Senior GNC Controls Engineer at Astranis

<div class="content-intro"><p>Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today, Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe— large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military. With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts.<br><br>Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization. Astranis has raised over $750 million from some of the world’s best investors, from Andreessen Horowitz to Blackrock and Fidelity, and employs a team of 450 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.</p></div><p><strong>Senior GNC Controls Engineer</strong></p> <p>As a Controls Engineer on the GNC team, you will own control algorithms from design through to operation in orbit, and you will develop tooling to analyze and tune our existing controllers.</p> <p><strong>Role</strong></p> <ul> <li>Design, implement, and test closed-loop control algorithms for precise pointing, station-keeping, detumble, and desaturation maneuvers for satellites in orbit</li> <li>Develop and maintain high-fidelity satellite simulations to validate GNC control algorithms prior to flight&nbsp;</li> <li>Validate and verify algorithm performance through software simulation, Monte Carlo analysis, hardware in the loop, and on-orbit testing</li> <li>Perform stability analysis in both time and frequency domains, including gain tuning, margin assessment, and notch filter design for structural flex modes&nbsp;</li> <li>Support system identification efforts using in-orbit telemetry to refine onboard models and improve controller performance&nbsp;</li> <li>Ability to effectively collaborate with interdisciplinary teams on large projects</li> <li>Develop operational procedures and provide mission planning support</li> <li>Support GNC operations for our fleet of satellites, including on-console and on-call rotations</li> <li>Support in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly growing team</li> </ul> <p><strong>Requirements</strong></p> <ul> <li>B.S. or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline</li> <li>5+ years of industry experience in GNC, controls, or a closely adjacent discipline</li> <li>Strong fundamentals in classical and modern control theory, including frequency-domain analysis (Bode plots, Nyquist, gain/phase margins)</li> <li>Experience designing and implementing closed-loop control systems for dynamic systems</li> <li>Experience with gain optimization, linearization, and controls tooling development</li> <li>Demonstrated experience modeling flexible body dynamics and mitigating their effects through system design and control systems</li> <li>Proficiency in Python for algorithm development and simulation</li> <li>Experience with modern C++ for on-board software</li> <li>Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail</li> <li>Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to work in a fast-paced, iterative environment</li> <li>US Citizenship or Green Card</li> <li>Don't meet them all? Not a problem. Please apply even if you do not meet all these criteria</li> </ul> <p><strong>Bonus</strong></p> <ul> <li>Direct experience with spacecraft attitude control systems (reaction wheels, thrusters, gimbals)&nbsp;</li> <li>Understanding of orbital mechanics and geostationary stationkeeping strategies</li> <li>Familiarity with electric or chemical propulsion-based control (e.g., stationkeeping, momentum management maneuvers)&nbsp;</li> <li>Background in estimation theory or Kalman filtering for attitude/orbit determination</li> <li>Hands-on experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing or real-time simulation environments</li> <li>Experience supporting live satellite operations or anomaly resolution&nbsp;</li> <li>Experience with AI tooling and agentic workflows</li> </ul><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description"><div><strong>What we offer:&nbsp;</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div> <p data-path-to-node="3">Base pay is just one component of Astranis’s total rewards package. Your compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high-quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on-site catered meals.</p> </div> <div>Astranis pay ranges are informed and defined through professional-grade salary surveys and compensation data sources. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials &amp; certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, and the level and scope of the position.</div></div><div class="title">Base Salary</div><div class="pay-range"><span>$140,000</span><span class="divider">&mdash;</span><span>$230,000 USD</span></div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion"><div><strong>U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required</strong></div> <div>(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Our mission and our products are meant to connect the world and everyone in it, regardless of gender, race, creed, or any other distinction. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we encourage all people to join our team and bring their unique perspective to help make us stronger.</div></div>