Technical Staff: Guidance, Navigation, and Control; GNC

Technical Staff:
Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC)

Date: Apr 28, 2026

Location: Lexington, MA, US

Company: MIT Lincoln Laboratory

The Tactical Space Systems Group (Group 96) develops technologies and prototypes to enhance the performance and resilience of U.S. space systems and to provide flexible new space capabilities to the U.S. Government. The Group executes both large-scale system prototypes including satellite payloads and ground systems, as well as earlier stage technology development and demonstration programs with partner groups across the laboratory.

The group is predominantly composed of scientists and engineers with expertise in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, electronics and software/firmware.

Group 96 is seeking a Technical Staff member to join our multidisciplinary engineering team building space prototypes. The role is specifically for an experienced individual with rocket, launch, and/or space bus controls design and analysis. The role will require experience with GNC algorithm design, performance analysis, and then software implementation on space prototype target hardware. The successful candidate will have a broad background of experience in these areas, and an interest in following space prototypes through the full life cycle.

The candidate will be expected to work in a team environment, owning delivery of the control algorithms and software. This will involve focused engineering work in their own discipline, as well as collaboration with others across the team to execute GNC design, analysis, simulation, and test. Even broader collaboration across systems performance, analysis, and engineering teams will be required in order to develop appropriate embedded system prototype risk reduction efforts and demonstration milestones.

• A Ph.D. in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, or related field
  • Master's degree in the above fields with at least 3-5 years of relevant experience will also be considered
• Experience in Rocket and Spacecraft Controls Design, Analysis, Simulation and Test.
• Develop and validate GN&C algorithms using MATLAB/Simulink, C++, Python and Kalman Filtering / Attitude Determination.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to flight software development and auto code generation to C++.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic, collaborative team environment.
• Excellent ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to peers, management, subcontractors, and sponsors.

• 5+ years of related professional experience
• Currently hold or have held an active TS clearance with compartmented access.
• Familiarity with GNC hardware for space and access to space applications.
• Support missile or launch vehicle performance analysis including model development, system optimization, and Monte Carlo assessments.
• Experience with space-flight and access-to-space software development and autocode to C++.

Recent Graduate Hiring Range: $145,200-$170,000

Experienced Hiring Range: $145,200-$220,000

Disclaimer: MIT Lincoln Laboratory provides a typical hiring range as a good faith estimate of what we reasonably expect to offer for this position at the time of posting. The final salary offered to a selected candidate will depend on various factors, including but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate's experience, skills and education/training, internal equity considerations and applicable legal requirements.

This range reflects base salary only and does not include additional forms of compensation or benefits.

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
• MIT-funded pension
• Matching 401K
• Paid leave (including vacation, sick, parental, military, etc.)
• Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs
• Mentorship programs
• A range of work-life balance options
• and much more!

Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must obtain and maintain a Top Secret level DoD security clearance with compartmented program eligibility.

MIT Lincoln Laboratory is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, or genetic information; U.S. citizenship is required.

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