GNC Engineer, Orbit Control

About the role

Join the team managing the Starlink satellite constellation to ensure thousands of units maintain precise positioning. You will design and implement the control logic required to operate the world's largest broadband network from orbit to atmosphere reentry. In this capacity, you will own the development and verification of guidance, navigation, and control systems that keep the constellation performing optimally. You will be responsible for creating the algorithms that dictate how satellites move, hold position, and safely descend. Your work will directly influence the reliability and longevity of the entire orbital network. You will operate at the intersection of software engineering and orbital physics to solve complex real-world problems. This role requires a deep commitment to precision, safety, and the rigorous standards required for space operations. You will contribute to the foundational control systems that enable global connectivity and sustainable space operations.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Implement production-level C++ and Python code to execute orbit control strategies in real time.
• Design closed-loop trajectory control algorithms using thrust and drag for orbit raising, station-keeping, and deorbiting.
• Conduct trade studies to influence hardware design and mission operations for future satellite generations.
• Improve control performance, prediction accuracy, and resilience against solar storms using advanced modeling techniques.
• Run simulations and on-orbit experiments to validate configuration changes and refine control parameters.
• Support fleet-wide maneuvers including respacing and shell lowering to optimize network coverage and collision avoidance.
• Monitor fleet performance through custom metrics and dashboards to identify anomalies and drive improvements.
• Perform code and design reviews while maintaining technical documentation for future engineering teams.
• Participate in active satellite fleet operations by responding to events and refining procedures based on telemetry data.
• Develop simulation models that replicate orbital behavior to test control logic before deployment.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align control strategies with launch schedules and operational constraints.
• Drive innovation in orbit control by exploring new methodologies and integrating findings into operational workflows.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor degree in engineering, physics, mathematics, or computer science.
• Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of dynamical systems and their application to orbital mechanics.
• Possess professional software development experience using C++ and Python in a production environment.
• Show the ability to write efficient, reliable, and maintainable code for critical systems.
• Exhibit strong analytical skills to troubleshoot complex issues in a dynamic operational setting.
• Comply with ITAR regulations, requiring U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, refugee status, or asylee status.
• Maintain the capability to work independently on challenging technical problems with minimal supervision.
• Commit to adhering to strict engineering standards and documentation practices.
• Be prepared to engage in on-call responsibilities as part of active satellite fleet operations.
• Understand the importance of safety, reliability, and precision in space-based control systems.

Nice to have

• Hold a Master degree or PhD in a relevant technical field.
• Apply expertise in orbital mechanics, maneuver planning, collision avoidance, and relative orbital dynamics.
• Demonstrate familiarity with classical control theory and state-space methods.
• Bring experience with trajectory optimization, convex optimization, mixed-integer programming, and model predictive control.
• Show knowledge of high-fidelity orbit propagation, uncertainty modeling, and numerical propagation methods.
• Understand atmosphere models and high-order gravity models for accurate orbit prediction.
• Prove ability to verify GNC algorithms through simulation and validate simulation models against real data.
• Exhibit a track record of solving complex technical problems independently and effectively.

Skills & tools

• C++
• Python
• GNC algorithms
• Orbital mechanics
• Control theory

Practical notes

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Salary: Level I $125,000 - $145,000; Level II $145,000 - $175,000 per year.

• Total rewards include company stock, stock options, long-term cash awards, discretionary bonuses, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Benefits include medical, vision, and dental coverage, 401(k), disability and life insurance, paid parental leave, 3 weeks of vacation, and 10+ paid holidays.
• Company shuttles operate between select Seattle locations and the Redmond office.
• ITAR compliance: Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.