GNC Engineer - Controls

Job Title: GNC Engineer - Controls

Job Description

This role focuses on designing, analyzing, and implementing guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) algorithms for aerospace vehicles. You will develop advanced control laws, build high-fidelity dynamic models, and translate GNC designs into robust, flight-ready software. The position requires close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to ensure that GNC systems perform reliably under both nominal and off-nominal conditions throughout the mission lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, and implement guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) algorithms for aerospace vehicles.
• Develop and refine control laws using classical and modern control techniques, including PID, LQR, MPC, adaptive control, and other linear and nonlinear methods.
• Evaluate, select, and integrate spacecraft control effectors such as thrusters, reaction wheels, and control moment gyroscopes (CMGs).
• Perform six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) modeling, simulation, and performance analysis to evaluate system behavior under nominal and off-nominal conditions.
• Build high-fidelity dynamic models of vehicles, sensors, actuators, and environmental disturbances, including flexible effects and their mitigation.
• Conduct Monte Carlo analyses, sensitivity studies, and stability assessments to validate robustness, reliability, and control system margins.
• Use tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C, C++, or similar environments to develop, run, and refine simulations.
• Translate GNC algorithms into flight-ready software, ensuring numerical stability, computational efficiency, and real-time performance.
• Collaborate with embedded software teams to integrate, test, and verify GNC functionality on hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) systems.
• Support the development of requirements, interface definitions, and verification plans for flight software related to GNC functions.
• Plan and execute verification and validation activities, including unit tests, software-in-the-loop (SIL) testing, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, and integrated system tests.
• Analyze flight test or mission data to assess GNC performance, diagnose issues, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Contribute technical expertise in flight control systems and control law development across the broader station project team.

Essential Skills

• Proven experience in guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) engineering for aerospace applications.
• Strong experience in control law development, including both linear and nonlinear control techniques.
• Hands-on experience with flight control systems and flight control software implementation.
• Practical experience working with actuators such as reaction wheels, control moment gyroscopes (CMGs), and thrusters.
• Proficiency in C++ for implementing control algorithms and flight software.
• Proficiency with MATLAB and related toolchains for control design, simulation, and analysis.
• Experience conducting Monte Carlo simulations for robustness and sensitivity analysis.
• Ability to perform 6-DOF modeling and simulation of aerospace vehicles and their subsystems.
• Experience modeling flexible effects and implementing mitigation strategies within control systems.
• Strong understanding of aerospace engineering principles, particularly in GNC and control law design.
• Ability to ensure numerical stability, computational efficiency, and real-time performance in embedded GNC implementations.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Experience with guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) algorithm development for spacecraft or aerospace vehicles.
• Familiarity with Python, C, or similar programming languages for simulation and analysis.
• Experience collaborating with embedded software teams and working within integrated development environments.
• Exposure to hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL) testing for flight software verification.
• Understanding of requirements development, interface definition, and verification planning for flight systems.
• Experience analyzing flight test or mission data to validate control performance and refine algorithms.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Houston, TX.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $80.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Houston,TX.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 12, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email ... for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.