Senior Guidance, Navigation & Controls - Estimation Engineer

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today, Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe— large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military. With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts.

Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization.Astranis has raised over $750 million from some of the world’s best investors, from Andreessen Horowitz to Blackrock and Fidelity, and employs a team of 450 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.

Senior Guidance, Navigation & Controls- Estimation Engineer

As a Senior Guidance, Navigation & Controls - Estimation Engineer at Astranis, you will develop, implement, and test algorithms that enable precise orbit and attitude knowledge as well as accurate maneuver execution for our satellites. Your work will emphasize state estimation, orbit determination, and guidance algorithm development, while ensuring robust performance across both commercial and U.S. Government programs. You will contribute to algorithm design, high-fidelity simulation, and flight software implementation while collaborating across hardware and software domains to validate and verify system performance.

Role

• Lead the design, development, and testing of navigation and estimation algorithms, including real-time filters (e.g., extended/unscented Kalman filters) and offline batch estimation methods

• Develop orbit determination pipelines, sensor fusion approaches, and navigation software for on-board and ground-based systems

• Design and test guidance algorithms for orbit transfers, stationkeeping, and attitude pointing maneuvers

• Build, validate, and maintain high-fidelity 6-DOF simulations and physics models to support guidance and estimation algorithm design and verification

• Perform performance analysis through Monte Carlo campaigns, covariance analysis, and hardware-in-the-loop testing

• Define system requirements and conduct make/buy trades for sensors, actuators, and navigation subsystems, including accuracy, robustness, and fault tolerance considerations

• Contribute to concept of operations development, mission planning, and flight operations with a focus on navigation accuracy and maneuver execution

• Collaborate closely with hardware teams to integrate sensors and actuators, manage vendor deliverables, and support bring-up/testing of guidance and navigation hardware

• Support team growth by assisting in recruiting, interviewing, and mentoring new engineers

Requirements

• BS or MS degree in aerospace engineering, physics, computer science, or a related technical field with emphasis on orbital mechanics, estimation, or guidance

• 5+ years of experience working on spacecraft navigation, guidance, or related GNC subsystems

• Demonstrated expertise with estimation techniques (e.g., extended/unscented Kalman filters, sensor fusion, batch least-squares)

• Experience developing and testing guidance algorithms for orbital or attitude maneuvers

• Experience developing and testing orbit determination and state estimation algorithms in both simulation and hardware-in-the-loop environments

• Proficiency with Python, C++, and Git

• Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and validate flight or ground software from scratch

• Hands-on experience working with spaceborne or aerospace sensors and actuators (e.g., star trackers, IMUs, GNSS, reaction wheels, thrusters)

• Strong analytical skills and ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment

Bonus

• Experience with advanced orbit determination techniques (e.g., sequential processing, covariance realism)

• Familiarity with trajectory design and optimization methods

• Experience with spacecraft propulsion and maneuver planning

• Experience with geostationary spacecraft operations

• Background in hardware-in-the-loop simulations

• Experience implementing estimation and guidance algorithms on embedded systems

What we offer:

All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.

Base pay is a single component of Astranis's total rewards package, which may also include equity in the form of incentive stock options, high quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance benefits, flexible PTO, 401(K) retirement, and free on-site catered meals.

Astranis pay ranges are informed and defined through professional-grade salary surveys and compensation data sources. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, and the level and scope of the position.

Base Salary
$155,000—$200,000 USD

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))

Our mission and our products are meant to connect the world and everyone in it, regardless of gender, race, creed, or any other distinction. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we encourage all people to join our team and bring their unique perspective to help make us stronger.