Principal Guidance, Navigation, and Controls Engineer

Responsibilities

• Own the full life cycle of GNC development, from design and simulation to hardware-in-the-loop testing and flight operations
• Design and implement autonomous satellite attitude control, collision avoidance, orbital rendezvous, and atmospheric re-entry algorithms
• Perform trajectory design, optimization, and dispersion analysis for space capsule reentry
• Develop 6 DOF vehicle simulations using C++ and Python
• Conduct Monte Carlo analysis to characterize vehicle and mission performance
• Integrate and test GNC sensors, actuators, and software in hardware-in-the-loop environments
• Specify ADCS hardware performance, including reaction wheels, torque rods, IMU/GPS, and star trackers
• Monitor on-orbit system performance and provide troubleshooting support

Requirements

• B.S. in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering, physics, or a related field
• 10+ years of proven experience, or a PhD with 7+ years of relevant experience
• Demonstrated expertise in designing, modeling, testing, and flying aerospace GNC systems
• Proficiency in C++ and Python for software and model development
• Strong understanding of orbital mechanics, modeling, and simulation
• Proven system engineering and configuration management skills
• Must be a "U.S. Person" as defined by ITAR regulations

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in engineering or physics
• Experience with spacecraft attitude determination and control system (ADCS) design
• Proficiency with GMAT, POST2, or Matlab/Simulink
• Understanding of multi-body dynamics, gas dynamics, fluids, and thermodynamics
• Experience supporting safety-critical flight tests or spacecraft operations

Benefits

• Equity in a fully funded space startup
• 401(k) matching
• Unlimited PTO
• Comprehensive health insurance, including Vision and Dental
• On-site lunch and snacks daily, with dinners provided twice a week
• Maternity and paternity leave

About the Company

Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind by creating the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth.