About SPAICE

SPAICE is building the autonomy operating system that empowers satellites and drones to navigate and interact with the world – regardless of the environment. From GPS-denied zones on Earth to the unexplored frontiers of space, our Spatial AI delivers unprecedented levels of autonomy, resilience, and adaptability.

At SPAICE, you’ll work on real missions alongside leading aerospace and defense contractors, shaping the future of space and autonomous systems. If you're looking for a place where your work has a real, tangible impact – SPAICE is that place.

About the Job

Traditionally, spacecraft guidance and trajectory planning have been performed offline or based on mission-specific control laws. Traditional hand-crafted spacecraft guidance laws have limited adaptability to new missions, suboptimal performance, and struggle to address multiple objectives simultaneously.

As Founding GNC Engineer, you’ll be at the core of SPAICE’s autonomy stack—designing and building the next generation of optimal guidance and control technologies. Your work will bridge the gap between traditional GNC systems and AI-driven, real-time autonomy for satellites and drones.

You’ll collaborate closely with the CTO and a world-class team of AI engineers to develop mission-critical software that enables multi-agent navigation, vehicle collaboration, and autonomous formation flight.

What you might work on

• Design and implement optimization-based GNC algorithms for satellites and drones.

• Develop robust flight control systems, including fault-tolerant controllers.

• Bridge the gap between design software and flight software.

• Enable multi-agent coordination, including formation flying and autonomous rendezvous.

• Integrate GNC modules with onboard systems, sensors, and real-time hardware.

• Support HIL/SIL testing and flight software deployment in real missions.

• Contribute to mission ConOps, system architecture, and V&V processes.

• Explore learning-based control and adaptive techniques where beneficial.

What we are looking for

• Experience developing flight software for spacecraft, UAVs, or aerospace payloads.

• Strong foundation in optimal control, GNC algorithms, and autonomous systems.

• Proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems and Python for simulation and prototyping.

• Deep understanding of orbital mechanics, spacecraft dynamics, and control in both atmospheric and non-atmospheric environments.

• Proven ability to design fault-tolerant, high-reliability, and air-gapped systems.

• Experience with verification and validation (V&V) for safety- or mission-critical software.

• Familiarity with standards like DO-178C, ECSS, or similar.

• Hands-on experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing and simulation environments.

• Familiarity with containerization and modern deployment practices (e.g., Docker).

• Bonus: Background in multi-agent systems, formation flight, or trajectory optimization.

• Bonus: Experience with machine learning algorithms for control.

Perks & Benefits

• Competitive salary, based on your experience and impact.

• Equity options – you are going to be part of our journey from the ground up.

• Well-being perks – access to premium gyms, climbing centers, and wellness programs.

• Team retreats & offsites. The last ones included a half-marathon in Formentera and a Los Angeles retreat during the Oscars weekend.