Principal Spacecraft GNC Engineer

The role

The Principal GNC Engineer leads GNC development for a growing fleet of spacecraft platforms. This role involves spacecraft concept and algorithm development, flight software implementation, and subsystem integration and test.

What you will do

• Lead architect for GNC design, modeling, and analysis for LEO, MEO, GEO, and RPOD missions
• Design flight software, algorithms, and simulation product
• Develop spacecraft autonomy tools for constellation management
• Perform GNC component selection and GNC subsystem design
• Develop and execute test processes
• Define fault detection and response
• Conduct hardware-in-the-loop and Monte Carlo simulation
• Integrate flight and simulation software with analysis, test, and operations tools
• Support internal and external design reviews
• Plan and maintain team schedule and milestones and report technical status

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
• 15+ years of industry experience in GNC/ADCS
• 5+ years of industry experience developing/operating spacecraft/satellites
• Prior experience leading a team of three or more direct reports
• Prior experience directly interfacing with aerospace customers in the commercial or government sectors
• Experience in Jira planning and workflow
• Hands-on experience with IMU, reaction wheels, star trackers, gyroscopes, and other GNC hardware
• Experience developing blended attitude solutions from a variety of sensor data
• Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and verifying flight software
• Demonstrated experience with spacecraft on-orbit operations and anomaly resolution
• Prior experience leading a team across a project lifecycle
• Prior experience working multiple projects simultaneously and determining priorities for a team

Nice to have

• advanced degrees

Benefits

• Equity in Apex
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents
• $100k life insurance at no cost
• 15 to 20+ days vacation annually
• 10 paid holidays
• 100% match on first 3% and 50% match on next 2% for 401(k)
• 8 weeks paid parental leave
• childcare reimbursement up to $350/day for work-related travel
• Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks
• Monthly office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and gatherings
• Dream desk setup

Before you apply

• Applicants must qualify as a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or individual granted asylum) or be able to obtain required export authorizations

About the company

Apex manufactures satellite buses at scale using software, vertical integration, and hardware designed for manufacturing. The company is a fast-growing startup that has raised more than $500M in funding.