About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Role Overview

Confidential Client is seeking an Autonomy Engineer focused on Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) to design, implement, and validate flight‑software and autonomy capabilities for spacecraft across orbital regimes. You will work across the full lifecycle—algorithm design, high‑fidelity simulation, hardware integration, verification, and mission operations—collaborating with systems, avionics, propulsion, and mission operations teams to deliver safe, robust on‑orbit behavior.

This position requires technical breadth (estimation, control, sensor fusion, simulation, and flight‑software practices) and the ability to operate in a security‑sensitive environment. U.S. person status and eligibility to obtain/maintain a Top Secret (TS/SCI) clearance are required.

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What You’ll Do

• Build and integrate GNC software and hardware subsystems across orbital regimes, working with spacecraft bus providers and cross‑discipline teams.
• Develop software‑defined autonomy enabling precise maneuvering, safe navigation, and reliable mission execution.
• Design flight‑software algorithms and create high‑fidelity 6‑DOF simulation environments for SIL/HIL testing and mission analysis.
• Implement sensor‑fusion and estimation frameworks (EKF, UKF, batch least‑squares) for attitude and orbit determination.
• Develop and refine control laws to meet stability, pointing, and robustness requirements.
• Conduct Monte Carlo analyses, trade studies, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop validation for nominal and off‑nominal scenarios.
• Define GNC requirements, interfaces, and verification plans alongside avionics, propulsion, systems engineering, and flight software.
• Support on‑orbit commissioning, calibration, maneuver planning, anomaly resolution, and automated fault‑response logic.
• Participate in launch campaigns and real‑time mission operations as needed.

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Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Dynamics & Controls, Computer Science, Physics, or a related field.
• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C++, and Linux development workflows.
• Demonstrated experience building or debugging simulations and/or flight‑software components.
• Solid background in orbital mechanics, spacecraft dynamics, estimation, and control theory.
• Familiarity with sensors and actuators used in GNC (reaction wheels, torque rods, thrusters, star trackers, IMUs, GNSS, optical/RF sensors).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to document technical designs and collaborate across teams.
• Must be a U.S. Person eligible to obtain and maintain a Top Secret (TS/SCI) security clearance and able to pass a background check.

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Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or related discipline.
• Hands‑on spacecraft operations experience (console ops, real‑time decision making).
• Experience developing/validating 3‑DOF and 6‑DOF dynamics models and using FlatSats, HIL testbeds, or digital spacecraft simulators.
• Experience with closed‑loop control, orbital maneuvering, filtering/state estimation, fault management, or mission‑software development.
• Familiarity with computer‑vision/perception algorithms for GNC (feature tracking, optical navigation).
• Experience with propulsion subsystem testing or environmental lab setups and line‑of‑sight performance analysis (jitter, smear, pointing accuracy).

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Compensation & Benefits

• Pay range: $102,000 - $140,000 per year.
• Confidential Client offers a competitive benefits package (medical, dental, retirement, paid time off) and professional development opportunities.
• Compensation may vary based on experience, location, and other lawful factors.

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Location & Work Authorization

• Location: Chantilly, VA (on‑site or hybrid as required by program needs).
• This role may require access to information, materials, or technology subject to ITAR/EAR. To comply with export control rules, applicants may be asked to verify U.S. Person status or eligibility for required government authorizations.
• Confidential Client complies with applicable anti‑discrimination laws and will consider reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants.

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.