GNC Engineer - Avionics

As a GNC/AOCS Engineer - Avionics at Spire, you will operate as part of a technical team responsible across the full lifecycle of the Spire GNC product and its subcomponents. The GNC team interfaces directly with many engineering groups to conduct R&D, design, manufacturing, and operations activities, ultimately ensuring all current and future spacecraft systems satisfy their mission requirements. Ideal candidates will embrace the commercialization of nanosatellite systems and adapt to low-cost, fast-paced systems design, development, and implementation methodologies that set Spire apart from our competition. In this fast-paced environment, the design-to-launch cycle is measured in weeks and months, not years!

What You’ll Do

• Design, evaluate, select, qualify, and implement flight sensors, including magnetometers, sun sensors, inertial measurement devices, Earth sensors, and/or star trackers.
• Design, evaluate, select, qualify, and implement flight actuators, including magnetic torque elements, reaction wheels, and propulsion systems.
• Design, implement, and maintain simulation models for GNC subcomponents in our 6‑DOF simulation environment.
• Own technical responsibility for current and future GNC avionics peripherals, supporting troubleshooting, design, and updates to improve reliability and performance.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams—including hardware, software, and systems engineers—to integrate avionics solutions into the larger platform.
• Develop component qualification and acceptance processes and be hands‑on in laboratory and manufacturing environments.

Key Skills

• Experience with flight sensors for spacecraft attitude determination/estimation.
• Experience with actuators, including sizing, modelling, design, and integration.
• Solid foundation in spacecraft attitude dynamics and control algorithms, with emphasis on sensor ingestion and actuator command calculation.
• Hands‑on experience with hardware and familiarity with “hardware‑in‑the‑loop” simulation.
• Experience or familiarity with the Linux development environment.
• Experience working with external engineering contractors.

Preferred Skills

• Experience writing flight software.
• Experience designing and/or implementing Kalman filters and feedback control for attitude estimation.
• Experience with C or C++ development for embedded systems.
• Experience with spacecraft design.
• Experience with spacecraft assembly, integration, and testing.
• Experience with spacecraft operations and maintenance.
• Experience identifying and resolving system anomalies.
• Experience creating and maintaining integration and test campaigns for attitude determination and control systems, including hardware and software.

Spire operates a hybrid work model, and this position requires you to work a minimum of three days per week in the office.

Access to US export‑controlled software and/or technology may be required for this role. If needed, Spire will arrange the necessary licenses—candidates do not need to have them before applying.

About Spire

Spire Global is a space‑to‑cloud analytics company that owns and operates the largest multi‑purpose constellation of satellites. Its proprietary data and algorithms provide the most advanced maritime, aviation, and weather tracking in the world. In addition to its constellation, Spire’s data infrastructure includes a global ground station network and 24/7 operations that provide real‑time global coverage of every point on Earth.

Spire is a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status.

All candidates who receive a conditional offer will be required to complete a background check, including criminal history and employment verification.