GNC Engineer
US$100,000 – US$135,000 / yr base salary
Posted 13 Oct 2026
BranchFactor Summary
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
- Expected experience
- 1–4 yrs
- Management level
- Individual contributor
- Employment
- On-Site
- Contract
- Full-time
| Base salary | US$100,000 – US$135,000 / yr |
|---|
Field of studyControl Systems, Engineering, Orbital Mechanics (or related)
Study levelBachelor's or higher
Turion is developing the critical infrastructure of the space economy. We're doing this by building vertically integrated hardware and software: DROID, our line of space vehicles, and Starfire, our software suite covering simulation, modeling, planning, and operations. We're a group of people who fell in love with the future sci-fi promised us, and we're building it into reality. We build hard things. We build them well. And we're just getting started.
Turion Space is seeking a talented Satellite Guidance, Navigation, and Controls (GNC) Engineer to join our team in Irvine, CA. As a GNC Engineer, you will play a key role in the design, development, and implementation of guidance, navigation, and control systems for our satellite missions. You will work closely with the systems engineering and flight software team to design and implement mission profiles and algorithms. You will have the opportunity to lead projects, develop novel algorithms, and contribute to the overall technical strategy of our satellite programs.
**
Key Responsibilities**
-
Design, develop, and implement advanced GNC algorithms and control systems for cutting-edge Rendezvous and Proximity Operation (RPO) missions.
-
Conduct simulations, perform hardware-in-the-loop testing, and guide on-orbit testing to validate and verify GNC algorithms and control systems.
-
Conduct mission analysis, trajectory optimization, and orbit determination to ensure mission objectives are met.
-
Collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams to ensure seamless integration of GNC subsystems with other systems.
-
Analyze and optimize system performance, including stability, robustness, and response time.
-
Support commissioning of satellites on-orbit, and support our Droid.002 platform which is current in Low Earth Orbit.
-
Drive the continuous improvement of GNC processes, methodologies, and best practices, and share knowledge with the engineering team.
-
Stay updated with the latest advancements and research in GNC engineering for small satellite systems.
Minimum Qualifications
-
Ph.D., MS with 1-2 years of experience, or BS with 2-4 years of experience, in an engineering discipline with a focus on control systems, orbital mechanics, or similar field
-
Proficiency in programming languages such as C++, Python, or MATLAB for algorithm development and simulation
-
Technical competency in at least one major aspect of GNC engineering, such as guidance, navigation, controls, modeling & simulation, or GNC testing.