GNC Engineer (space/defense)
$90k - $125k USD
We’re ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company helping clients bring groundbreaking ideas to life—from advancing space exploration and life-saving medical devices to building autonomous electric vehicles. With 3,000+ experts across North America, we partner with leading companies in aerospace, medical devices, robotics, automotive, commercial vehicles, EVs, rail, and more.
As part of the global ALTEN Group—57,000+ engineers in 30 countries—we deliver across the entire product development cycle, from consulting to full project outsourcing.
When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you’ll collaborate on some of the world’s toughest engineering challenges, supported by mentorship, career growth opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. We take pride in fostering a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.
Position Summary:
ALTEN is seeking a motivated Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer to support the development, analysis, and verification of satellite GNC systems. This role contributes to the spacecraft development lifecycle-from requirements refinement through integration and testing-while working closely with senior engineers and cross functional teams. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical capability, initiative, and a desire to grow technical depth within space systems engineering.
Position Responsibilities:
The GNC Engineer's primary responsibility will be contributing to the development of our satellite GNC systems. This engineer will be involved in the full lifecycle of development, from requirements definition through operations. Being at the cutting edge of space technology, we need someone who is eager to learn, grow, and take on new and potentially unfamiliar challenges. There is no shortage of fascinating problems to solve.
Guidance, Navigation, and Control - 50%
- Design and implement GNC designs for new spacecraft designs to accommodate a variety of new mission payloads onto spacecraft platforms.
- Analyze, design, and/or develop GNC systems to include:
- Sensors and actuators
- Algorithms and flight software
- GNC electronics
- Support the development of subsystem level requirements and requirement flow-down to the various components and parts as necessary - in all phases of the development lifecycle with particular emphasis on Design for Cost/Design for Manufacturability/Design for Test approaches
- Ensure the maximum reuse of the existing heritage products and if necessary identify need for modification
- Ability to drive multiple design activities (programs or mission) - could lead to spacecraft, payload, satellite bus, and/or launch integration activities;
- Demonstrated ability to participate in cross-functional planning, coordination, and task execution situations involving the full spectrum of engineering and integration activities
Simulation Development - 40%
- Develop high‑fidelity simulation architectures to support spacecraft GNC performance analysis, algorithm validation, and mission‑level trade studies.
- Build, maintain, and update simulation models reflecting spacecraft design adjustments, mission requirements, and evolving product‑line roadmaps.
- Integrate sensors, actuators, GNC algorithms, and flight software components into end‑to‑end simulation frameworks for verification and design optimization.
- Support the definition and maturation of a spacecraft customization process by developing simulation tools that evaluate performance impacts of mission‑specific modifications.
- Conduct Monte‑Carlo analyses, linear covariance assessments, and closed‑loop performance evaluations to ensure compliance with system‑level requirements.
- Automate simulation workflows to improve design iteration speed, requirement flow‑down, and assessment of design‑for‑cost/manufacturability considerations.
- Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to ensure simulation products accurately represent spacecraft architecture, subsystem interfaces, and operational constraints.
- Document simulation artifacts, assumptions, and model validation results to support design reviews and certification activities.
Additional Responsibilities - 10%
- Contribute to GNC engineering activities required for developing and updating spacecraft product lines.
- Assist in evaluating opportunities for cost savings and design reuse across programs.
- Support troubleshooting, anomaly resolution, and ongoing improvements within active projects.
Qualified Experience / Skills / Training:
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in STEM (Science, Technical, Engineering, Math) or related scientific areas.
- Preferred: Master's in STEM (Science, Technical, Engineering, Math) or related scientific areas.
Experience:
- A minimum of 3 years with a Bachelor's degree, or 1 year with a Master's degree
Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities:
- Experience with Matlab/Simulink; familiarity with STK.
- Ability to model, simulate, and analyze spacecraft dynamics, sensors, actuators, or control algorithms.
- Exposure to software development practices, verification, or validation activities.
- Experience with at least one programming or scripting language (e.g., C/C++, Python, TCL).
- Strong analytical skills and willingness to collaborate in a team environment.
Travel Required:
- Periodic travel (less than 20%) to customer’s facilities or partner companies
- Occasional International travel to collaborate with European counterparts
Eligibility:
- US Citizenship is required
Clearance:
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Government security clearance
- Active DoD security clearance at Secret or above highly desirable
Location: REMOTE
Salary Range: $90K-$125K
The actual salary offered is dependent on various factors including, but not limited to, location, the candidate’s combination of job-related knowledge, qualifications, skills, education, training, and experience
Note: Due to the nature of the work, only US Persons (citizens or permanent residents) need apply for this position
ALTEN Technology is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our Policy is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual’s age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or veteran status.
Please beware of job seeker scams and see this important notice on our careers page for more information about our recruiting process.
Compliance Notice: Alten USA is a federal contractor subject to the requirements of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and Executive Order 11246. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Drug Screening Requirement: As a federal contractor, Alten USA maintains a drug-free workplace. All candidates selected for employment will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of hire.