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.

• →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.

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

• 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

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

• 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 EEOCompliance@spacex.com.