Senior GNC Robotics Engineer

Job description

Mission Control is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, with a Rover Development Facility in St. Mary’s, Ontario. We’re looking for an enthusiastic and talented individuals to join our team. About Us Mission Control empowers explorers by innovating to make advanced technology viable for use in space. Using Spacefarer™ and SpacefarerAI™ , customers can simplify mission development and operations while unlocking the potential of new scientific and commercial opportunities on the Earth, Moon, Mars, and beyond. Spacefarer™ is being trusted for multiple missions to the Moon by mission controllers, scientists, and software developers who seek faster deployments, lower-cost mission development, and valuable data returns. Mission Control launched the Persistence Mission– Canada’s giant leap for AI in space – in June of 2025. Mission Control is inspired by a vision of the world in which access to space is ubiquitous and inspires all humans to treasure planet Earth and marvel at the universe. Please visit our website to learn more about our team and ongoing projects: . About the Job You will play a key role within our engineering team, contributing to the development of advanced Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) systems for robotic space missions. Your role will encompass designing, implementing, and validating GNC algorithms and robotic systems that operate reliably in challenging space environments. The ideal candidate is passionate about building ground and flight software solutions to automate space robotic operations across Technology Readiness Levels. We are seeking candidates who enjoy critical and strategic thinking, have a deep understanding of guidance, navigation and control across space robotic platforms, thrive on technical communication with multiple stakeholders internally and externally, and find creative solutions to meet the challenges of everything from fundamental R&D to flight missions. In this role you will collaborate closely with software, autonomy, and mission operations teams to deliver high-performance solutions for spacecraft, rovers, and other robotic platforms. You could be a good fit for this role if you are passionate about making an impact on the space sector and want to contribute to growing a small company from the ground up! You will be exposed to a wide variety of tasks with the potential to make a difference in the emerging space economy, so you must be a versatile self-starter who works well in teams and is not afraid to learn something new. You will support and become a critical member of our team – a team of engineers, scientists, and space enthusiasts, who are passionate about being part of humanity’s next bold steps in space exploration, with a view to inspiring the next generation and the public through our work and our contributions to exploring the solar system! Tasks and Responsibilities As a Senior Robotics GNC Engineer, you will: Design, develop, implement and test Guidance, Navigation and Control algorithms for rover and robotic manipulator operations as part of flight and/or ground segment operations, which include but are not limited to sensor fusion, simultaneous localization and mapping, visual odometry, obstacle detection, path planning, state estimation. Lead and participate in concept studies, requirements analysis, design trade-off studies, architecting, software design and implementation for space robotic GN&C solutions, including potential interactions with subcontractors and customers. Lead and support research and development in a wide range of space robotics applications areas including but not limited to autonomous navigation and proximity operations in low bandwidth and high latency environments Support flight and analogue robotic operations, collaborating cross-functionally with flight software, robotics, and mission operations teams. Manage robotic hardware and software infrastructure used to support R&D initiatives, flight technology development, analogue mission services and outreach activities Model and simulate dynamic systems to support autonomy and navigation solutions for planetary rovers and on-orbit systems. Analyze system performance and conduct testing, including hardware-in-the-loop and mission simulations, to deliver robust, validated GNC solutions meeting mission requirements Author and review technical documentation, including requirements specs, analysis reports, design documents, test procedures and test reports Mentor junior engineers and foster a culture of rigorous mechanical engineering and technical excellence. Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering processes, tools, and standards Skills and Experience As a Senior Robotics GNC Engineer, you A Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline, e.g. engineering, physics, data science, computer science, mathematics etc., graduate degree an asset 8-12+ years of relevant industry experience in GNC, robotics, or space systems. Strong foundations in control theory, orbital mechanics, and dynamics. Experience with estimation techniques (Extended/Unscented Kalman Filters, SLAM, etc.). Proficiency in simulation and modeling tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, Python-based frameworks). Experience with various types of robotics-related concepts and algorithms such as Transformation Frames, Sensor Fusion, Guidance Navigation and Control, Computer Vision, Path planning for Mobile Robots or Robotic Arms, Behavioral Command Trees. This can include R&D work to develop such algorithms, use of algorithms devised by others and provided as Commercial Software, Open-Source packages or publications, or production deployments of such algorithms Experience developing real-time or embedded systems. Familiarity with robotic systems, autonomy, and perception pipelines. Strong proficiency in C++ and/or Python. Experience with ROS, ROS2 or similar robotics middleware, with hands-on experience in mobile robotics as an asset. Soft Skills: Ability to prioritize workload and work efficiently and autonomously. Proven capacity to meet deadlines in an environment with constantly shifting priorities; ready to showcase your organizational and time management skills. Proactive approach to problem-solving and strong decision-making skills. Motivated/skilled in finding new processes/tools to improve workflow. Professional level written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills. Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Bonus points for: Experience in space missions, aerospace systems or orbital dynamics Knowledge of flight software development and verification processes. Experience with technologies such as Yamcs, Postgres, Redis, Grafana, Docker; Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing or robotics hardware integration. Experience or familiarity with space industry, standards, development phases, government procurement and commercial space sector. Special Comments Security: Successful candidates must be eligible to obtain a security clearance in Canada at the reliability status level (and potentially at the higher levels), and pass security assessment for the Controlled Goods Program (CGP). Due to the security clearance required for Mission Control's facility, only Canadian Citizen's and Permanent Residents are eligible at this time. Salary: The salary range for this position is $105,000- $170,000 annually. Final compensation will be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience Location This position is based in Ottawa, Ontario. Successful candidates must reside in or be willing to relocate to Ottawa. Some travel may be required at certain times for this role, always following the Health and Safety Guidance of the Government of Canada. What’s In It For You? Be on the forefront of space exploration and the emerging commercial space industry. Work to solve problems with a team of intelligent, fun people! Comprehensive Compensation and Benefits Package including vacation pay, wellness plan (health, vision, dental) and unlimited unpaid time off. Relocation assistance for eligible employees. Two weeks of sick/personal leave per year. Employee Stock Option plan for equity sharing. Flexible working hours. Work in a respectful and inclusive workplace. It is extremely important to us that all employees feel safe and supported at work, and feel able to bring their whole selves to work. Be part of a family-friendly company, where we understand the needs of working parents with young children (because many of us are too!). Bi-weekly coffee chats for connecting with colleagues socially, and for mentorship by senior staff. How To Apply Please apply directly through this posting, or send your application by email to . Application materials include: Cover letter and resume as a single PDF (required) Portfolio material, references, or other indications of exceptional past work (optional) During the hiring process we may ask to see examples of previous work or ask for a small project. As part of our commitment to an inclusive work environment, we accept and encourage anonymized resumes. We will accept applications until the position is filled. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.