Senior GNC Engineer - ADCS & Propulsion

Location: This role will be based onsite at our office in Louisville, Colorado office.
Travel: Up to 5%
Job ID: 500

About Capella

Capella, an IonQ company, spans national security, advanced sensing, and next-generation compute to deliver secure, mission-ready intelligence. Capella’s culture is built on collaboration, rigorous engineering, and a shared commitment to delivering solutions that strengthens global stability and security. Team members work side-by-side with some of the most innovative minds in space systems, quantum-enabled technologies, and mission-critical operations. Capella values curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to tackle hard problems with precision and creativity. Capella welcomes and encourages applicants whose perspectives are historically underrepresented in technology, national security, and aerospace. No prior space experience is required. Diverse viewpoints strengthen Capella’s ability to innovate and to deliver meaningful impact for partners worldwide.

What Makes Capella Unique

Capella, an IonQ company, spans national security, advanced sensing, and next-generation compute to deliver secure, mission-ready intelligence. Capella’s culture is built on collaboration, rigorous engineering, and a shared commitment to delivering solutions that strengthens global stability and security. Team members work side-by-side with some of the most innovative minds in space systems, quantum-enabled technologies, and mission-critical operations. No prior space experience is required. Capella values curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to tackle hard problems with precision and creativity. Capella welcomes and encourages applicants whose perspectives are historically underrepresented in technology, national security, and aerospace. Diverse viewpoints strengthen Capella’s ability to innovate and to deliver meaningful impact for partners worldwide.

The Role

As an Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS) and Propulsion Engineer, you will be responsible for the full lifecycle of the ADCS and propulsion subsystems for a constellation of radar imaging spacecraft. You will serve as a cognizant engineer for Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) hardware and software. You will work closely with a multidisciplinary team of engineers to ensure existing spacecraft meet their mission objectives and to design and develop next-generation systems. Your work will have a direct impact on spacecraft performance and the overall technical success of Capella.

This role sits in the Space Systems organization, alongside systems, thermal, electrical/harnessing, mechanical/deployables, radar/communications, and flight software engineers.

Responsibilities

• Support ADCS and Propulsion systems for a constellation of spacecraft through the entire lifecycle: design, build, testing, on-orbit operations, and decommissioning.
• Generate ADCS and Propulsion systems performance requirements to satisfy high-level mission objectives.
• Perform research and development for new spacecraft, working from first principles to develop and execute trade studies, conduct system sizing and design, and present at design reviews.
• Design and implement state estimators and control algorithms for the localization and pointing of radar-imaging spacecraft; be a technical authority on control theory.
• Develop software to automate workflows, support design studies, and enhance spacecraft operational efficiency.
• Develop software simulations of spacecraft dynamics and system behavior.
• Be a subject matter expert for ADCS and Propulsion systems.
• Be a technical contact for ADCS and Propulsion vendors and keep informed of the industry landscape.
• Occasional travel may be required.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience with GNC/ADCS systems on spacecraft, robotics, autonomous vehicles, or UAVs/drones.
• Direct experience with GNC/ADCS hardware: star trackers, sun sensors, reaction wheels, torque rods, control moment gyroscopes, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, GPS, etc.
• Solid understanding of state estimation/filtering and application to attitude determination and control.
• Solid understanding of rigid body and flexible dynamics.
• Demonstrated leadership of hardware development projects.
• Familiarity with orbital dynamics and the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space environment.
• Familiarity with one or more of the following disciplines: electrical engineering, chemical or electric propulsion, signal processing, embedded software development.
• Comfortable dealing with unknowns, quantifying risk, navigating uncertainty, and handling the pressure of a real-time operating environment.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and cross-functionally.
• Enjoyment of learning and teaching new skills.
• Proficiency in Python preferred.
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Capella Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

Compensation

The approximate base salary range for this position is $128,656- $160,820. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity, and a range of benefit options found on our career site.

Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education, qualifications and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location and calibration against relevant market data and internal team equity. Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available.

Benefits/Perks

In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:

• We provide extensive medical coverage, including strong vision and dental plans, flexible spending accounts, and additional supplemental health options.
• 401K Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
• Generous Parental Leave
• Paid Flexible Time Off Policy
• Lifestyle Spending Account
• Commuter & Parking Benefits
• Mental Health Resources
• Monthly Phone Stipend
• Furry friends? We’ve got you covered with dog-friendly work environment & them with pet insurance options

Equal Opportunity Statement

At IonQ, we believe in fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all, and we strive to identify and eliminate barriers. We empower employees to thrive by fostering a culture of autonomy, productivity, and respect. We are dedicated to creating an environment where individuals can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.

We are committed to equity and justice. We welcome different voices and viewpoints and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

To learn more about us, explore our site: https://www.capellaspace.com/ and follow us on X and LinkedIn to see our SAR imagery!