# Principal Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer at Quantum Space

> United States · Principal · Software engineering · open. Source: https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Aquantumspacellc%3A4339548009 (read 2026-11-10).

## Facts (observed)

- Company: [Quantum Space](https://alderhq.app/companies/quantum-space)
- Location text: Rockville, MD or Hawthorne, CA ; Quantum Space - Hawthorne, CA; Quantum Space - Rockville, MD (HQ)
- Where it can be done from (inferred): United States (evidence: "Location: Rockville, MD or Hawthorne, CA ; Quantum Space - Hawthorne, CA; Quantum Space -")
- Posted: 2026-07-30 (103 days ago)
- First seen by alder: 2026-11-07 · last verified: 2026-11-07
- Reposted: 0 times · edited: 0 times
- Apply on the employer's site: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/quantumspacellc/jobs/4339548009
- Skills listed (inferred): Python, C++, Distributed systems

## Pay and sponsorship

- Posted pay: not posted
- Market band for similar posted roles (United States, n 537): p25 $203k, median $235k, p75 $279k

## Description (the employer's text)

### Who We're Looking For

Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.

We are seeking a Principal Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer to serve as the technical authority for the GNC subsystem across multiple spacecraft programs, leading architecture, design, procurement, integration, and verification.

Where You'll Make an Impact

- Own the end-to-end GNC/ACS architecture from concept development through flight operations.
- Own GNC subsystem level requirements.
- Lead spacecraft attitude and control system design, including actuator sizing, sensor selection, control authority, and momentum management strategy.
- Define and implement control laws for high-ΔV maneuvering, precision pointing, station-keeping, and proximity operations.
- Architect state estimation frameworks (EKF/UKF, sensor fusion pipelines, covariance management) for robust on-orbit performance.
- Develop and maintain high-fidelity 6DOF spacecraft simulation environments for analysis, trade studies, verification, and anomaly resolution.
- Establish GNC verification and validation strategy across analysis, SIL/HIL, hardware integration, and flight test.
- Support propulsion-coupled dynamics modeling, including thrust misalignment, slosh effects, and flexible-body considerations as needed.
- Lead GNC participation in system-level reviews (MCR, SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and serve as the primary technical voice for the discipline.
- Analyze flight telemetry and test data to assess performance, diagnose anomalies, and drive configuration or algorithm updates.
- Define safe-mode, fault management, and degraded control strategies in partnership with FSW and systems engineering.
- Mentor and manage GNC engineers, establishing best practices, code standards, simulation frameworks, and technical rigor across the team.
- Support early-orbit operations and critical mission phases as required.
### What It Takes

- B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field.
- 15+ years of experience in spacecraft GNC/ACS development, including full lifecycle flight programs.
- Demonstrated ownership of a spacecraft attitude and/or orbit control system through design, integration, and flight.
- Deep expertise in rigid-body dynamics, orbital mechanics, estimation theory, and modern control methods.
- Strong experience with thruster-based ACS architectures and propulsion-coupled control systems.
- Proven ability to independently architect GNC systems and make system-level trade decisions.
- Experience implementing flight algorithms in C++, Python, or MATLAB/Simulink, with awareness of real-time constraints.
- Experience integrating GNC with flight software and avionics, including SIL/HIL validation.
- Ability to analyze telemetry and diagnose complex on-orbit or integrated system anomalies.
- Systems-level thinking across propulsion, avionics, software, and mission design.
- Demonstrated technical leadership and mentorship experience.
- Comfort operating in a fast-paced, hardware-integrated environment with evolving mission needs.
### Nice-to-Have Experience

- Experience with high-ΔV vehicles, cislunar missions, GEO servicing, or RPO missions.
- Experience designing control systems for agile or propulsive maneuvering spacecraft.
- Background in autonomous maneuver planning or onboard decision-making systems.
- Experience with flexible-body dynamics, propellant slosh modeling, or structural-control interaction.
- Familiarity with MAX FSW and MAX GDS or other modern COTS flight software frameworks.
- Experience with multi-agent relative navigation or machine learning for estimation, perception, or task planning.
- Experience leading small technical teams in startup or NewSpace environments.
- Prior support of on-orbit commissioning or anomaly resolution efforts.
### What You'll Get

- Ownership – Build and validate the GNC capability that defines how our spacecraft maneuver, point, and operate autonomously.

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Data: alder (https://alderhq.app). Cite https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Aquantumspacellc%3A4339548009 and the date you read it. Observed facts come from the employer's own listing; location reach, level, family and skills are inferences.