Staff GNC Engineer

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero-gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven-1, scheduled to be the world's first commercial space station when it launches into low earth orbit in May 2026. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.

Vast is looking for a Staff GNC Engineer who will support research and development of flight control algorithms for our Orbiter spacecraft and/or our Haven space station with a particular emphasis on expanding our high fidelity modeling and simulation architecture. This is a dynamic and fun organization involved in deploying forward-leaning avionics, guidance, navigation, and control systems for developmental concepts for spacecraft, both uncrewed and human-rated.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities:

Maintain and expand high fidelity GNC simulation architecture

Develop and validate additional models for GNC simulations, including hardware-in-the-loop testing

Design, implement and validate GNC flight software

Develop control laws to meet vehicle performance and stability margin requirements

Support flight activities and analyze flight performance data

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline

10+ years of experience

Excellent C/C++ programming skills

Preferred Skills & Experience:

Master's degree or PhD in a STEM discipline

Python programming skills

Excellent communication, analysis, and problem-solving skills

Experience in orbital mechanics as well as attitude dynamics and control

Experience using linear control principles and tools to design feedback control systems

Experience analyzing non-linear simulations of closed-loop dynamics

Working knowledge of outer loop control law performance requirements

Experience using MATLAB to create, process, analyze, and visually represent data

Experience using Simulink to model dynamic systems

Pay Ranges:

Staff GNC Engineer: $185,000 - $240,000

Principal GNC Engineer: $215,000 - $280,000

Salary Range: California

$185,000-$280,000 USD

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, flexible paid time off for exempt staff and up to 10 days of vacation for non-exempt staff, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, One Medical membership, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast's ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast 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.