Staff GNC Analysis Engineer

As a Guidance Navigation and Controls Analysis Engineer you will help lead development of Ursa Major vehicle GNC capabilities.  This role will assess dynamic environments, determine appropriate sensor suite and configurations for varying vehicle designs, establish guidance designs.  This role will develop GNC system designs into robust, flight-ready software, working across simulation, test, embedded implementation, and hardware-in-the-loop environments. This role is responsible for the 0 to 1 development of major portions of a flight control system, in tight, cross functional coordination with vehicle design, structures and avionics. This role will develop algorithms and associated simulations, ensure compatibility with system design constraints, and validate performance leveraging a mix of Linear Systems Analysis, State Space Methods, Monte Carlo Analysis and deep coordination with Hardware in the Loop analysis of the full system. This position is available to work remote from within the United States or on-site/hybrid in Berthoud, Colorado. 

Responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and maintain flight GNC systems for aerospace applications
• Translate GNC requirements into models and into efficient, reliable embedded software
• Develop and execute simulations to evaluate guidance, navigation, and control performance
• Coordinate with design to ensure that vehicle design parameters align with control system requirements.
• Support system integration, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and flight test activities
• Analyze test and flight data to assess performance and drive improvements
• Contribute to requirements definition, verification, and traceability for GNC functions
• Identify and mitigate technical risks through analysis, testing, and peer review
• Collaborate cross-functionally with mechanical design, avionics, software, and test engineers
• Document designs, analyses, and test results for internal and external stakeholders

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
• Professional experience developing GNC models and algorithms for aerospace or defense systems
• Strong understanding of classical control, estimation, and vehicle dynamics
• Experience implementing algorithms in MATLAB/Simulink, C/C++, or Python or equivalent
• Ability to work effectively across disciplines and communicate technical concepts clearly
• Ability to work effectively in teams or individually

Desirable Experience:

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in a relevant engineering discipline
• Experience with navigation sensors (IMUs, GPS, star trackers, etc.) and state estimation techniques (e.g., Kalman filtering)
• Exposure to hardware-in-the-loop testing, flight testing, or operational flight systems
• Familiarity with safety-critical or regulated development environments (e.g., DO-178 or equivalent processes)
• Prior experience supporting aerospace or defense programs through integration and test phases
• Professional experience developing flight software for aerospace or defense systems
• Experience developing simulations to evaluate guidance, navigation, and control performance
• Experience leading development of GN&C standards

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $135,000 - $170,000, determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. What we can’t quantify for you are the exciting challenges, supportive team, and amazing culture we enjoy. 

Classification: Full-time Exempt

• Highlight any GNC projects where you moved from simulation to hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing; concrete examples win interviews.
• Include a short portfolio or GitHub link showcasing MATLAB/Simulink models or embedded C code you authored.
• Be ready to discuss specific control algorithms (e.g., LQR, Kalman filters) and why you chose them for a given vehicle.
• Emphasize cross‑functional communication skills; interviewers look for engineers who can explain complex concepts to non‑specialists.
• Prepare to solve a real‑world GNC problem on the spot, often involving basic state‑space calculations or sensor‑fusion logic.
• When negotiating, inquire about equity and remote‑work allowances, as these are common levers for tech roles.
• Watch for red flags such as vague expectations around overtime or unclear reporting lines; ask clarifying questions early.