Spacecraft GNC Engineer (Early)

Location: On-site in Los Angeles, United States

Salary: $100,000–$137,000 annual base salary, plus equity and benefits.

Company

hirify.global is a fast-growing aerospace startup that manufactures satellite buses at scale through software, vertical integration, and manufacturing-focused hardware.

What you will do

• Develop and implement guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for satellite attitude, orbit, and precision-pointing systems.
• Analyze spacecraft dynamics and run simulations to evaluate performance, stability, and accuracy.
• Design, develop, and test control systems using reaction wheels, thrusters, magnetic torquers, sensors, and other GNC hardware.
• Collaborate with spacecraft, payload, systems, software, project, and operations teams to define requirements and integrate GNC systems.
• Conduct configuration trade studies considering power, mass, cost, and mission performance.
• Create test plans, validation criteria, and subsystem tests; analyze telemetry to troubleshoot anomalies and performance issues.

Requirements

• U.S. Person status is required to access export-controlled data.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 1 year of professional GNC engineering experience, preferably in satellites or aerospace.
• Strong knowledge of spacecraft dynamics, orbital mechanics, and control theory.
• Programming experience in C/C++, MATLAB, or Python, including numerical simulation and analysis.
• Familiarity with GNC sensors, actuators, control algorithms, MATLAB/Simulink, STK, CCSDS, ECSS, and GPS/GNSS.

Culture & Benefits

• Equity participation and the opportunity to contribute to spacecraft platforms with direct industry impact.
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, plus $100,000 life insurance.
• Paid time off starting at 15 vacation days, increasing to 20 or more annually, plus 10 paid holidays.
• 401(k) plan with company matching, eight weeks of paid parental leave, and childcare reimbursement for work-related travel.
• In-person collaboration at the Playa Vista office, with catered lunch, snacks, workspace equipment, and employee community events.