Joblaze summary

In the role of Senior GNC Engineer at K2 Space, the individual will focus on developing and refining spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control systems, particularly for upcoming missions. Key skills include expertise in estimation algorithms, simulation development, and programming in languages such as Python or C++. This position is ideal for experienced engineers with a background in aerospace systems and a strong grasp of navigation challenges across various orbits. The team is engaged in ambitious projects, including the launch of multiple high-power satellites.

Joblaze insights

Listed today — first seen on Joblaze November 12, 2026. Last confirmed on K2 Space's careers page November 12, 2026.
Salary band is above the typical range for comparable tech roles (median ~$128,000).
Starts above 56% of 295 comparable senior other roles in United States that list Python we track (median $150,000 across 61 companies). See Python salary trends
Python appears in 16.5% of 2704 comparable senior other roles in United States; Julia appears in 0.1% of 2704 comparable senior other roles in United States.

Quick facts

What's the salary range?: K2 Space lists $160,000–$235,000 for this role.
What's the tech stack?: Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: C/C++, Julia, MATLAB, Python, Rust.
What seniority level is this role?: K2 Space targets senior candidates for this position.
Is this full-time or contract?: Full-time for this Senior 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 Senior GNC engineer, you will be a core driver of the overall spacecraft GNC architecture. You will execute detailed trade studies to find new and novel ways to implement the spacecraft’s orbital guidance, orbital control, and attitude and orbit estimation systems. In the first 3 months, you will support the development/improvement of the MEO navigation, taking lessons learned from the Gravitas mission and applying them to the baseline GNC stack. In the first 6 months you will support the development of new and novel navigation approaches to support future programs – specifically solving navigation for GEO, cis lunar, and interplanetary. In parallel you will support the development of the in-house trajectory design scheme and associated analysis workflow. As we learn more about our system, this will lead to updates to both the GNC stack and the K2 6-DOF simulation. 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 Trinity mission – the stacked launch of 3 K2 Mega spacecraft. In parallel, you will continue to support improvements, closing the loop on the design, build, test, fly lifecycle.

Responsibilities

Work with other engineering leads to develop and validate a novel high level vehicle architecture

Develop novel algorithms for precise navigation in LEO, MEO, GEO, cis lunar, and interplanetary space.

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 implementing estimation algorithms on for flight software and ground software, specifically Kalman Filters, Extended Kalman Filters, and Unscented Kalman Filters

Experience performing Monte Carlo based analyses and covariance analysis

Experience with verification and validation of GNC flight software in an integrated environment, leveraging 6-DOF simulation and HITL testing.

Experience with GNC sensor sizing, selection, and system design

Experience with Python, Julia, C/C++, Rust, or Matlab for algorithm development, implementation, and simulation

Nice to Have

Experience with system identification, leveraging on-orbit data

Experience with early-stage spacecraft conceptual design, i.e. “clean sheet” design work

Breadth in control algorithm development

Experience with reaction wheel, control moment gyroscope, or thruster sizing and algorithm implementation

Experience with trajectory analysis, modeling, optimization, and mission design for GEO, cislunar, interplanetary missions

Compensation and Benefits:

Base salary range for this role is $160,000 - $235,000 + 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.

Senior GNC Engineer

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