GNC Engineer, Beam Planning (Starshield)

About the Role

SpaceX's Starshield leverages Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. 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 passion and expertise in areas like state estimation, spacecraft systems design, optimization, and software development. 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.

Key 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 relevant on-call operations rotation, keep ground and vehicle software continuously operating at peak performance.

Requirements & Tech Stack

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

Qualifications

• 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.
• 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.
• 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 to work on sensitive SpaceX missions, subject to pre-employment and random drug and alcohol testing.

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

Actual level and base salary determined on a case-by-case basis based on 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.

Total rewards package may include long-term incentives (company stock, stock options, long-term cash awards), discretionary bonuses, and Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks.

Accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year.

Accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy.

ITAR Requirements

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.