GNC Engineer

Description

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit.

The rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance, and we believe this new era demands a fundamentally different class of spacecraft. Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today's and tomorrow's massive rockets, K2 satellites deliver unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.

With multiple launches in 2027 and plans to scale to 100 satellites a year, we're Building Bigger — helping develop the solar system and build toward a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization.

Responsibilities

• You will be the core driver of the spacecraft’s orbital and guidance systems – including low thrust trajectory optimization and mission planning, while executing detailed trade studies to find new and novel ways to implement these strategies, and supporting business development in mission planning and constellation design.
• In the first 3 months, you will own and execute the development of the K2 trajectory optimization tooling, standing up the software pipeline to take a trajectory, prove optimality, convert to burn plans, and feed into the K2 ground software for autonomous burn execution. In the first 6 months you will develop the trajectory optimization and mission design capabilities to define how, how fast, and on how much fuel K2 can fly the Mega and Giga spacecraft from LEO to MEO, GTO to cislunar, from launch to a Mars capture orbit. In the first 6 months you will design and implement the core GNC algorithms that fly the spacecraft, with a particular focus on algorithms for on orbit station keeping and low thrust orbit raise. In the first year, you will support on orbit operations of multiple K2 spacecraft flying multiple different K2 developed trajectories.
• Collaborate with other engineers to develop a novel high level vehicle mission plan
• Develop novel algorithms for precise OD and station-keeping of very large structures in earth orbit and beyond
• Leveraging one of the largest Hall Effect Thrusters ever manufactured, design the low thrust trajectory for the vehicle to reach MEO, GEO, Cis-Lunar, and Mars.
• Develop simulation and modeling tools to support vehicle and GNC trade studies
• Shape the future of the GNC team by recruiting, interviewing, and mentoring the engineers

Requirements

• Master’s degree or higher in aerospace, electrical, or mechanical engineering, physics, or a related field
• 2+ years of experience in low-thrust trajectory design
• Hands-on work with precise orbit determination
• Track record implementing orbit guidance and control algorithms on a spacecraft
• Mission design expertise for both Earth-centric and interplanetary missions
• Proficiency in Python, Julia, C/C++, or Rust for algorithm development, implementation, and simulation
• Early-stage spacecraft conceptual design (“clean sheet” design work)
• Low-thrust station-keeping algorithm development
• Thruster sizing and algorithm implementation
• Contributions to developing a satellite constellation
• On-orbit satellite operations
• 6-DOF simulation development

Conditions

Base salary range for this role is $120,000 - $200,000 + equity in the company

Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level

Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks

If you don’t meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!

Export Compliance

As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.”

The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.