Senior GNC Engineer | Guidance, Navigation & Control

About the Opportunity

Are you passionate about aerospace engineering and developing the algorithms that guide rockets into space?

We are looking for a Senior Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) Engineer to join a small, highly technical team responsible for developing the control systems, estimation algorithms and guidance solutions that enable rockets to launch, navigate their flight path and deliver payloads into their intended orbits.

This is a hands-on engineering role where you will contribute across the entire GNC development lifecycle, from algorithm design and simulation to hardware testing, flight performance analysis and launch operations. You will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure the vehicle is designed, tested and ready for successful flight.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and Design

• Develop GNC algorithms, simulation models and flight trajectories for launch vehicles.

• Design and implement guidance, navigation and control solutions to support vehicle stability and flight performance.

• Build and improve models that accurately represent vehicle dynamics and flight behaviour.

Analyze and Optimize

• Evaluate ground test results and flight data to validate system performance.

• Improve simulation accuracy by comparing predicted results with actual test and flight outcomes.

• Analyse system behaviour and refine algorithms to meet performance and mission requirements.

Test and Validate

• Develop automated testing processes across Simulink simulations, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments, engine test facilities and integrated launch vehicles.

• Tune control systems and guidance algorithms to improve performance and reliability.

• Support the integration and verification of GNC systems throughout the development process.

Support Launch Operations

• Provide GNC engineering support during launch operations and countdown activities.

• Assist mission control teams with technical assessments and real-time GNC responsibilities.

• Collaborate with engineering teams to support successful launch execution and payload deployment.

What We’re Looking For

• 3-5 years of experience in aerospace vehicle GNC development, modelling and simulation.

• An advanced degree in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or a related discipline, or equivalent expertise.

• Strong experience with MATLAB and Simulink for algorithm development, modelling and simulation.

• Programming experience in C++ and/or Python.

• Practical experience developing control systems for rockets, drones, robotics or other dynamic aerospace vehicles.

• Experience implementing software interfaces and interpreting Interface Control Documents (ICDs).

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the confidence to communicate technical concepts and provide constructive engineering feedback.

• The ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, highly iterative engineering environment.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to contribute directly to the development of launch vehicle technology in an ambitious space startup environment. You’ll work alongside a small, focused engineering team, take ownership of meaningful technical challenges and help build the systems required to make frequent space launches possible.

If you’re excited about developing the guidance and control systems that take rockets from the launchpad to orbit, we’d love to hear from you.

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Thandeka Bhengu