Lead GNC and perception system architecture, design, testing, and validation for lunar rovers. Manage and mentor a GNC team, drive embedded C++ development, integrate sensors with avionics, and coordinate simulation, flight software, and operations to ensure safe, reliable autonomous and tele-operated rover performance.
Venturi Astrolab, Inc. (Astrolab) is pioneering new ways to explore and operate on distant planetary bodies. We are singularly focused on designing, building, and operating a fleet of multi-purpose commercial planetary rovers to extend and enhance humanity’s presence in the solar system. We are seeking motivated, creative, and exceptional people to join our world-class team.
As the Principal GNC Engineer, you will own the GNC systems that enable Astrolab’s rovers to operate safely and effectively in extreme environments. You will lead technical strategy and execution across guidance, navigation, control, and perception while managing and mentoring a high-performing engineering team.
This role combines deep technical leadership with people leadership. You will set system vision, make critical design decisions, drive execution, and ensure autonomy systems perform reliably on flight-ready vehicles operating on the lunar surface.
As the Principal GNC Engineer, you will own the GNC systems that enable Astrolab’s rovers to operate safely and effectively in extreme environments. You will lead technical strategy and execution across guidance, navigation, control, and perception while managing and mentoring a high-performing engineering team.
This role combines deep technical leadership with people leadership. You will set system vision, make critical design decisions, drive execution, and ensure autonomy systems perform reliably on flight-ready vehicles operating on the lunar surface.
What you'll do:
- Lead the design, verification, validation, testing, and characterization of GNC and perception systems for manual, semi-autonomous, and autonomous rover operations in a fast-moving, schedule-constrained development environment.
- Define GNC and perception technical direction and system architecture with inputs from stakeholders across GNC, avionics, and software
- Manage and mentor a team of GNC and perception engineers
- Work with avionics responsible engineers to select, test, characterize, and calibrate GNC and perception sensors
- Work closely with the simulation and software teams to prototype and analyze GNC algorithms in the vehicle simulation and software test environment
- Work closely with the flight software team to support implementation and testing of GNC and perception flight software
- Define and oversee testing and validation of the integrated GNC solution on a variety of simulation and test platforms in lab and analog environments
- Ensure the GNC and perception system design, implementation, and testing are closely coordinated with affected stakeholders such as vehicle engineering (for sensor and lighting placement), avionics, software, and mission operations team
- Ensure the GNC and perception system design and implementation meet all applicable safety, reliability, and fault tolerance requirements
- Balance performance, risk, and embedded compute constraints
- Ensure that rover GNC and perception systems support the required tele-operated, semi-autonomous, and fully autonomous vehicle operations
- Ensure the GNC team provides support during rover operations on the lunar surface
What you'll bring:
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) related field
- Experience developing guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), perception, or autonomy systems for autonomous vehicles or robotic platforms
- Experience developing GNC software using C++
- Experience leading engineering teams and delivering complex technical programs
- Experience supporting the full product development lifecycle, including system architecture, implementation, integration, testing, and operations
- Experience developing perception, navigation, or autonomy software, including sensor integration, localization, navigation, or path planning
- Experience designing and executing verification and validation testing for autonomy or navigation systems
- Master's degree or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field
- 10+ years of experience developing guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), perception, and autonomy systems
- Experience developing GNC, perception, or autonomy systems for space vehicles, extraterrestrial rovers, or other aerospace applications
- Experience developing embedded autonomy, perception, or navigation software for compute- or power-constrained systems
- Experience with image processing, multi-sensor odometry, terrain-relative navigation, pose estimation, hazard detection, terrain mapping, or route planning
- Experience designing and executing simulation, laboratory, field, or analog test campaigns, including statistical analysis methods such as Monte Carlo
- Experience implementing and testing GNC or perception software on flight hardware or embedded platforms
- Experience supporting programs that follow NASA or other aerospace mission assurance standards
Benefits and Perks
- Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
- Equity ownership in the company
- Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Flexible PTO and parental leave
- Home office set up reimbursement
- Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
- Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks
About
Having a strong, inclusive, and inspired team is essential to accomplishing our bold mission. Employees are our biggest asset, and we are deeply committed to them and our values. At Astrolab we…Demonstrate and inspire trust. Interactions are direct, honest, and respectful. We are fair and transparent with what we do and why.Thrive in balance. Balance gives us perspective and keeps us motivated and inspired. We commit to rewarding work and a fulfilling personal life. Seek diverse perspectives. We ask questions, engage in productive debate and offer alternatives to ensure our solutions and products are robust and a reflection of our collective best.Move with purpose. Quality and reliability are accomplished through efficient ideation and iteration. We act with a sense of urgency and deliver what we promise, always with the big picture in mind.Make an impact. We intentionally move our community and industry into the future through our work, practices, and actions.
Astrolab, Inc. Hawthorne, California, USA Office
Hawthorne, CA, United States
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