Our client, an innovative aerospace company developing launch vehicle and spacecraft technologies, is seeking a Director of Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) to lead and build the company's GNC capability.
This is a hands-on technical leadership role responsible for developing the algorithms, simulations, and infrastructure that guide launch vehicles and spacecraft from liftoff through orbital insertion. The position combines deep technical work with team building and organizational leadership.
You will establish the GNC roadmap, recruit and develop a high-performing engineering team, and collaborate closely with flight software, avionics, propulsion, and vehicle systems teams to ensure reliable flight performance. The role also involves shaping development practices, including the integration of modern engineering tools that accelerate simulation, testing, and analysis workflows.
Compensation: $163,200 - $250,000 base salary, plus potential bonus, equity, and benefits.
Responsibilities
* Build and lead the Guidance, Navigation, and Control team, including recruiting, mentoring, and developing engineers
* Own the GNC architecture and system design, including algorithms, trajectory design, modeling, and simulation
* Develop and maintain simulation environments used to validate vehicle guidance, navigation, and control systems
* Integrate modern engineering tooling and automation, including advanced simulation, automated testing, and data analysis workflows
* Establish robust verification and validation frameworks across simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and integrated vehicle environments
* Partner with flight software, avionics, propulsion, and vehicle engineering teams to define interfaces and system requirements
* Support launch operations and mission control activities, including GNC responsibilities during countdown and flight
* Analyze flight and ground test data to validate system performance and continuously improve models and control strategies
* Provide technical leadership for cross-disciplinary problem solving and system-level integration
Required Qualifications
* 10+ years of experience in Guidance, Navigation, and Control development for aerospace vehicles
* Demonstrated experience developing GNC algorithms, trajectory design, and simulation models
* Strong background in control systems for real flight vehicles, including practical experience from flight programs
* Experience leading or scaling high-performing engineering teams while remaining technically hands-on
* Deep understanding of sensor integration and navigation systems, including IMUs, GPS, and other navigation sensors
* Experience performing system-level integration and troubleshooting across complex engineering systems
* Strong experience with model-based design and simulation tools, particularly Simulink
* Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to mentor engineers and guide technical decision-making
* Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a related discipline
Preferred Experience
* Experience developing hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing environments for flight control systems
* Familiarity with modern engineering automation tools used for simulation, testing, and data analysis
* Experience supporting launch operations or mission control environments
* Experience integrating advanced data analysis or machine-learning-assisted engineering tools into engineering workflows
* Background working in rapid-development aerospace or startup environments