GNC Engineer II

Job Description

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch land and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond As the partner of choice for critical space missions Firefly is the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24 hour notice and the first company to achieve a successful Moon landing Headquartered in north Austin Texas Firefly is looking for passionate hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space SUMMARYAs a GNC Engineer at Firefly you will design analyze and operate the GNC systems of operational launch vehicles In this role you will develop GNC and simulation software perform dynamic analyses and support mission operations while continuing to build breadth across core GNC competencies This position offers hands on experience with launch vehicle ascent guidance attitude control systems and real time flight operations in a fast paced environment You will deepen your technical capabilities and refine your desired career trajectory taking ownership of system elements and software tools as you grow toward a senior GNC role at Firefly RESPONSIBILITIESDevelop and validate GNC software to ensure successful launch vehicle mission executionTune and configure attitude determination and control algorithms for all phases of launch vehicle flightPerform 6DOF dynamic analysis of nominal and dispersed ascent trajectoriesDevelop and maintain simulation models for sensors actuators and environmental effectsCreate tools to automate workflows process flight data and generate technical reportsConduct stability analysis sensitivity studies and hardware in the loop testing of GNC systems under nominal and off nominal flight conditionsInterface with cross discipline teams to integrate GNC software with vehicle hardwareServe as a GNC console operator for launch operations and perform post flight analysis to improve vehicle modelsAuthor technical documentation and analysis reports that communicate GNC concepts and results to diverse audiencesBuild proficiency across core GNC competencies while contributing to continuous improvement of GNC processes and toolsQUALIFICATIONSRequiredBachelors degree in aerospace engineering mechanical engineering electrical engineering physics mathematics computer science or related field2 5 years of professional experience in aerospace guidance navigation and control or related technical disciplineUnderstanding of launch vehicle flight mechanics and attitude dynamicsFamiliarity with numerical simulation techniques integration methods and modeling of dynamic systemsExperience with Python for scripting data analysis and visualizationFamiliarity with C for real time or flight critical applicationsUnderstanding of software development best practices including version control Git code documentation and testingStrong written and verbal communication skillsDesiredAdvanced degree masters or PhD in aerospace engineering or related field with focus on GNC flight mechanics or controlsExperience supporting launch vehicle GNC across development integration and flightProficiency in C for embedded systems or real time applicationsKnowledge of state estimation techniques including Kalman filtering sensor fusion and covariance analysisKnowledge of numerical optimization and targeting methods applied to trajectory designFamiliarity with modern flight software frameworks and real time operating systemsFamiliarity with CICD workflows and automated testing practicesExperience with Linux development environments and command line toolsExposure to spaceflight mission operations or launch campaigns Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees including generous health dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles parental leave educational reimbursement short term disability and flexible PTO options To conform to US Government space technology export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations ITAR you must be a US citizen lawful permanent resident of the US protected individual as defined by 8 USC 1324ba3 or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the US Department of State Firefly Aerospace Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on merit competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race color religion gender national originethnicity veteran status disability status age sexual orientation gender identity marital status mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status