Full-Time
Senior GNC Controls Engineer
Astranis
501-1,000 employees
GEO satellites delivering bandwidth-as-a-service
Compensation Overview
$140k - $230k/yr
No H1B Sponsorship
San Francisco, CA, USA
In Person
US Citizenship Required
 Aerospace Engineering (2) |
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- B.S. or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
- 5+ years of industry experience in Guidance, Navigation, and Controls, controls, or a closely adjacent discipline
- Strong fundamentals in classical and modern control theory, including frequency-domain analysis (Bode plots, Nyquist, gain/phase margins)
- Experience designing and implementing closed-loop control systems for dynamic systems
- Experience with gain optimization, linearization, and controls tooling development
- Demonstrated experience modeling flexible body dynamics and mitigating their effects through system design and control systems
- Proficiency in Python for algorithm development and simulation
- Experience with modern C++ for on-board software
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to work in a fast-paced, iterative environment
- US Citizenship or Green Card
- Design, implement, and test closed-loop control algorithms for precise pointing, station-keeping, detumble, and desaturation maneuvers for satellites in orbit
- Develop and maintain high-fidelity satellite simulations to validate GNC control algorithms prior to flight
- Validate and verify algorithm performance through software simulation, Monte Carlo analysis, hardware in the loop, and on-orbit testing
- Perform stability analysis in both time and frequency domains, including gain tuning, margin assessment, and notch filter design for structural flex modes
- Support system identification efforts using in-orbit telemetry to refine onboard models and improve controller performance
- Ability to effectively collaborate with interdisciplinary teams on large projects
- Develop operational procedures and provide mission planning support
- Support GNC operations for our fleet of satellites, including on-console and on-call rotations
- Support in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly growing team
- Direct experience with spacecraft attitude control systems (reaction wheels, thrusters)
- Understanding of orbital mechanics and geostationary stationkeeping strategies
- Familiarity with electric or chemical propulsion-based control (e.g., stationkeeping, momentum management maneuvers)
- Background in estimation theory or Kalman filtering for attitude/orbit determination
- Hands-on experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing or real-time simulation environments
- Experience supporting live satellite operations or anomaly resolution
- Experience with AI tooling and agentic workflows
Astranis builds and operates small, low-cost satellites in geostationary orbit to provide bandwidth-as-a-service for global connectivity. Its satellites carry telecom payloads that deliver internet capacity to customers, including commercial entities and government agencies, via turnkey services that simplify procurement and reduce costs. Customers buy bandwidth and use Astranis’ satellite capacity to reach previously unserved regions, rather than building and managing their own satellites. The company differentiates itself by owning the design, manufacturing, and operation of its GEO satellites, enabling cost-efficient, turnkey connectivity solutions for markets that traditional providers overlook. The goal is to close the digital divide by bringing affordable internet access to billions of people worldwide and to build a large, sustainable market for satellite-based connectivity.
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
Series E
Total Funding
$1.2B
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
Founded
2015
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- $450M funding expands MicroGEO production for 100 satellites by 2030.
- Chunghwa Telecom partners for Taiwan's first dedicated MicroGEO satellite.
- USSF and NASA contracts secure high-margin government revenue streams.
What critics are saying
- Block 3 satellites delay to 2025 erodes first-mover edge versus Starlink.
- Starlink Starshield achieves price parity by 2027, squeezing defense margins.
- $1B backlog relies on few customers; Thaicom loss triggers 20% revenue drop.
What makes Astranis unique
- MicroGEO satellites deliver 8.5 Gbit/s throughput, exceeding 7.5 Gbit/s specs.
- Vanguard enables air-gapped point-to-point comms via MicroGEO for defense.
- Omega satellites provide 50 Gbps at 600 kg mass from 2026 launches.
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Benefits
An equity stake in the company.
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Unlimited vacation days.
Healthy, delicious, free lunch catered in every day.
Complementary OneMedical membership.
Great office chairs, stand-up desks, and a machine shop.
Reimbursement to spend on commuting from outside SF
Generous, fully-paid parental leave.
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↓ -1%2 year growth
↑ 1%Chunghwa Telecom has entered a partnership with Astranis to create a geostationary satellite specifically designed for Taiwan.
Taipei, April 15 (CNA) Taiwan-based telecom service provider Chunghwa Telecom Co. recently signed a strategic agreement with Astranis Space Technologies Corp., an American satellite start-up, to develop the first dedicated compact geostationary orbit (MicroGEO) satellite for Taiwan.
Astranis, operator of a satellite internet company intended to bridge the digital divide, raised an additional $50 million of Series D venture funding from NTT Docomo Ventures, and other investors.
As part of this ambitious effort, Orbits first partnered with Astranis, the world's leading operator of dedicated communications satellites, to construct its latest satellite.
Astranis to develop resilient GPS satellites for USSF.