{"id":760652,"url":"https://alion.io/job/quantumspace-principal-spacecraft-guidance-navigation-control-engineer","title":"Principal Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer","company":{"id":3813300,"name":"Quantum Space","domain":"quantumspaceinc.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/quantumspaceinc","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":95,"open_postings":19,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":119,"computed_at":"2026-11-08T05:47:12Z"}},"role":"Aerospace","role_family":"Aerospace","seniority":"lead","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Hawthorne, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":175000,"max":225000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":225000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":15,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Sensor Fusion","optional":false},{"name":"Simulink","optional":false},{"name":"Verification & Validation","optional":false},{"name":"AI Agents","optional":true},{"name":"Machine Learning","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-30T13:12:31Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-05","last_verified_at":"2026-11-09T02:52:35Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":101,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":[],"days_open":100},"description":"Who We're Looking For \nQuantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly. \nWe are seeking a Principal Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer to serve as the technical authority for the GNC subsystem across multiple spacecraft programs, leading architecture, design, procurement, integration, and verification. \nWhere You'll Make an Impact \nOwn the end-to-end GNC/ACS architecture from concept development through flight operations. \nOwn GNC subsystem level requirements. \nLead spacecraft attitude and control system design, including actuator sizing, sensor selection, control authority, and momentum management strategy. \nDefine and implement control laws for high-ΔV maneuvering, precision pointing, station-keeping, and proximity operations. \nArchitect state estimation frameworks (EKF/UKF, sensor fusion pipelines, covariance management) for robust on-orbit performance. \nDevelop and maintain high-fidelity 6DOF spacecraft simulation environments for analysis, trade studies, verification, and anomaly resolution. \nEstablish GNC verification and validation strategy across analysis, SIL/HIL, hardware integration, and flight test. \nSupport propulsion-coupled dynamics modeling, including thrust misalignment, slosh effects, and flexible-body considerations as needed. \nLead GNC participation in system-level reviews (MCR, SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and serve as the primary technical voice for the discipline. \nAnalyze flight telemetry and test data to assess performance, diagnose anomalies, and drive configuration or algorithm updates. \nDefine safe-mode, fault management, and degraded control strategies in partnership with FSW and systems engineering. \nMentor and manage GNC engineers, establishing best practices, code standards, simulation frameworks, and technical rigor across the team. \nSupport early-orbit operations and critical mission phases as required. \nWhat It Takes \nB.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field. \n15+ years of experience in spacecraft GNC/ACS development, including full lifecycle flight programs. \nDemonstrated ownership of a spacecraft attitude and/or orbit control system through design, integration, and flight. \nDeep expertise in rigid-body dynamics, orbital mechanics, estimation theory, and modern control methods. \nStrong experience with thruster-based ACS architectures and propulsion-coupled control systems. \nProven ability to independently architect GNC systems and make system-level trade decisions. \nExperience implementing flight algorithms in C++, Python, or MATLAB/Simulink, with awareness of real-time constraints. \nExperience integrating GNC with flight software and avionics, including SIL/HIL validation. \nAbility to analyze telemetry and diagnose complex on-orbit or integrated system anomalies. \nSystems-level thinking across propulsion, avionics, software, and mission design. \nDemonstrated technical leadership and mentorship experience. \nComfort operating in a fast-paced, hardware-integrated environment with evolving mission needs. \nNice-to-Have Experience \nExperience with high-ΔV vehicles, cislunar missions, GEO servicing, or RPO missions. \nExperience designing control systems for agile or propulsive maneuvering spacecraft. \nBackground in autonomous maneuver planning or onboard decision-making systems. \nExperience with flexible-body dynamics, propellant slosh modeling, or structural-control interaction. \nFamiliarity with MAX FSW and MAX GDS or other modern COTS flight software frameworks. \nExperience with multi-agent relative navigation or machine learning for estimation, perception, or task planning. \nExperience leading small technical teams in startup or NewSpace environments. \nPrior support of on-orbit commissioning or anomaly resolution efforts. \nWhat You'll Get \nOwnership - Build and validate the GNC capability that defines how our spacecraft maneuver, point, and operate autonomously. \nInnovation - Shape next-generation GNC architectures, algorithms, and tools for high-agility missions. \nImpact - Directly influence spacecraft controllability, autonomy, and mission success across cislunar and GEO operations. \nGrowth - Collaborate across avionics, FSW, systems, and mission ops, with opportunities to expand into dynamics modeling, autonomy, or flight operations. \nCompensation - Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, HSA, 401(k) matching, and equity participation. \nLocation: Rockville, MD or Hawthorne, CA\nBase Salary: $175,000 - $225,000\nThe salary range for this role is determined based on a variety of factors including work experience, education, technical expertise, certifications, critical skills, and business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full-time offers and are considered part of Quantum Space's total compensation package. \nAdditional Requirements \nTo comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual under 8 U.S.C. §1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. \nApply now. Join us in building the next generation of spacecraft.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5518,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":15,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Space Services","Space Defense"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-11T18:26:28Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":52,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":0.6,"age_days":100,"expected_fill_days":119,"reasons":["conf:3","velocity","win:late","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-11-08T05:47:12Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":225000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/quantumspace-principal-spacecraft-guidance-navigation-control-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/quantumspace-principal-spacecraft-guidance-navigation-control-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-09T05:14:02Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":128,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-10T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":3813300},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=3813300"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fquantumspace-principal-spacecraft-guidance-navigation-control-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":2,"usd":0.2},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fquantumspace-principal-spacecraft-guidance-navigation-control-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fquantumspace-principal-spacecraft-guidance-navigation-control-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/quantumspace-principal-spacecraft-guidance-navigation-control-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fquantumspace-principal-spacecraft-guidance-navigation-control-engineer"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":760652}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"quantumspaceinc.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":760652},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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