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Senior GNC Engineer

Listing for: Darwin Recruitment
Full Time position Listed on 2026-11-08
Job specializations:
  • Engineering
    Aerospace / Aviation / Avionics, Systems Engineer

Job Description & How to Apply Below

Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer Los Angeles area, California This is a small satellite company focused on national security space, part of one of the world’s largest aerospace and defence groups. Their missions include missile warning and Earth observation.

They offer startup pace with the stability of the parent business behind it. The work is broad rather than narrow, so engineers here are not pigeonholed into one corner of their discipline.

The GNC team delivers the GNC subsystem for a programme or constellation. That covers subsystem and system level analysis for requirements compliance, sensor and actuator selection, and flight control software development and verification. The team stays involved across the whole programme lifecycle, from mission and system design inputs through to on console support for on orbit operations.

They are hiring at Level 3 and Level 4. At lead level you would be the Responsible Engineering Authority for delivery of the GNC subsystem, either for a single programme or across a portfolio as the GNC focal.

What you will do Deliver the GNC subsystem, covering hardware, software and analysis, for a satellite programme

Perform GNC subsystem design, analysis, software development and component selection to meet programme requirements

Manage the development of GNC products within programme cost and schedule constraints

Report technical execution progress to programme and company leadership, and track and mitigate risk Interface with other satellite subsystems, systems engineering and programme management to ensure system level performance

Provide technical leadership to a team of GNC engineers, including decomposition and delegation of tasks

Who this suits

Someone with a bachelor’s degree and 5 or more years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of technical education and experience3 or more years with GNC fundamentals1 or more years of spacecraft system level experience1 or more years collaborating with other engineering subsystems and programme leadershipUS citizenship, with the ability to obtain and maintain a clearance. A final Top Secret clearance is required post start

Level 4 suits someone with 9 or more years of related experience who leads technical direction and mentors others

Useful extras: satellite I&T and on orbit operations, complex GNC analysis of kinematics, dynamics and control systems, classical and modern control theory, system level trade studies, architecture development, project management fundamentals, mentoring experience, an active TS/SCI clearance

What you get Hybrid working with every other Friday off. Out of state candidates are welcome, with relocation covered as a lump sum sign on bonus subject to approval. This role is export controlled and requires US Person status. There is no visa sponsorship. The company is a drug free workplace with post offer testing, and successful candidates complete a conflict of interest assessment.

Apply Send your CV through this advert and we’ll come back to you with the full company details and next steps. Darwin Space is a specialist space industry recruitment firm working exclusively on this vacancy. All applications are treated in confidence.

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Adam Slade

Position Requirements

10+ Years work experience
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