GNC Engineer – Sensor Fusion & Estimation

Ready to make connectivity from space universally accessible, secure and actionable? Then you’ve come to the right place!

E-Space is bridging Earth and space to enable hyper-scaled deployments of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and services. We are building a highly-advanced low Earth orbit (LEO) space system that will fundamentally change the design, economics, manufacturing and service delivery associated with traditional satellite and terrestrial IoT systems.

We’re intentional, we’re unapologetically curious and we’re 100% committed to innovate space-based communications and deliver actionable intelligence that will expand global economies, protect space and our planet and enhance our overall quality of life.

We are seeking a Guidance, Navigation, and Controls Senior Engineer to take a key role in the design, development, modeling, integration, and testing of our attitude determination system. The scope includes sensor selection trades, development and testing of mission-critical flight sensing software, system integration of onboard attitude sensors, and supporting tools and testbeds. This is a hands-on role and requires onsite presence at our Saratoga, CA office.

What you will do::
• Analyze and characterize attitude sensor performance, including processing of raw sensor data, fault detection, outlier rejection, and calibration.
• Design, implement, and tune attitude estimation software (e.g., Extended Kalman filters) for real-time execution in flight-critical software.
• Build and utilize software tools to process and analyze telemetry for performance assessment, and ground/in-orbit calibrations and verifications.
• Develop, tune, and validate sensor models for use in high-fidelity GNC closed-loop simulations.
• Develop and execute test procedures to verify the functionality and performance of sensing hardware and software.
• Develop and operate hardware testbeds to characterize sensor behavior and validate estimation software performance.
• Support sensing system validation during satellite assembly, integration, and testing (AIT) campaigns.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to provide domain expertise and support integration efforts.
• Contribute to engineering reviews and generate clear detailed technical documentation and test reports.

What you bring to this role::
• BS +5 years / MS +3 years / PhD +1 year in Aerospace Engineering, Electronics, Robotics, or equivalent, with relevant professional experience.
• Direct experience deriving and implementing sensing algorithms from first principles, including estimators (Kalman filters) and other sensor calibration, fusion, and fault detection algorithms.
• Proven ownership of multi-sensor systems, e.g., combinations of IMUs, magnetometers, GPS/GNSS, Earth sensors, sun sensors, and star trackers.
• Proficiency in C/C++, /Simulink, and Python.
• Experience with hardware testbeds using Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Pixhawk or other micro-controllers.
• Familiarity with structured verification and validation processes for critical applications.
• Hands-on experience with sensor hardware, drivers, and communication protocols, e.g., UART, SPI, I2C and CAN.
• Strong initiative, with excellent teamwork, communication, and documentation skills; comfortable in a fast-paced startup environment.

Bonus points::
• Experience designing and operating space, aerial, or ground robotic vehicles.
• Experience with spacecraft orbital and attitude kinematics and dynamics.
• Experience with closed-loop model-based GNC simulations.
• Experience with space industry practices: design, qualification, acceptance, integration, operations.

This is a full time, exempt position, based out of our Saratoga office. The target base pay for this position is $100,000 - $200,000 annually. The total compensation packaged will be determined by various factors such as your relevant job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

We are redefining how satellites are designed, manufactured and used—so we’re looking for candidates with passion, deep knowledge and direct experience on LEO satellite component development, design and in-orbit activities. If that’s your experience – then we’ll be immediately wow-ed.

E-Space is not currently able to provide employment sponsorship for candidates who do not hold work authorization for the location of this role.

Why E-Space is right for you:

As a member of our team, you will play a crucial role in driving our success. Our team members have a strong sense of dedication and responsibility; this includes a strong commitment to our mission to create an entirely new suite of global capabilities to improve lives, business efficiencies and build a smarter planet. This means that there will be times when extra hours, including nights and weekends, may be needed to meet critical deadlines and mission goals. In return, we offer a dynamic work environment with opportunities for professional growth and development and the chance to make a meaningful impact in a high-growth industry.

We want you to make the most of your journey at E-Space. That’s why we support and invest in the physical, emotional and financial well-being of our team members and their families. Some of what you can expect when working at E-Space:

• An opportunity to really make a difference
• Sustainability at our core
• Fair and honest workplace
• Innovative thinking is encouraged
• Competitive salaries
• Continuous learning and development
• Health and wellness care options
• Financial solutions for the future
• Optional legal services (US only)
• Paid holidays
• Paid time off