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ExperiencedAerospace Robotics Space

Senior Guidance, Navigation, and Controls (GNC) Engineer

Varda Space · El Segundo, California, United States

Posted Nov 1, 2026

Est. total comp~$199K–$304K

Apply on Varda Space's site ↗

From the posting

About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL. …

Excerpt from Varda Space's public job board. Read the full posting.

Job inventory

Required 10 items

Education: Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics or a related field

Experience: 5+ years of experience in aerospace guidance, navigation, and control systems, 3+ years of experience in aerospace guidance, navigation, and control systems

Skills and tools: C++, Python, MATLAB, Simulink, Systems engineering, Configuration management

Clearance and work authorization: US person (ITAR)

Preferred 3 items

Education: Master's degree in engineering, physics

Skills and tools: Orbital mechanics, Thermodynamics

Also in the posting: on-site in El Segundo, CA

Get ready for this role

Crew department: Rover Ops

Skills this kind of role usually asks for:

Team leadership
Controls and kinematics
Perception and sensor fusion
C++ and Python
Path planning

Train for it: the Rover Ops Track: Autonomy, Field Maintenance and Drones. 4 short modules, a quiz after each one and a final test. Pass it and you get the Mars Mining Certificate in Rover Operations Fundamentals, with its own public page you can link from your resume.

Join the crew and train for this role About Rover Ops

Quick self-check: are you ready for this one?Free, no signup. Your answers stay in this browser tab.

I can do Team leadership on the job, or have used it in a class or project I can do Controls and kinematics on the job, or have used it in a class or project I can do Perception and sensor fusion on the job, or have used it in a class or project I can do C++ and Python on the job, or have used it in a class or project I can do Path planning on the job, or have used it in a class or project I have a project or work sample I could show an interviewer My resume is tailored to this kind of role I've practiced answering interview questions for this kind of job

Free. The department comes from the job title and can be off. A Mars Mining certificate shows you studied and passed our test; it isn't a license or academic credit.

About this listing. Pulled automatically from Varda Space's public job board and refreshed daily; closed roles are removed. Mars Mining Co. is not the employer, does not take applications and does not screen candidates. Field and level labels come from the job title and can be wrong.

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