Principal Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer

The role

The Principal Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer is the senior technical authority for Voyager Lunar Systems. This person will modernize existing GNC algorithms and drive innovation in guidance, navigation, and control approaches.

What you will do

• Lead efforts to raise GNC analysis, modeling, and algorithm fidelity to industry standards.
• Advance GNC algorithms by introducing state-of-the-art methods in state estimation, sensor fusion, trajectory generation, optical navigation, and terrain-based navigation.
• Modernize and expand high-fidelity simulation environments for verification and mission analysis.
• Develop and validate navigation and control strategies for descent, landing, attitude control, and autonomous operations.
• Conduct trade studies evaluating sensors, estimation approaches, trajectory strategies, and control architectures.
• Provide senior technical leadership for Lunar Systems, shaping mission concepts and technology roadmaps.
• Collaborate with systems engineering, avionics, software, mission analysis, and mechanical teams.
• Produce technical documentation, analysis reports, proposals, and review materials.
• Mentor and guide GNC engineers.
• Identify GNC-related mission risks and propose mitigation strategies.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Applied Mathematics, or related field plus 15+ years of relevant experience; advanced de
• Extensive experience developing, analyzing, and validating GNC algorithms for spacecraft, planetary landers, launch vehicles, or autonomous systems.
• Deep knowledge of non-linear dynamics, state estimation, sensor fusion, modern filtering techniques (EKF, UKF, etc.), guidance algorithms, and control theory.
• Proven success modernizing and improving existing GNC algorithms, modeling methods, and analysis frameworks to industry standards.
• Demonstrated ability to introduce advanced or state of the art approaches in navigation, estimation, control, or simulation environments.
• Strong understanding of lunar and cislunar mission environments and their implications for GNC design and performance.
• Experience producing impactful technical content for proposals, customer presentations, and major reviews.
• Experience developing, decomposing, and validating mission-level and system-level GNC requirements.

Nice to have

• Experience with precision landing methods including terrain-relative navigation, lidar-based sensing, optical navigation, or autonomous hazard evaluation.
• Experience transitioning improved or advanced algorithms into embedded or flight software systems.
• Knowledge of rover autonomy, surface mobility GNC, or planetary navigation techniques.
• Expertise with analysis tools such as MATLAB, Python, Simulink, Basilisk, or similar frameworks.
• Familiarity with NASA and industry standards for GNC verification and validation.
• Experience using agile organizational tools such as Confluence and Jira.
• Eligibility to obtain and hold a U.S. security clearance.

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off (FTO)
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Flexible, affordable gym memberships
• 401(k) retirement plan with a 50% company match on contributions up to 8%
• Company wellness programs
• Additional voluntary benefits and employee support resources

Before you apply

• Applicants must be a U.S. Person: a US Citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3).
• Applicants must be eligible to obtain any required export authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

About the company

Voyager is an innovative space, defense, and national security technology company. They tackle complex challenges to advance mission-critical solutions for human progress and national security.