GNC Engineer III, Launch Vehicles

Job description

ABOUT Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the first company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space. SUMMARY As a Senior GNC Engineer at Firefly Aerospace, you will design and implement advanced control systems, autonomous flight software, and guidance algorithms for operational launch vehicles. In this role, you will develop and tune attitude control software, design and optimize trajectories, and support hardware-in-the-loop testing and system integration. This position combines advanced control theory, real-time embedded systems development, and hands-on flight operations support while mentoring junior engineers in a fast-paced operational environment. RESPONSIBILITIES Design, analyze, and tune launch vehicle attitude control software to ensure stable flight from launch to orbit Implement control techniques for mission-critical flight phases using thrust vector control actuators, reaction control thrusters, and aerodynamic surfaces Develop control systems accounting for complex launch vehicle dynamics including aerodynamic effects, structural flex modes, propellant slosh, and control structure interaction Design, analyze, and optimize launch vehicle trajectories to maximize performance within operational and vehicle constraints Develop and implement launch vehicle guidance algorithms for powered ascent and orbital insertion Conduct stability analysis, sensitivity studies, and performance optimization for control systems under nominal and off-nominal flight conditions Conduct statistical trajectory analysis to quantify performance margins and validate system robustness to off-nominal flight conditions Establish technical standards and validation methodologies for control system design, software development, and hardware-in-the-loop testing Support hardware-in-the-loop test campaigns for integrated GNC systems including control algorithm validation, flight software verification, and system-level performance testing Drive resolution of complex GNC challenges requiring deep technical expertise and rapid problem-solving Provide technical direction on system architecture and serve as subject matter expert for launch vehicle control and trajectories Mentor junior engineers in control theory, flight software development, trajectory optimization, and mission design Author technical documentation and analysis reports that communicate GNC concepts and results to diverse audiences Interface with cross-discipline teams to integrate control software with vehicle hardware and balance trajectory requirements with vehicle capabilities and operational constraints Serve as a GNC console operator for launch operations and perform post-flight analysis to improve vehicle models Champion continuous improvement initiatives for GNC processes, tools, and operational efficiency QUALIFICATIONS Required Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or related field 5-10 years of experience in launch vehicle GNC systems with significant depth in attitude control system design, flight software development, trajectory design, mission planning, or guidance algorithm development Advanced knowledge of attitude dynamics and control theory, including rotational dynamics, attitude representations, control moment generation, and stability analysis Strong understanding of classical control theory and frequency domain analysis techniques Expertise in real-time software development using C++ for flight-critical applications Experience developing high-fidelity actuator models and attitude control system testbeds Advanced knowledge of launch vehicle flight mechanics and high-fidelity modeling of gravity, aerodynamics, and propulsion Strong understanding of numerical optimization and targeting methods applied to trajectory simulation and mission design Experience conducting mission trade studies, feasibility analysis, and performance verification for launch vehicle missions Proficiency in hardware-in-the-loop testing and requirement verification for flight-critical systems Familiarity with software development best practices including version control (Git), code documentation, and testing Strong proficiency in one or more trajectory design software tools (POST, OTIS, TAOS, or similar) Proficiency in Python for scripting, data analysis, and automation Desired Master's degree or PhD in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, applied mathematics, or related field Experience archi