GNC Engineer, Space
Company: Anduril Industries
Location: Costa Mesa
Posted on: April 2, 2026
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Job Description:
ABOUT THE TEAM Anduril's Space team is dedicated to expanding
our AI-powered capabilities into the final frontier, enhancing
Space Domain Awareness, Space Control, and Command and Control for
U.S. military and allied partners. We're developing fully
integrated hardware and software systems, including Lattice for
Space Missions and modular payloads, to address growing threats in
space and ensure our Guardians maintain a decisive advantage in
this contested warfighting domain. ABOUT THE JOB As a GNC
(Guidance, Navigation & Control) Engineer for our Space team, you
will work on and understand the design of all satellite GNC
subsystems to include but not limited to hardware sensors and
actuators, orbit mechanics, navigation algorithms, flight software
implementation, subsystem integration & test (I&T), and vehicle
I&T. The GNC engineering team will work closely with related
teams, including Systems, Flight Software, Mission Operations, and
Ground Software. The GNC Engineer will work algorithm design, truth
and physics modeling, simulation and analysis for a wide variety of
spacecraft and space missions to include but not limited to LEO,
MEO, GEO, Reentry, and RPOD (Rendezvous Proximity Operations and
Docking). The Sr. GNC Engineer will help lead successful
implementation, validation and GNC operations of Anduril’s fleet of
spacecraft. This role is directly tied to ongoing, funded programs
within Anduril’s Space Business Line. The programs require building
and fielding a resilient, software-defined spacecraft systems
across numerous mission threads. We work with mission partners and
customers to deploy reliable and robust capabilities on
operationally-relevant fielding timelines to meet complex
challenges across the DOD and IC . WHAT YOU’LL DO Work spacecraft
GNC software and hardware subsystems for various spacecraft efforts
in all orbital regimes and work closely with bus providers for
successful implementation Develop modern, software-defined
approaches to autonomous spacecraft operations with maneuvering
capabilities to successfully accomplish mission objectives Develop
appropriate test plans and procedures to validate the GNC system
during ground checkout, on-orbit commissioning and operations
Collaborate across multiple teams to plan, build, and test complex
functionality. Coordinate with end-users, other operators and
customers to turn needs into features while balancing user
experience with engineering constraints. Support challenging
schedules during ground testing, launch windows and on-orbit
operations of the spacecraft systems. Design of flight software,
algorithms, and simulation products. Development of spacecraft
autonomy tools for dynamic space operations Test process
development and execution. Define automated fault detection and
responses. Provide hardware-in-the-loop and monte-carlo simulation
capabilities. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Strong engineering background
from industry or school, ideally in areas/fields such as Aerospace
Engineering, Dynamics and Controls Engineering, Computer Science,
or other engineering degree. Experience with MATLAB, Simulink,
Python, C++, Go, and/or Linux Systems. Ability to quickly
understand and navigate complex systems and detailed requirements.
Experience with orbital mechanics and resident space object
tracking capabilities Familiarity with rendezvous proximity
operations and docking, orbital mechanics with propulsive
spacecraft, and/or spacecraft attitude determination and controls
Strong knowledge of spacecraft dynamics, orbital mechanics, and
control theory. Clear communication and organizational skills
including documentation and training material. Must be eligible to
obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Experience with MATLAB, Simulink, Python,
Go, C++ and/or Linux systems. A desire to work on critical software
and hardware designs in the space domain. Experience testing
propulsion subsystems in laboratory environments that mimic the
space environmental constraints. Experience conducting spacecraft
operations and satellite command and control with an emphasis on
system reliability and uptime. Experience with testing/validation
leveraging FlatSats, Hardware-in-the-Loop testbeds and digital
spacecraft simulators through nominal and fault scenarios.
Experience with computer vision and perception algorithms to
support GNC operations. Experience developing 3-DOF simplified and
6-DOF high-fidelity dynamics simulation models used for GNC systems
analysis and validation. Exposure to US satellite operations policy
and constraints for relevant mission threads in all orbits. US
Salary Range $166,000 - $220,000 USD The salary range for this role
is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors,
inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based
on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training,
critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive
equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and
are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package.
Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time
employees, including: Healthcare Benefits US Roles: Comprehensive
medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you. UK &
AUS Roles: We cover full cost of medical insurance premiums for you
and your dependents. IE Roles: We offer an annual contribution
toward your private health insurance for you and your dependents.
Additional Benefits Income Protection : Anduril covers life and
disability insurance for all employees. Generous time off : Highly
competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver
& Wellness Leave is available to care for family members, bond with
a new baby, or address your own medical needs. Family Planning &
Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF,
preservation), adoption, and gestational carriers, along with
resources to support you and your partner from planning to
parenting. Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health
resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional
work-life services, such as legal and financial support, are also
available. Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for
professional development Commuter Benefits: Company-funded commuter
benefits based on your region. Relocation Assistance: Available
depending on role eligibility. Retirement Savings Plan US Roles:
Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after-tax (mega backdoor Roth)
options. UK & IE Roles: Pension plan with employer match. AUS
Roles: Superannuation plan. The recruiter assigned to this role can
share more information about the specific compensation and benefit
details associated with this role during the hiring process.
Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams Anduril is committed to
maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the
security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated
phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate
Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews
or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or
sensitive personal information. To ensure your safety and help you
navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following
critical points in mind: No Financial Requests: Anduril will never
solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as
banking information, credit card numbers, or social security
numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate
recruitment is entirely free for candidates. Please always verify
communications: Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from
one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com
address. Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency
for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their
agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the
agency's authenticity by reaching out to contact@anduril.com .
Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any
communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors,
or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the
sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal
information or clicking on links. What to Do If You Suspect Fraud:
Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach
claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to
contact@anduril.com . Your proactive caution is invaluable in
protecting your personal information and upholding the security and
trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts. Data Privacy To view
Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit
https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/ .
Keywords: Anduril Industries, La Mirada , GNC Engineer, Space, Engineering , Costa Mesa, California