maintain ... Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering or a related technical field Experience: A minimum of ...

Our engineers and space scientists are on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by ... Contribute to guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) subsystem design and evaluation * Maintain ...

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Guidance Navigation Control Engineer information

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$54.6K

$96K

$130.2K

How much do guidance navigation control engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for guidance navigation control engineer in Baltimore, MD is $95,959.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $83,000.00 and $107,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a guidance navigation control engineer?

To thrive as a Guidance Navigation Control Engineer, you need a strong background in aerospace engineering, control theory, and mathematics, usually supported by a relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree. Familiarity with simulation tools like MATLAB/Simulink, programming languages such as C/C++, and experience with sensor integration and embedded systems are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork and communication skills help you excel in this role. These skills and qualities are vital to ensure the safe, precise, and reliable operation of complex aerospace or autonomous systems.

What does a guidance navigation control engineer do?

A guidance, navigation, and control engineer designs, manufactures, and tests aircraft and other vehicles. Your duties span research and development, analysis, design, and manufacturing. As a GNC engineer, you are an aerospace engineer with responsibilities that include examining design proposals for financial and structural feasibility, overseeing the design and manufacturing system operations, and running tests to determine safety and performance. You manage quality control, look for issues with designs and final products, and determine what solutions are safe and effective. You must understand and apply concepts like propulsion and flight mechanics, aerodynamics, and thermodynamics when designing and building vehicles.

How does a guidance navigation control engineer typically collaborate with multidisciplinary teams during a project?

Guidance Navigation Control Engineers work closely with professionals from various disciplines, such as mechanical engineers, software developers, and systems engineers, to ensure that navigation and control systems are seamlessly integrated into larger aerospace or robotics projects. Regular meetings, design reviews, and simulation sessions are common, where GNC engineers both contribute their expertise and adapt solutions based on feedback from other teams. This collaborative environment helps resolve integration challenges early and ensures that final products meet safety, performance, and reliability standards.

What is a guidance navigation control engineer?

Guidance Navigation Control (GNC) Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and test systems that guide and control the movement of vehicles such as aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and autonomous vehicles. Their work involves creating algorithms and integrating sensors and actuators to ensure precise navigation and stability. GNC Engineers play a critical role in mission planning, real-time control, and safety, making sure vehicles follow their intended paths accurately. They often collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to solve complex problems related to flight dynamics, navigation, and control systems.

What job categories do people searching Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs in Baltimore, MD look for?

The top searched job categories for Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs in Baltimore, MD are:

What cities near Baltimore, MD are hiring for Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs?

Cities near Baltimore, MD with the most Guidance Navigation Control Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Guidance Navigation Control Engineer job openings in Baltimore, MD as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,959 per year, or $46.1 per hour.

Spacecraft Guidance and Control Analyst

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Laurel, MD • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 26 days ago


Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory rating

9.6

Company rating: 9.6 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

2nd of 73 rated research


Job description

Description
Do you enjoy designing algorithms, flight software, and testing hardware used for spacecraft Guidance and Control?
Would you love to apply your technical knowledge and creativity to make innovative contributions to some of the nation's cutting edge space missions?
Are you searching for a collaborative, fulfilling work environment?
If so, we 're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL!
We are seeking creative engineers to help us develop, analyze, test, and deliver spacecraft G&C systems for both NASA and National Security Space missions. Our spacecraft reaches the extremes of the solar system, from Parker Solar Probe at the Sun to New Horizons at Pluto and beyond, with formation flying at Earth, as well as planetary defense with DART. We would love to have you apply your talents to our challenges. As a member of our team, you will contribute to the development of some of our nation 's most critical space missions, joining a hardworking team of engineers who strive to deliver game-changing solutions. You will have the opportunity to support both pre-launch spacecraft development and post-launch operations performance analysis and system updates. We are passionate about our work, striving to cultivate an environment of partnership and collaboration, and committed to making critical contributions to critical challenges.
As a Guidance and Control Engineer...
  • Your primary responsibility will be assisting in the design, development, and delivery of G&C subsystems for various Earth and/or interplanetary spacecraft, with your primary focus being attitude determination, guidance, and control.
  • You will assist in the implementation of control and estimation algorithms, actuator and sensor hardware models, and dynamic simulations in MATLAB/Simulink.
  • You will assist in the development and testing of ground software to support the integration of G&C testbed algorithms and flight software with flight and ground support equipment hardware.
  • You will support the coordination of on-board spacecraft time with universal dynamical time.
  • You will assist with the integration and test of spacecraft through scenario testing and data analysis.
  • You will support G&C spacecraft operations.
  • You will develop G&C analysis tools for pre and post-launch activities.

Qualifications
You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...
  • Possess an MS in Aerospace Engineering or related field.
  • Have at least 2 years of experience or significant coursework in the design, analysis, or development of complex aerospace systems.
  • Are skilled in analytical and numerical computing software, such as MATLAB and Simulink.
  • Are able to obtain a TS/SCI security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You 'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...
  • Possess a PhD in Aerospace Engineering or related field.
  • Have at least 5 years of spacecraft mission experience in either design, analysis, development, testing, or operations of G&C subsystems.
  • Have experience in extended Kalman Filters, Frequency Domain Analysis, or Stability and Jitter Analysis.
  • Possess an active Top Secret clearance (or above).

About Us
Why Work at APL?
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.
At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accessibility@jhuapl.edu.
The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Minimum Rate
$100,000 Annually
Maximum Rate
$245,000 Annually

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