GNC Engineer
- Salary
- $109,725 - $148,470
- Level
- Mid
Not stated in the posting: work type, visa.
Open. First seen 2 October 2026.
About the role
Stoke Space's standard text
At Stoke, we believe a thriving space economy will enable a vibrant, sustainable, and equitable future here on Earth. That is why we’re building Nova, our fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle. Designed for daily flight, Nova tackles the core challenges of space transportation by reducing cost, increasing availability, and improving reliability. By radically lowering launch costs and increasing flight cadence, we’re helping create a truly scalable space industry.
Our team is mission-driven, collaborative, and empowered to take ownership of their work. If you want to work alongside some of the most dedicated and talented people on Earth, we’d love to have you join us.
Description
As a core member of a small and agile GNC team, you will work on all aspects of launch vehicle and spacecraft dynamics and control including launch into orbit, maneuvering through orbit, and reentry from orbit to a precise landing location. You will own GNC algorithms and trajectory designs from early architecture definition through rigorous qualification test and flight operations. You will work closely with the vehicle hardware design team to develop vehicle control devices and set system-level interfaces. You must be ready to stay focused, move fast, self-direct, and learn on the fly.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop software capabilities such as algorithms for vehicle guidance, attitude control, engine control, and state estimation
- Develop and validate vehicle and environment models to simulate GNC algorithm performance and robustness
- Ensure system quality and performance through rigorous test
- Conduct Monte Carlo analysis of nominal and failure cases to evaluate vehicle performance and flight safety
- Document GNC algorithm and plant model verification and validation for regulatory approval and customer mission assurance insight
- Oversee new customer trajectory designs and mission capabilities from conception through flight
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or similar
- 2+ years of relevant industry experience; PhD in aerospace engineering or similar considered as experience
- Exceptional command of fundamentals of feedback control system design
- Familiarity with fundamentals of orbital mechanics and orbital trajectory design
- Experience in guidance, navigation, and control algorithm design and validation
- Experience with simulation and modeling of physical systems
- Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Ability to lead and follow
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree or PhD in aerospace engineering or similar.
Benefits
- Equity – We are pleased to offer equity in the form of stock options to all full-time employees.
- Comprehensive benefits program including subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Company-paid life and disability insurance
- 401(k) plan with employer match
- 4 weeks’ Paid Time Off
- Holidays – 10 days (including an end-of-year closure)
- Paid Parental Leave
- On-site gym or monthly wellness stipend (depending on location)
- Dog friendly offices!
Compensation
Target Levels:
Level 2: $109,725 - $148,470
Level 3: $129,150 - $193,620
Stoke Space's standard text
Our job posts are intentionally written to attract a wide variety of experience levels, and we make decisions about the right fit on a per-candidate basis.
Your actual level and base salary will be decided based on your specific experience and skill level.
ITAR Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S. (i.e., current Green Card holder), or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).
Equal Opportunity
The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including with respect to disability and veteran status. It is committed to compliance with all equal opportunity laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and Title VII. It does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, citizenship, immigration status, or any other protected class when it comes to employment practices, including hiring.
Employment at the Company is contingent upon satisfactory completion of reference and background checks, and on your ability to prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. for the Company. Employees must comply with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services employment verification requirements, and, therefore, they must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 at the start of employment and re-verify authorization to work periodically.
Stoke Space's standard text
Separate from this I-9 process, as noted above, this position entails access to certain technology and technical data that is restricted under U.S. export control laws and regulations. Employment or continued employment may be conditioned on your legal authorization to work with or have access to export control materials as necessary to perform your job.
Candidate Rights & Accommodations
If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or participate in the interview process, please contact careers@stokespace.com. Requests will be handled in accordance with applicable laws. Please do not include medical or other confidential information in your initial request.
For more information about your rights, please refer to the "Know Your Rights" notice here.
E-Verify
Stoke Space uses E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.
For more information on the right to work, please refer to the poster here.
What this role asks for
Particular to this role
MATLAB · Simulink
Rare in Stoke Space's other 50 open postings.
66% of this description is written for the role. The rest is Stoke Space's standard text, folded away below.
Read against Stoke Space's other open postings on this site.
The team: Engineering HIRES STEADILY
This role is one of 19 open in Engineering. 1 was posted in the last 30 days and the oldest in August: a team that hires all year rather than one being built.
WHAT THE TEAM WORKS WITH, ACROSS ITS POSTINGS
FEA (9 of 19), MATLAB (8 of 19), ANSYS (7 of 19), Python (7 of 19), GD&T (5 of 19), Siemens NX (4 of 19), Excel (3 of 19)
OTHER ROLES ON THIS TEAM
- Mechanical Engineer (Payload Module Jettison Systems) posted Oct 13
- Senior Stress Analyst posted Sep 4
- System Architect posted Sep 4
- Design Reliability Engineer - System Safety posted Sep 4
- Flight Safety Analyst posted Sep 4
- Mechanical Design Manager - Nova Stage 1 Aft posted Aug 13
- Mechanical Engineer (Mid-Sr) posted Aug 12
- Avionics - Stage Integration & Test Engineer posted Jul 20
- Senior Fluids Engineer posted Jun 30
- Senior Components Engineer (Valves & Actuators) posted Jun 25
- Dynamic Environments Engineer (Mid-Sr) posted May 20
- Principal EMI/EMC Engineer posted Apr 29
- Engines - Test Lead (Andromeda Engine) posted Mar 31
- Stress Analyst posted Jan 13
- Turbomachinery Engineer posted Aug 21
- Senior Propulsion Engineer posted Apr 18
- Senior Structures Design Engineer posted Nov 15
- Structures Design Engineer posted Aug 28
From the team and dates on Stoke Space's own job board.
Salary context
7 other open postings titled GNC Engineer state a salary: median USD 135,000 to USD 206,000 a year.
Similar jobs
- Senior Space Guidance, Navigation, and Controls (GNC) Engineer at Varda Space Industries
Shares 2 skills: Simulink, MATLAB · same country - Mechatronics Engineer at Oklo
Shares 2 skills: Simulink, MATLAB · same seniority · same country - Software Developer - Virtualization and SIL Integration at General Motors
Shares 2 skills: Simulink, MATLAB · same seniority · same country - Gait Control Engineer at Shift Robotics
Shares 2 skills: Simulink, MATLAB · same seniority · same country - Controls Software Engineer, Pointing & Tracking at Cowboy Space
Shares 2 skills: Simulink, MATLAB · same seniority · same country - Technical Recruiter at Stoke Space
Also at this company
Is this your posting and you want it taken down? Email info@careerholo.com.