GNC Engineer, Attitude Determination and Optical Navigation (Starlink)

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

GNC ENGINEER, ATTITUDE DETERMINATION AND OPTICAL NAVIGATION (STARLINK)

SpaceX is seeking talented engineers to help maintain and upgrade the attitude determination system on Starlink satellites, contribute to sensor development, and improve object tracking within the Stargaze space surveillance system. This role directly supports the reliability and performance of the world’s largest satellite constellation, which is delivering high-speed broadband internet to underserved regions, bridging digital divides, and enabling transformative applications in education, healthcare, and disaster response worldwide. Join us to advance spacecraft attitude estimation, sensor technology, and space domain awareness, helping make space safer and more accessible for humanity.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain, upgrade, and operate the attitude determination systems onboard Starlink satellites.
• Maintain, upgrade, and operate the object detection pipeline supporting the Stargaze space surveillance system.
• Analyze sensor performance and support the design of future navigation and situational awareness sensors.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, aerospace, physics or an engineering discipline.
• Software development experience in C++ and Python.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Advanced degree in an engineering discipline, mathematics, or physics, with a focus on attitude determination, rotational dynamics, or image processing.
• Real-world experience with star trackers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, sun sensors, and accelerometers, including ground testing, qualification, and on-orbit operations.
• Proficiency in image processing for astrometric applications, including background subtraction, spot finding, centroiding, frame stacking, and star pattern identification.
• Expertise in sequential estimation techniques, including Kalman filtering, residual editing, filter tuning, covariance analysis, consider parameters, adaptive processes, and covariance realism, with applications to spacecraft attitude determination.
• Strong background in astrometric and photometric measurement handling, including measurement processing, modeling, debiasing, calibration, and light-curve reduction.
• Experience with sensor fusion in real operational environments, including failure detection and recovery, fault tolerance, measurement weighting, and alert handling.
• Experience with optical sensors for vision-based navigation and space surveillance, including tracking resident space objects and inferring rotational motion.
• Experience with hardware acceleration for real-time image processing using GPUs and FPGAs.
• Proven ability to develop, test, and deploy algorithms for real-world space applications, with proficiency in version control systems like Git
• Ability to solve complex problems independently in a fast-paced, innovative environment
• Passion for space safety, satellite operations, and advancing the commercial space industry
• Excellent communication skills for collaborating across multidisciplinary teams

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Level 1: $125,000.00 - $165,000.00
Level 2: $145,000.00 - $200,000.00

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law. Company shuttles are offered to employees for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of 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.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [email protected].