Stratolaunch is a technology accelerator that engineers operationally realistic testing at Mach 5+. Our air-launched, Talon testbeds are reusable, cost-effective platforms that enable routine access to the hypersonic environment. We deliver flight data critical to validating system performance and achieving rapid technology deployment. Together with our customers, we drive innovations that are imperative to advancing national security.
Stratolaunch is seeking a subject matter expert in Guidance Navigation and Controls (GNC) to join the Technical Staff in Engineering. Members of the Technical Staff at Stratolaunch are the company’s foremost functional area experts, providing company-level technical leadership as they solve today’s execution problems and develop innovative solutions for the future. The successful candidate will have demonstrated leadership capability and a track record applying deep technical expertise in architecture derivation, algorithm development, and hardware implementation to solve practical engineering problems.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide company-level technical discipline leadership in GNC spanning theory to hardware
- Enable world class engineering through the creation of technical standards, best practices, and common tool chains in domain(s) of expertise
- Support program execution by leading teams through and/or participating in high-impact problem solutions (e.g. Failure Review Boards, RCCA, Tiger Teams)
- Develop and maintain engineering capability roadmaps and lead the realization of those capabilities
- Propose and lead Internal Research and Development projects to generate intellectual property and enable future business success
- Support white papers, proposals, and other front end of the business efforts
- Engage in in mentoring and developing more junior colleagues
- Support recruiting and hiring activities
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Required Qualifications:
- In-depth expertise and experience in deriving and implementing GNC architectures
- Demonstrated ability as a technical leader
- Demonstrated ability applying technical expertise to solve high-impact problems
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills: Capable of conveying complex technical information to diverse audiences
- Familiarity with relevant industry and military standards and regulatory specifications
- Experience proposing and leading IRAD projects
- Ability to interact with customers and/or external stakeholders
- Demonstrated experience applying analytical and critical thinking skills to solve multi-disciplinary, open-ended engineering problems
- Ability to work independently in a dynamic environment to achieve business goals
- US Citizen with the ability to obtain a DOW security clearance
- Experience with embedded systems and RTOS / FPGA implementation of algorithms
- Ability to derive GNC requirements based on vehicle constraints and mission objectives
- Ability to support system sizing and trade study activities based upon mission objectives
- Familiarity with estimation & data fusion architecture theory and application
- Familiarity with theory and hardware for air vehicle navigation (GPS, TERCOM, Magnetic)
- Familiarity with autopilot architecture theory and application
- Ability to objectively assess multidisciplinary data utilized in development of GNC algorithms
- Experience utilizing flight test data to quantitatively reduce uncertainties and update models
- Strong first principles in flight dynamics, propulsion, controls, and estimation techniques
Required Computer Skills:
- MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
Preferred Qualifications:
- Working knowledge of systems engineering principles and best practices, especially relating to requirements verification through test and MBSE
- Experience owning and implementing technical roadmaps
- Experience supporting hypersonic vehicle development programs culminating in flight testing
- Experience developing GNC architectures for high supersonic or hypersonic systems
- Ability to aid in HWIL development across both hardware and software domains
- Experience working on high speed airbreathing system with hysteretic, multi-modal behavior
- Experience developing high performance extensible interfaces both in hardware and software
- Familiarity with less common navigation aiding signals and approaches (SoOP, SLAM, Celestial)
- Experience utilizing adjoint methods to analytically derive requirements
- Familiarity with control system margins (gain, phase, vector) and performance (time const, undershoot, overshoot) metrics and how to appropriately analyze and optimize
- Familiarity with direct, indirect, and heuristic optimization methods and SOTA algorithms
- Experience with requirements and approaches for safety critical software and algorithms
- Familiarity with and ability to adapt to industry standard version control and programming languages and toolchains (Git, C++, MATLAB/Simulink, Python, etc.).
- Active DOW security clearance
- Principle ($147,667-$262,294): Bachelor’s degree, Master’s or Doctoral degree (graduate degree preferred) in related discipline from an accredited institution and 15+ years relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Senior Principal ($168,450-$299,210): Bachelor’s degree, Master’s or Doctoral degree (graduate degree preferred) in related discipline from an accredited institution and 20+ years relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
Special remarks regarding work environment, if applicable
- Position based in Mojave, CA. Consideration for hybrid (partial remote/on-site work) work arrangements for well-qualified candidates may be provided.
- 9/80 schedule
Base salary and leveling are established on a case-by-case basis. We consider several factors to ensure a competitive offer, including your location, educational background, and a comprehensive assessment of the skills and experience demonstrated during your interviews.
Benefits and our location(s):
- Healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs)
- Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
- 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500
- Tuition reimbursement
This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties.
Mojave Air & Spaceport is located just outside of Lancaster/Palmdale and is only 95 miles north of Los Angeles. The area offers both affordability and central access to a variety of California's best attractions and landmarks.
Not much for the outdoors and prefer the city life? You’re within a half day’s drive or less of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco where you can find a variety of live entertainment, museums, tours, and historical sight-seeing. Theme parks are in abundance, with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm ready to meet the needs of rollercoaster thrill seekers.
Food and drink fanatics are in a haven of delectable choices. Wine aficionados will also find easy access to some of the state’s best vino in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and even more locally in Tehachapi and Agua Dulce. Beer fanatics will find some of the best West Coast IPAs at Bravery and Lucky Luke’s in Lancaster. Any food option you crave is covered, and we always recommend the authentic and fresh Mexican food that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States.
Stratolaunch is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at our company. We encourage people from all walks of life to apply, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our management team does not tolerate discrimination or harassment at any point during our employees’ and applicants’ time with us, especially with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment. For purposes of transparency, U.S. Citizenship may be required for some positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.
Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law :
https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf
Skills Required
- In-depth expertise and experience deriving and implementing GNC architectures
- Demonstrated technical leadership capability
- Experience solving high-impact, multidisciplinary engineering problems
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Familiarity with relevant industry and military standards and regulatory specifications
- Experience proposing and leading IRAD projects
- Ability to interact with customers and external stakeholders
- Ability to work independently in a dynamic environment
- US citizenship and ability to obtain a DOD security clearance
- Experience implementing algorithms in embedded systems, RTOS, or FPGA environments
- Ability to derive GNC requirements from vehicle constraints and mission objectives
- Ability to support system sizing and mission-based trade studies
- Familiarity with estimation and data fusion architectures
- Familiarity with GPS, TERCOM, and magnetic air-vehicle navigation
- Familiarity with autopilot architecture theory and application
- Experience using flight-test data to reduce uncertainties and update models
- Strong fundamentals in flight dynamics, propulsion, controls, and estimation
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
- Working knowledge of systems engineering, requirements verification, testing, and MBSE
- Experience owning and implementing technical roadmaps
- Experience supporting hypersonic vehicle development and flight testing
- Experience developing GNC architectures for high-supersonic or hypersonic systems
- Ability to support HWIL development across hardware and software
- Experience with high-speed airbreathing systems and hysteretic, multimodal behavior
- Experience developing high-performance hardware and software interfaces
- Familiarity with SoOP, SLAM, and celestial navigation approaches
- Experience using adjoint methods to derive requirements
- Familiarity with control-system margins, performance metrics, and optimization methods
- Familiarity with direct, indirect, and heuristic optimization methods
- Experience with safety-critical software and algorithm requirements
- Experience with Git, C++, MATLAB/Simulink, Python, and related toolchains
- Active DOD security clearance
Stratolaunch Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Stratolaunch and has not been reviewed or approved by Stratolaunch.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Fair & Transparent Compensation: Pay is considered competitive for many roles, with posted ranges for engineers and specialized hourly positions that indicate robust bands. Public self-reported packages also point to strong totals for some technical titles.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare Strength: Coverage includes multiple PPO/HMO options with HSA/HRA support and employer seeding, plus a monthly health-club reimbursement. These elements indicate comprehensive medical choices accompanied by meaningful wellness perks.
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Retirement Support — Retirement Support: A 401(k) program offers a company match up to an annual cap with a two‑year vesting schedule. This structure stands out as a meaningful long‑term savings benefit.
Stratolaunch Insights
What We Do
Stratolaunch LLC designs, manufactures, and launches aerospace vehicles and technologies to fulfill several important national needs, including the need to significantly advance U.S. hypersonic flight test capabilities and help improve the nation’s ability to design and operate cutting edge hypersonic vehicles. Our hypersonic testbeds will provide customizable, reusable, and affordable access to the Mach 5+ flight regime. We are delivering the world’s premiere hypersonic flight test services.
Why Work With Us
We offer customers the ability to perform risk reduction via affordable and routine flight test for their critical technologies. We offer an operationally realistic environment, enabling us to test in the subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic flight regimes. With our reusable and low-cost system, customers can rapidly iterate the design of their t
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