Senior Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineer

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and different perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.

Pay Range

$168,780 - $256,824 Annually

$168,780 - $214,032 Annually for SES.3 level

$202,500 - $256,824 Annually for SES.4 level

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting.  Pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage.  An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. 

We have an opening for a Senior Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) Engineer to support work on projects and initiatives with a focus on U.S. national security. You will be a member of an engineering team that will provide space mission engineering solutions for both national security and basic science investigations with sponsors including NASA, Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defense (DOD) and other government agencies. As an engineering team member, you will work on all aspects of space system hardware – from design and analysis to assembly, integration and test. This position is in the National Security Engineering Division (NSED) within the Engineering Directorate at LLNL and matrixed to the Space Science & Security Program

This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.

This position will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

In this role, you will

• Function independently with minimal direction, taking significant responsibility and using advanced knowledge and judgment to establish objectives, prioritize parallel tasks, allocate resources, and collaborate in the development of innovative methods/technology to guide the completion of projects and contribute to the development of organizational goals.
• Provide advanced level technical support and contribute to a team of scientists and engineers who develop technical proposals for spacecraft missions that involve complex system-level trade studies involving orbital mechanics, attitude determination sensors, attitude control actuators, navigation considerations, and Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) testing.
• Determine and apply specific linear/matrix algebra for analysis and reports. 
• Contribute to mission planning efforts including the design and analysis of GNC subsystem concepts of operation needed to meet mission requirements. 
• Conduct comprehensive mission analyses, including the orbits of potential missions. 
• Develop, implement, and/or review attitude control, attitude determination, and navigation requirements for proposed missions. 
• Utilize technical design expertise and analytical skills to develop, implement, and/or review complex test plans and risk mitigation strategies for GNC hardware and software for proposed missions. 
• Exercise significant responsibility to design and deliver useful tools and products, often with minimal and ambiguously defined instruction and direction.
• Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams to provide solutions to complex technical problems.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.4 level

• Operate under consultative direction with substantial authority, using in-depth analysis and subject matter expertise in highly advanced concepts, to resolve a diverse range of highly complex problems, independently determine strategies, modify approaches, and pursue actions that impact organizational operations or directions and achieve long-term goals.
• Serve as a subject matter expert to develop, implement, and provide highly advanced engineering solutions and technical analysis to resolve highly complex technical and programmatic issues.
• Develop innovative methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria to obtain results by performing in-depth analysis of multiple tangible and intangible factors.
• Establish broad research/project vision and provide strategic technical and consultative direction, influence, and advice to small teams and management in order to drive successful outcomes for deliverables.
• Serve as primary technical contact on multidisciplinary teams and may act as the prime consultant on large projects that affect the organization's long-term goals and objectives.
• Provide highly advanced technical guidance and mentorship to technical staff, fostering their technical development and supporting their growth within the team.

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship. Also, you must have the ability to obtain and maintain Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access.  Please note that your current active Q or Top Secret clearance with DOE or another agency does not guarantee DOE SCI access approval; if you are denied access, you may be subject to reinvestigation of your existing Q or Top Secret clearance.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering, or a relevant technical field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguous or undefined directions, identify key objectives, and develop and deliver high-quality, impactful products or solutions.
• Experience with, and advanced level understanding of GNC subsystem development/analysis, test and/or operations.
• Advanced level knowledge of, and skills and experience in performing dynamics and/or controls system design/optimization and/or analysis tasks using MATLAB/SIMULINK tools or Python.
• Experience with and understanding of the life cycle of a space program; starting from the Requirements and through the ending Integration & Test and Verification sequences.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, proactively identify opportunities or challenges, utilize advanced problem-solving skills, and independently drive projects or tasks to successful completion.
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment, including the ability to prepare, present, and explain technical information to colleagues, management, or sponsors.
• Knowledge of and/or experience with orbit determination and analysis.

Additional qualifications at the SES.4 level

• Expert-level knowledge and significant applied experience with highly advanced concepts related to aerospace and/or spacecraft engineering.
• Significant experience and demonstrated track record of success in developing highly advanced principles, theories, concepts, and techniques and in implementing creative solutions to a diverse range of highly complex multi-disciplinary problems.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple parallel tasks, often requiring the resolution of conflicting work requirements and prioritization of tasks toward predetermined long-range targets.
• Expert verbal and written communication skills and experience authoring reports/publications and delivering effective technical presentations, as well as expert facilitation and collaboration skills to effectively influence and advise senior management and external sponsors, redefine customer requirements, and lead corrective actions where necessary.

Qualifications We Desire

• Master’s or PhD degree in aeronautical/aerospace engineering or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of space mission engineering principles and practices and their application.
• Current government clearance.
• Experience in simulation/modelling of dynamic system.
• Significant experience with design/analysis software such as AGI STK, Python, Battleschool or AFSIM.
• Experience in satellite recovery operations and system failure analysis.
• LINUX/UNIX experience.
• Familiarity with machine learning/reinforcement learning techniques.
• Experience leading teams/project management.
• Systems engineering experience.
• Familiarity with CAD modelling software.

#LI-Onsite

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2025 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.  Also, you must have the ability to obtain and maintain Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access.  If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing. Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship. 

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession.  This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.  

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas.  Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

How to identify fake job advertisements

Please be aware of recruitment scams where people or entities are misusing the name of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to post fake job advertisements. LLNL never extends an offer without a personal interview and will never charge a fee for joining our company. All current job openings are displayed on the Career Page under “Find Your Job” of our website. If you have encountered a job posting or have been approached with a job offer that you suspect may be fraudulent, we strongly recommend you do not respond.

To learn more about recruitment scams: https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/2023-05/LLNL-Job-Fraud-Statement-Updated-4.26.23.pdf

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory.  If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request. 

California Privacy Notice

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