Skip to content

Flight Software

Senior GNC & Mission Design Engineer

General Galactic logoGeneral Galactic$140,000–$220,000/yrEl Segundo, CAPosted 1mo ago
  • ITAR / US person

How this pay compares

This posting states $140k–$220k a year. Open GNC engineer jobs in California post a median of $178k a year, the middle half $156k–$199k, across 83 jobs that state their pay, so this one is within the middle half of what they post.

GNC engineers in California: pay by town and employer

About the job

## About General Galactic General Galactic designs, builds, and flies advanced spacecraft that redefine what’s possible beyond Earth. Led by former SpaceX, Varda, Impulse, and Relativity engineers, our vision is to dominate cislunar space and build the railway to Mars – expanding access to high-energy orbits and enabling the next generation of missions along the way.

Based in Los Angeles, California, we’re leveraging our paradigm-shifting water-based technology to reshape the space domain for good. ## Job Description Ever wondered what it’s like to design and control a mission with the most performant multi-mode propulsion system ever built onboard? As Senior GNC + Mission Design Engineer, you will answer and execute on this question.

Working closely with the founders and a focused technical team, you will own GNC solutions and mission design assessments for our vehicle and mission suite, including Seldon and Dreadnought spacecraft vehicles. You’ll have extreme ownership over your work, move quickly, and operate with high agency. As we grow, there will be opportunities to expand your role with the company.

This is a senior technical role for someone who can operate across both spacecraft GNC and orbital mission architecture. The ideal candidate will contribute across ADCS, maneuver planning, mission design, flight algorithm integration, and mission operations planning.

You will also work closely with the business development team to assess customer missions and translate opportunities into technical concepts and requirements. ## Responsibilities may include - Build practical analytical tools, simulations, spreadsheets, and Python/MATLAB models to evaluate mission feasibility, requirements, timelines, etc - Own GNC analyses, algorithms, simulations, and operating modes for General Galactic spacecraft and missions - Support business development by rapidly assessing customer mission concepts, producing credible mission architectures, evaluating technical feasibility, and generating proposal-ready performance estimates - Collaborate with flight software engineers to integrate GNC algorithms - Conduct Monte Carlo analysis and robustness analysis for mission plans and GNC algorithms - Review flight data, test data, and simulation results to identify anomalies, validate models, and improve vehicle and mission performance - Own attitude determination and control (ADCS) development and make vs buy trades - Own mission/trajectory design and maneuver planning, including ΔV budgeting and mission conops ## Successful applicants should have most of the following - BS in aerospace engineering, controls engineering, or a related technical field - 4+ years of experience in GNC, mission design, flight dynamics, astrodynamics, controls, etc - Experience with Python, MATLAB, Simulink, STK/ODTK/GMAT, FreeFlyer, Basilisk, Monte Carlo frameworks, or similar environments - Experience in a fast-paced startup environment or similar.

High agency, strong ownership, and willingness to work hands-on across disciplines - First-principles approach to problem solving even with incomplete or partial information - Strong fundamentals in orbital mechanics, dynamics, state estimation, controls, propulsion-enabled maneuvering, and mission analysis ‍ ‍The expected base salary range for this position is $140,000–$220,000.

This range reflects our good-faith estimate of what we reasonably expect to pay for this role at the time of posting.

Actual compensation will depend on factors such as level, relevant experience, skills, and qualifications. ‍Benefits include medical/vision/dental/PTO/401k/stock options, and more! ‍Very brief statements of fit/interest in this role are encouraged, please send to careers@gengalactic.com. ‍ ‍This position requires access to information protected under US export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations.

As such, US person status (including US citizens, U.S. permanent residents, individuals granted U.S. asylum status, or individuals admitted in U.S. refugee status) is a required qualification for this position. ‍ ‍General Galactic Technologies Corporation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. ‍ #LI-DNI

From General Galactic's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.

Selected agencies hiring now

These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.

Sponsored

Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.

Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.

New flight software and GNC jobs in California, by email

One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.

About General Galactic

Spacecraft propulsion that runs on water.

Pay on its listings: 88.9% of its open jobs state an hourly rate

How it pays: Paid as an employee on General Galactic's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).

More open jobs at General Galactic

More flight software and GNC jobs

Written flight software or GNC?

One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.

Create my profile

General Galactic openings, sent to you weekly

Each week we send the newest postings from General Galactic's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.