Guidance, Navigation, & Controls (GNC), Controls Engineer

Position Summary

We are looking for a resilient, high-energy, experienced Senior GNC Engineer with experience designing control systems for flight vehicles. The engineer will work in a fast-paced environment to contribute to the development of control systems across the program lifecycle for Axiom Space’s modules. The successful engineer will work well across multi-disciplinary teams and use a system-level understanding when implementing their design.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, and implement GNC algorithms for aerospace vehicles.

• Develop and refine control laws using classical and modern control techniques (PID, LQR, MPC, adaptive control, etc.).

• Evaluate and integrate spacecraft control effectors (e.g., thrusters, reaction wheels, CMGs).

• Perform 6-DOF modeling, simulation, and performance analysis to evaluate system behavior under nominal and off-nominal conditions.

• Build high-fidelity dynamic models of vehicles, sensors, actuators, and environmental disturbances.

• Conduct Monte Carlo analyses, sensitivity studies, and stability assessments to validate robustness and reliability.

• Use tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C/C++, or similar environments to develop simulations.

• Translate GNC algorithms into flight-ready software, ensuring numerical stability, computational efficiency, and real-time performance.

• Collaborate with embedded software teams to integrate, test, and verify GNC functionality on hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) systems.

• Support development of requirements, interface definitions, and verification plans for flight software.

• Plan and execute verification and validation activities, including unit tests, SIL/HIL testing, and integrated system tests.

• Analyze flight test or mission data to assess GNC performance and identify areas for improvement.

• Support troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for anomalies observed during testing or operations.

• Work with hardware teams to define performance requirements and ensure compatibility with GNC architecture.

• Contribute to system-level design reviews, requirements development, and architecture decisions.

• Collaborate with propulsion, avionics, structures, and mission operations teams to ensure GNC solutions align with overall vehicle design.

• Provide technical leadership on sub-projects, mentor junior engineers, and support design trade studies.

• Prepare technical reports, design documentation, test plans, and analysis summaries for internal and external stakeholders.

• Present findings at design reviews, customer meetings, and cross-disciplinary engineering forums.

• Ensure compliance with aerospace standards, safety requirements, and certification processes.

• Communicate project progress, status, and potential issues to stakeholders and leadership.

• Implement and maintain agile project management methodologies throughout the project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or other related technical degree required

• 4-9 years of experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience required

• Development of attitude control systems on flight vehicles (spacecraft preferred)

• Experience in at least one of the areas below:

  • Control law development and stability analysis
  • Momentum exchange actuators, including Reaction Wheels and CMGs
  • Control systems for vehicles with flexible modes and articulating components
  • Optimization techniques such as least squares, linear/quadratic programming

• Experience with SWIL and HWIL testing and integration

• Actuator testing, characterization, and model development

• Experience developing with 6-DOF Monte Carlo simulations, with experience with NASA’s Trick simulation framework and JSC Engineering Orbital Mechanics (JEOD) preferred

• Proficient with C++, Matlab, and/or Python coding languages

• Track record of delivering outcomes in ambiguous, fast-moving environments

• Uses good judgement to problem-solve proactively, positively impacting hard challenges

• Proven to deliver high quality results under tight deadlines

• Grit, passion for space and the mission

• Entrepreneurial, growth mindset

• Perseverance, resourcefulness, adaptability

Skills

• Executes priorities with precision and pace

• High EQ and ability to collaborate within teams and cross-functionally

• Tech-savvy in using systems and tools to move faster and smarter

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Competencies

• Accountability

• Sense of Urgency

• Extreme Ownership

• Execution and Delivery

• Efficiency

• Effectiveness