Joblaze summary

In the role of Guidance Navigation & Control Engineer at K2 Space, the individual will focus on developing and validating GNC architecture for advanced satellite mechanisms, ensuring they meet flight readiness through rigorous analysis and testing. Key skills include experience with control algorithms, simulation tools, and programming in languages like Python or C++. This position is ideal for engineers with a strong background in GNC systems and a passion for innovative spacecraft design, particularly those eager to contribute to a rapidly growing company in the aerospace sector.

Joblaze insights

Listed about a month ago — first seen on Joblaze September 3, 2026. Last confirmed on K2 Space's careers page October 29, 2026.
Salary band is below the typical range for comparable tech roles (median ~$128,600).
Starts above 50% of 377 comparable mid other roles that list Python we track (median $110,000 across 72 companies). See Python salary trends
Python appears in 16% of 4834 comparable mid other roles; C/C++ appears in 0.9% of 4834 comparable mid other roles.

Quick facts

What's the salary range?: K2 Space lists $110,000–$200,000 for this role.
What's the tech stack?: Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: C/C++, Julia, MATLAB, Python.
Does K2 Space sponsor work visas for this role?: Yes — the posting indicates visa sponsorship is available for the right candidate.
What seniority level is this role?: K2 Space targets mid-level candidates for this position.
Is this full-time or contract?: Full-time for this Guidance Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer role at K2 Space.

From the original posting

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by over $1 billion in total funding from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, ICONIQ, Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Redpoint Ventures, and T. Rowe Price — and with over $1 billion in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers, we're mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built for missions from LEO to deep space.

The Role

As a GNC engineer, you will be a core driver of the GNC architecture for internally developed actuators that support the overall platform capabilities. You will execute detailed trade studies to find new and novel ways to implement navigation and control of K2 mechanisms. In the first 3 months, you will support the development of the control infrastructure, from discrete filter design in the time domain to thorough analysis in the frequency domain. In the first 6 months, you will own and execute the Verification and Validation plan for mechanism GNC, driving the system to flight readiness via a robust and thorough analysis of performance in both nominal and off nominal environments. This push for flight readiness will motivate thorough analysis, leading to updates to both the GNC stack, the K2 6-DOF simulation, HOOTL (Hardware Out Of the Loop), and HITL (Hardware In The Loop). The expectation is that all GNC team members commit code to the 6-DOF sim as well as owning a portion of the GNC flight software.

In the first year, you will support launch and on orbit operations of the first full stacked demonstration of 3 K2 spacecraft buses – aka the Trinity mission. In parallel, you will support the block 2 upgrades of the GNC stack and 6-DOF sim, taking lessons learned from on orbit operations to increase the fidelity of the simulation, the vehicle performance and mechanism performance of the GNC stack.

Responsibilities

Work with other engineering leads to develop and validate a novel high level vehicle architecture
Develop novel algorithms for precise pointing of very large, flexible structures in earth orbit and beyond
Develop novel algorithms for precise pointing of mechanisms, effectively characterizing and rejecting disturbances and jitter.
Develop novel slewing algorithms of very large, flexible structures in earth orbit and beyond
Develop simulation and modeling tools to support vehicle and GNC trade studies. This includes mission design, controls analysis, and 6-DOF simulation development.
Contribute to building the GNC organization by recruiting, hiring, and mentoring other engineers

Qualifications

Experience with GNC actuator or sensor sizing, selection, and system design
Experience with implementing control and/or estimation algorithms
Experience with verification and validation of GNC flight software in an integrated environment, leveraging 6-DOF simulation and HITL testing.
Experience with Python, Julia, C/C++, or Matlab for algorithm development, implementation, and simulation

Nice to Have

Experience with early-stage conceptual design, i.e. “clean sheet” design work
Experience with control algorithm development
Experience with reaction wheel, control moment gyroscope, motor or thruster sizing and algorithm implementation
Experience with navigation, specifically Extended Kalman Filters
Experience with trajectory analysis, modeling, and mission design

Compensation and Benefits:

Base salary range for this role is $110,000 - $200,000 + equity in the company
Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks

If you don’t meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!

Standard company text repeated across K2 Space's postings is omitted here.

Guidance Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer

Similar positions