Principal GNC Engineer I

Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.
We are looking to add a Principal GNC Engineer I to our Advanced Projects Group. If you are great at what you do, enjoy working in a startup environment, and have writing talent and a strong work ethic, we would like to hear from you.  In this position, you will work closely with the CesiumAstro technical and strategy teams to prioritize and develop new algorithms, technologies, and approaches to solve problems in astrodynamics and related fields which are critical to CesiumAstro’s long-term technical and business postures. You will work closely with space-based high-performance computing and GNC experts to design and implement complex algorithms applicable to space situational awareness and precision orbital propagation in pLEO, MEO and Cislunar domains.The successful candidate will communicate effectively with team members and internal stakeholders, as well as participate in authoring content, patents, and. As such, excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and conduct research in astrodynamics, GNC and orbit prediction, space weather, and space domain awareness (SDA) leveraging machine learning and advanced numerical methods.
• Design and develop high-fidelity GNC and astrodynamics models for high-performance FPGA-based computing platforms and space-grade embedded systems; collaborate with the broader engineering team to ensure their successful implementation.
• Apply advanced AI/ML algorithms such as physics-informed neural networks for system identification, sensor fusion, and autonomous decision-making in space environments.
• Serve as the Principal Investigator on complex GNC research efforts; manage technical milestones, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Lead proposal writing efforts and assist secure external research funding from federal agencies, commercial partners, and international organizations.
• Mentor early-career GNC engineers, postdocs, and graduate researchers; foster a collaborative and technically rigorous environment.
• Perform technical analyses to support space operations, including but not limited to the analyses of satellite conjunctions, deployment events, and maneuver detection; develop algorithms for autonomous monitoring and alerting.
• Lead technical interface with commercial and government customers; prepare and deliver high-impact presentations, status updates, and briefings.
• Publish research in leading journals and conferences; represent the organization in international technical fora and strategic collaborations.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related discipline from an accredited institution with an emphasis on GNC, astrodynamics, or AI/ML applications in space.
• 8+ years of experience in GNC system design, autonomy, or space operations in a research or applied environment.
• Demonstrated experience implementing models on HPC systems or space-qualified processors.
• Strong track record of securing and managing funded research projects.
• Proficiency with astrodynamics software, orbital mechanics toolkits, and programming languages (e.g., Python, MATLAB, C++).
• Technical expertise in real-time space operations, satellite control systems, and API-based telemetry monitoring tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; experience interfacing with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.  Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.   CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members not through our approved vendor list or Talent Acquisition will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.