Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer
About the job
- A bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or a similar field is required.
- At least 2 years of relevant industry experience is required; a PhD in aerospace engineering or a similar field may be considered as experience.
- Exceptional command of feedback control system design fundamentals.
- Familiarity with orbital mechanics and orbital trajectory design fundamentals.
- Experience designing and validating guidance, navigation, and control algorithms.
- Experience simulating and modeling physical systems.
- Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to lead and follow.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) to comply with ITAR requirements.
- Develop software capabilities, including algorithms for vehicle guidance, attitude control, engine control, and state estimation.
- Develop and validate vehicle and environment models to simulate guidance, navigation, and control algorithm performance and robustness.
- Ensure system quality and performance through rigorous testing.
- Conduct Monte Carlo analysis of nominal and failure cases to evaluate vehicle performance and flight safety.
- Document guidance, navigation, and control 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.
- Own guidance, navigation, and control algorithms and trajectory designs from early architecture definition through qualification testing and flight operations.
- Work with the vehicle hardware design team to develop vehicle control devices and set system-level interfaces.
- A master's degree or PhD in aerospace engineering or a similar field.
About the company
Stoke Space is developing Nova rockets with full stage reuse to enable high-cadence, lower-cost access to orbit for commercial satellite operators and government missions. The rockets are designed for rapid reuse of both stages, supporting frequent flights and lower operating costs compared to expendable or partially reusable fleets. The company is progressing toward its first orbital flight with Nova Pathfinder around early 2027, followed by Nova Block 2 capable of lifting about 15 metric tons to low Earth orbit later in the decade. Stoke aims to accelerate reusable launch development and establish a dependable, high-frequency launch capability for customers.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Series E
Total Funding
$2.4B
Headquarters
Kent, Washington
Founded
2019
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Sept. 8, 2026 Reuters said the round values Stoke near $10 billion.
- Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral advances, giving Stoke a real Florida pad.
- Kevin Weil joined the board in 2026, strengthening software, product, and fundraising credibility.
What critics are saying
- Nova Pathfinder slips past 2027, delaying revenue and handing customers to SpaceX.
- Any 2027 orbital failure stalls certification, burns cash, and forces another expensive redesign.
- Block 2 faces a brutal capital wall; one slip risks a stranded, pre-revenue company.
What makes Stoke Space unique
- 100% reusable Nova architecture targets both stages, unlike partial-reuse Falcon-class rivals.
- Sept. 2026 Series E lifted total capital to $2.3 billion, funding full-stack reuse.
- Nova Block 2 targets 15 tons to LEO, pairing medium-lift capacity with rapid turnaround.
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Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- 401(k) Company Match
- Paid Vacation
- Flexible Work Hours
- Company Equity