P13272 Sr Engineering Manager- Guidance, Navigation and Control

Sierra Space Careers:

At Sierra Space, we build the missions and systems that keep our world secure in the domain above Earth. Sierra Space team members share a spirit of innovation and collaboration and a belief that we can deliver on the boldest missions in space today. Together with our customers, we aim to safeguard our nation, sustain human presence in space, and secure the freedom of operations in low Earth orbit and beyond. Our success is measured by the trust of those who rely on what we build and deliver, and our technologies keep the United States and its allies mission-ready throughout space. We are mission-driven, and together, we are an extraordinary team.

About the Role

The Sr Manager, Guidance, Navigation, & Control (GNC) Engineering provides senior technical and organizational leadership across multiple GNC disciplines, including guidance, navigation, controls, and sensor integration. This role combines significant individual technical leadership on major programs with direct supervision of managers and senior engineers, driving the strategy, execution, and outcomes of large-scale GNC projects that impact multiple areas of the organization. The Sr Manager provides strategic direction on complex GNC architectures for aerospace or autonomous systems, influences certification strategies related to flight control systems and avionics qualification, and supports the Director in shaping long-range GNC engineering roadmaps. This individual champions company values, enforces high standards of technical excellence, and builds engineering leadership capability across the organization.

About You

Our mission is driven by an unyielding commitment to advancing space-based technology in service of our customers and safeguarding national security. We seek individuals who are passionate about innovating beyond boundaries and relentlessly pursuing solutions that protect, preserve and empower – to join us in this critical mission. We’re looking for team members who align with our values, mission and goals – while also meeting the minimum qualifications below. The preferred qualifications are a bonus, not a requirement.

Key Responsibilities

The Sr. Manager, GNC Engineering provides significant individual technical leadership on major programs, owning complex GNC analyses and shaping technical approaches for high-impact deliverables while applying advanced expertise in modern control theory, state estimation, sensor fusion, and trajectory optimization. This individual provides strategic direction on complex GNC architectures for aerospace or autonomous systems, developing and implementing advanced GNC methodologies such as adaptive control, navigation, and fault-tolerant architectures for high-reliability applications, and applies in-depth knowledge of industry standards and regulations related to flight control systems, avionics certification, and qualification requirements, influencing certification strategies as needed. This role drives the strategy and success of larger GNC projects that contribute to multiple areas of the organization, including critical flight control systems for complex missions, and drives program strategy, execution, and outcomes that impact multiple business areas, including aircraft or spacecraft development efforts. In addition to technical leadership, the Sr Manager manages the activities of multiple GNC disciplines, providing direct supervision to managers and senior engineers across guidance, navigation, controls, and sensor integration teams. This individual supports the Director in shaping long-range GNC engineering roadmaps, contributing technical insight, resource planning, and cross‑disciplinary strategic input to ensure alignment with organizational goals. Responsibilities include developing Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) tasks, creating long‑term plans and Gantt charts for program execution, supporting internal and external proposals and Statements of Work (SOWs), and managing budgets. This role leads major organizational or technology transformations, including the adoption of new engineering processes, tools, or structures, and solves complex, ambiguous technical challenges requiring conceptual thinking and an understanding of organizational and market contexts. The Sr Manager communicates high‑stakes technical content to executives, partners, and external stakeholders, champions company values, enforces high standards of technical excellence across the organization, and mentors, develops, and scales engineering leadership talent.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent work experience).

Minimum of five years of relevant guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) engineering management experience through a technical leadership or managerial role.

Advanced expertise in GNC principles including modern control theory, state estimation, sensor fusion, and trajectory optimization, with the ability to provide strategic direction on complex GNC architectures for aerospace or autonomous systems.

Experience managing activities of multiple GNC disciplines and providing direct supervision to managers and senior engineers across guidance, navigation, controls, and sensor integration teams.

Demonstrated ability to drive the strategy and success of larger GNC projects that contribute to multiple areas of the organization, including critical flight control systems for complex missions.

Demonstrated ability to drive program strategy, execution, and outcomes that impact multiple business areas, including aircraft or spacecraft development efforts.

Exceptional communication skills, with experience presenting high‑stakes technical content to executives, partners and external stakeholders.

Ability to solve complex, ambiguous technical challenges requiring conceptual thinking and understanding of organizational and market contexts.

Ability to champion company values and enforce high standards of technical excellence across the organization.

Preferred Qualifications

In‑depth knowledge of industry standards and regulations related to flight control systems, avionics certification, and qualification requirements, with the ability to influence certification strategies.

Experience developing and implementing advanced GNC methodologies, including adaptive control, navigation, and fault‑tolerant architectures for high‑reliability applications.

Experience supporting a Director in shaping long‑range GNC engineering roadmaps, including technical insight, resource planning, and cross‑disciplinary strategic input.

Experienced in developing Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) tasks, creating long‑term plans and Gantt charts for program execution, and supporting internal and external proposals and Statements of Work (SOWs).

Experience managing budgets.

Experience leading major organizational or technology transformations, including adoption of new engineering processes, tools, or structures.

Strong capability in mentoring, developing, and scaling engineering leadership talent.

Compensation:

Pay Range: $192,239.00 - $264,328.25 Your actual base compensation will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on job‑related knowledge and skills, education, experience, internal equity and market competitiveness.

Elevate Your Career

At Sierra Space, we are committed to your personal and professional development. We empower you to make profound and meaningful contributions and foster a vibrant culture of collaboration, where teamwork ignites breakthrough innovations. We also offer a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, and more. Sierra Space is an industry‑leading space and defense technology company providing satellites, spacecraft, and enabling mission systems and components. We deliver mission‑proven technologies to our customers that safeguard our nation, protect space‑based assets and enable space exploration.

Application Deadline

This role will remain posted until a qualified pool of candidates is identified. Please note: Sierra Space does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to Sierra Space team members not through our approved vendor list or Talent Acquisition will be considered property of Sierra Space, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees. Sierra Space Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need special assistance or a reasonable accommodation related to applying for employment with Sierra Space or at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us.

About Sierra Space

Headquartered in Colorado, Sierra Space is a mission‑proven Defense Tech company delivering satellite platforms, critical subsystems, reusable spaceplanes, hypersonic technologies, propulsion systems, and infrastructure for the nation’s most critical missions. With more than three decades of heritage and a record of flight‑proven success in space, Sierra Space is trusted by U.S. National Security, Civil customers, and global allies. Our technologies safeguard our nation, sustain human exploration in space, and ensure the freedom of operations beyond Earth. Sierra Space is defining the new era of Space Defense, strengthening deterrence today and preserving freedom of action for generations to come.