GNC Engineer, Navigation-focused

About the role

Stratolaunch is a technology innovator dedicated to advancing hypersonic testing and operational capabilities. We are looking for a Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer at the Sr, Staff, or Principal level, specializing in navigation systems for hypersonic vehicles. This role involves significant contributions to the design and testing of flight control systems, requiring a solid understanding of advanced navigation techniques.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Design and assess advanced algorithms to meet navigation specifications.
• Create navigation models and simulations to forecast performance metrics.
• Conduct analyses to ensure algorithm designs align with established requirements.
• Contribute to the overall design, development, implementation, integration, and testing of flight control systems.
• Develop necessary engineering tools to support project tasks.
• Maintain clear communication with the Vehicle Management System and GNC leadership.
• Uphold integrity and accountability in all commitments.

Requirements

• Proven experience in navigation system design, development, and testing within aerospace applications.
• Familiarity with Kalman filtering, Extended Kalman filtering, and various estimation methods.
• Experience in implementing tightly coupled GPS-aided strapdown navigation solutions.
• Background in developing navigators for contested environments and resilience strategies.
• Knowledge of inertial measurement systems, including common errors and biases.
• Ability to develop and anchor navigation simulation models based on flight test data.
• Understanding of design robustness concerning reset, initialization, dropout, and outlier rejection.
• Familiarity with anti-jam techniques for modern GPS receivers, such as CRPAs.
• Knowledge of transfer alignment methods for missile systems on military platforms.
• Strong grasp of flight dynamics and GPS technology fundamentals.
• Experience with software development processes and methodologies.
• Capability to take initiative and prioritize tasks in line with business objectives.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Skills & tools

• Proficient in Matlab and Simulink.
• Experienced with version control systems (Git, Bitbucket).
• Competent in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Nice to have

• Experience with closed-loop GPS simulations in Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) environments.
• Familiarity with fusing multiple navigation aiding sources, including non-GPS data.
• Experience with alternative aiding methods for denied or degraded environments (e.g., TDOA).
• Skills in implementing countermeasures against electronic attacks and navigation signal spoofing.
• Knowledge of cold start, warm start, and hot start procedures for GPS systems.
• Experience in estimating wind relative angles using synthetic air data and navigator states.
• Background in hypersonic or near-hypersonic missile or launch vehicle design.
• Familiarity with P(Y) and M code GPS receivers and their cryptographic keying.
• Understanding of adjoint methods for miss distance decomposition and allocation.
• Knowledge of target tracking, discrimination, classification, and aimpoint refinement.
• Experience with collaborative navigation and targeting using missile-to-missile datalinks.
• Involvement in algorithm requirements development, design, implementation, testing, and post-flight analysis.
• Advanced degree in a relevant technical field related to GNC.
• TS/SCI security clearance.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Sr-level: Bachelor's degree (B.S.) and 5-10 years of relevant experience, or equivalent education and experience combination ($120,500-$158,000).
• Staff Level: Bachelor's degree (B.S.) and 10-20 years of engineering experience, or equivalent education and experience combination ($157,000-$206,000).
• Principal Level: Bachelor's degree (B.S.) and 20-25 years of engineering experience, or equivalent education and experience combination ($181,000-$237,200).

Practical notes

• This position is based in Mojave, CA, with potential for hybrid work arrangements for qualified candidates.
• Minimal travel is expected, estimated at less than 5%.

Stratolaunch is committed to equal opportunity and values diversity within our workforce. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. U.S. Citizenship may be required for certain positions with government clearance.

About the company

High-speed flight test services form the core work of this American aerospace team. Company roots trace to 2011, created by Paul Allen and Burt Rutan to explore air-launched space transport. Home base is Seattle. Earlier collaboration on SpaceShipOne informed the project. New ownership arrived in 2019 through Cerberus Capital Management. Funding remains private. Operations follow a non-traditional defense contractor model, focusing on test missions and system development under continued private investment.