GNC Simulation Lead at Karman+ - Launching the Regolith Age

Broomfield, Colorado, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

18 Feb, 26

Salary

180000.0

Posted On

20 Nov, 25

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

GNC Systems, Physics Simulations, Numerical Modeling, Programming, C++, Python, Orbital Mechanics, Dynamics Modeling, Control Algorithms, Simulation Verification, Visualization Tools, Flight Software Integration, Team Collaboration, Monte Carlo Pipelines, CI/CD, Automation Pipelines

Industry

Space Research and Technology

Description

Karman+ We are inventors, designers, engineers, scientists, tinkerers, entrepreneurs, adventurers, artists, activists, global citizens, architects, musicians, builders, writers, athletes and space nerds. We partner with the best minds and most experienced teams across industry and academia, bringing together the knowledge, experience, and skills required to navigate our critical path. Mission We want to mine space resources from near-Earth asteroids to provide abundant, sustainable energy and resources in space and for Earth. Vision Asteroid mining has lived at the intersection of scientific research and popular culture for decades, with as many academic papers published as there are books, TV shows and movies about it. Access to resources, with its finite nature and disparate distribution, plays an essential part in the geopolitical web of power and wealth. It has defined economic growth to such an extent that we have been using them as primary demarcation lines and identifiers in our history, from the stone to bronze and iron age to our current silicon age. But our resources-driven growth faces a massive existential challenge, with climate change, ecosystem degradation and resource depletion demanding a complete reset. Humanity needs to shift global transportation, manufacturing, construction and energy onto a sustainable path. Expanding beyond the Kármán line is where we believe transformative future growth and innovation will be found. Recent missions by NASA (OSIRIS-REx & DART) and JAXA (Hayabusa2) have firmly pushed the idea of using space resources from academic research into commercial opportunity. We believe the Regolith Age, powered by abundant space resources, is an inevitability that we can accelerate. We value these principles: Diversity of thought. We believe that different perspectives drive better results. We aim to build diverse teams and a diverse company. Ownership, feedback and accountability. Ideas improve through collaboration, discussion and iteration. Decisions don’t follow the same pattern and revert to the mean when made in a group. We aim to have clear ownership, accountability for results and autonomy to deliver. No silos. We build cross-functional teams to be able to deliver on our goals. There are no predefined lanes for people to operate in, information is pushed out across all teams to make sure we benefit from cross-pollination. High talent bar, no a**holes. We optimize for potential and a growth mindset. We value experience, but only when balanced with self-awareness and first principles thinking. Small is beautiful. The best results as well as the best work experience come from a small team of talented people working towards a common goal. Position: GNC Simulation Lead Location: Broomfield, CO Position Type: Full-time, On-site Mission: High Frontier – Build and Test in Simulation for Mission Success At Karman+, we’re building spacecraft systems that must operate reliably in some of the harshest environments imaginable. Our ability to design and test guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) systems depends on high-fidelity simulations that capture the complex interactions between spacecraft, environment, and control algorithms. We’re looking for a GNC Simulation Lead who can design, develop, and maintain physics simulations and component emulators that directly inform spacecraft design decisions, mission planning, and system verification. You’ll work closely with flight software, mission design, and AI&T teams to ensure our spacecraft are controllable, robust, and mission-ready. This role is perfect for a self-motivated engineer who thrives on technical depth while also enjoying collaboration, communication, and building tools that impact the entire spacecraft lifecycle. What it takes to be successful in this role: You’ll be responsible for building simulation environments that bridge physics models, control algorithms, and flight software, and flight hardware interfaces. You’ll run nominal and off-nominal scenarios, develop visualizations, and help validate vehicle performance across diverse mission profiles. Strong programming ability, comfort with numerical modeling, and an ability to communicate results clearly are essential. This is a highly cross-functional role, requiring you to work with software engineers, hardware teams, and mission designers, translating complex technical insights into actionable design recommendations. What You'll Do Design, implement, and maintain 6-DoF spacecraft simulations including dynamics, sensor models, control responses, and environment effects Develop Monte Carlo pipelines, sequencers, and visualization tools to evaluate vehicle controllability and performance Support flight software integration by implementing, testing, and validating GNC algorithms in simulation environments Work with multidisciplinary teams to evaluate design trades and their impact on vehicle controllability and stability Ensure simulation verification and validation against analytical models and test data Present analysis results and make clear recommendations on vehicle design and mission concepts Contribute to CI/CD and automation pipelines for simulation and test workflows Collaborate with external partners, academia, and customers on simulation requirements and outcomes Lead Karmanplus' trade study on developing an in-house GNC simulation framework versus implementing a 3rd party solution (e.g., Trick, JEOD, VERAS, Basilisk, or DARTS) What You Bring BS or MS in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field Strong programming experience in C++ and Python Experience building or using high-fidelity simulation frameworks for aerospace systems Knowledge of orbital mechanics, dynamics modeling, and spacecraft GNC principles Comfort working in both Linux and Windows development environments Experience with software version control (e.g., git) and collaborative software practices Ability to analyze simulation results, synthesize conclusions, and communicate clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders Strong teamwork, adaptability, and ability to manage multiple priorities independently Experience validating simulation models against real hardware performance (sensors, actuators, or flight dynamics) Bonus If You Have Experience with NASA or aerospace simulation frameworks (e.g., Trick, JEOD, VERAS, Basilisk, or DARTS) Hands-on experience with spacecraft avionics or GNC hardware and how they interact with simulation frameworks Familiarity with numerical methods for ODEs, optimization routines, or uncertainty quantification Hands-on experience integrating simulations with flight hardware through hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, sensor emulators, or actuator rigs Experience with control system design and stability analysis Experience designing Kalman Filters Familiarity with Docker, CI/CD pipelines, or cloud-based deployment for scalable simulations Background in advanced controls, rendezvous and proximity operations, or trajectory design Familiarity with networking protocols, computer architectures, and software development best practices Additional Information We Offer Our cash compensation amount for this role is targeted at $130,000.00 - $180,000.00 annually in this location. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate experience and expertise and may vary from the amount listed above. Top Benefits & Perks As a member of the Karman+ team, you’ll enjoy an impressive benefits package: Equity Incentives - Participate in our shared success. Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans for top tier plans with additional buy-up plan options. Short-term Disability and Long-term Disability covered by Karman+ Basic Life Insurance covered by Karman+ 401k plan Unlimited Paid Time Off - We focus on what you get done, not how many hours or days you work. Location & Work Environment This position is full-time in-person at our offices & lab in Broomfield, CO. If you reside in locations outside of daily commuting distance you will be considered, however, no relocation or travel assistance will be provided by Karman+ for this position. This position operates in an office environment. This entails working inside in an office space wherein you may be provided with a public work station (cubicle) or private offices. In the performance of the duties and responsibilities of this job, you will be required to view a computer terminal for prolonged periods of time. Travel Occasional travel to work site locations may be expected. Overnight stays may be required from time to time for training, seminars, conferences, meetings, events, or visits to onsite locations. Disclaimer This job posting is not intended to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required. Karman+ reserves the right to change or assign additional duties, responsibilities, and activities at any time with or without notice. Hiring Practices Karman+ is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact hr@karmanplus.com. Come work with us... We are crazy ambitious but the timing is right. Be part of the team looking to make it happen. We are looking to build things to put in space quickly. We emphasize creativity and innovation and resources are available to support good ideas. Join a team of people working toward the same ambitious goal. We are an engaging team looking to empower our teammates. You can have a share in the company value creation. ITAR Requirements To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Follow us on LinkedIn to stay tuned on upcoming roles with Karman+. If you know someone who'd be a great addition to our team, please encourage them to apply for this role or for our General Application.

Responsibilities

The GNC Simulation Lead will design, develop, and maintain physics simulations and component emulators to inform spacecraft design decisions and mission planning. This role involves building simulation environments that bridge physics models, control algorithms, and flight software.