GNC Engineer III (Controls), Alpha

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE 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. SUMMARYAs a Senior GNC Engineer specializing in controls and autonomy at Firefly, you will design and implement advanced control systems and autonomous flight software for operational launch vehicles. In this role, you will develop and tune attitude control software, support hardware-in-the-loop testing and system integration, and provide technical leadership while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. 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.RESPONSIBILITIESDesign, analyze, and tune launch vehicle attitude control software to ensure stable flight from launch to orbitImplement control techniques for mission-critical flight phases using thrust vector control actuators, reaction control thrusters, and aerodynamic surfacesDevelop control systems accounting for complex launch vehicle dynamics including aerodynamic effects, structural flex modes, propellant slosh, and control structure interactionEstablish technical standards and validation methodologies for control system design, software development, and hardware-in-the-loop testingConduct stability analysis, sensitivity studies, and performance optimization for control systems under nominal and off-nominal flight conditionsSupport hardware-in-the-loop test campaigns for integrated GNC systems including control algorithm validation, flight software verification, and system-level performance testingDrive resolution of complex GNC challenges requiring deep technical expertise and rapid problem-solvingProvide technical direction on system architecture and serve as subject matter expert for launch vehicle controlMentor junior engineers in control theory and flight software developmentAuthor technical documentation and analysis reports that communicate GNC concepts and results to diverse audiencesInterface with cross-discipline teams to integrate control software with vehicle hardwareServe as a GNC console operator for launch operations and perform post-flight analysis to improve vehicle modelsChampion continuous improvement initiatives for GNC processes, tools, and operational efficiencyQUALIFICATIONSRequiredBachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or related field5-10 years of experience in launch vehicle GNC systems with significant depth in attitude control system design or flight software developmentAdvanced knowledge of attitude dynamics and control theory, including rotational dynamics, attitude representations, control moment generation, and stability analysisStrong understanding of classical control theory and frequency domain analysis techniquesExpertise in real-time software development using C++ for flight-critical applicationsExperience developing high-fidelity actuator models and attitude control system testbedsProficiency in hardware-in-the-loop testing and requirement verification for flight-critical systemsUnderstanding of software development best practices including version control (Git), code documentation, and testingExcellent communication and presentation skillsDesiredMaster's degree or PhD in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, applied mathematics, or related fieldExperience architecting and implementing control systems for operational launch vehicles from development through flightExpertise in advanced control techniques such as nonlinear control methods, optimal control, model predictive control, or adaptive control applied to launch vehicle applicationsHands-on experience with launch vehicle actuator systems including thrust vector control actuators, reaction control thrusters, and aerodynamic surfacesAdvanced knowledge of state estimation techniques including Kalman filtering, sensor fusion, and covariance analysisAdvanced knowledge of numerical methods for control law tuning, root-solving, and parameter optimizationExperience with modern flight software frameworks and real-time operating systemsSoftware engineering expertise with proficiency in development practices including version control, code review, testing, documentation, and CI/CD workflowsProficiency in Python for scripting, data analysis, and automationWorking knowledge of launch vehicle systems and mission operationsProven ability to develop junior engineers while managing technical responsibilitiesTrack record of thought leadership through publications, presentations, or contributions to industry state-of-the-artFirefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, educational reimbursement, short term disability, and flexible PTO options.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., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.Department: Aerospace Software Engineering Location: Cedar Park, TX