---
title: 'GNC Engineer at Spire'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/gnc-engineer-spire-glasgow-y52y4qg195qx'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-12'
---

# GNC Engineer at Spire

- **Company:** Spire
- **Location:** Glasgow, United Kingdom
- **Posted:** 2026-09-11
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12
- **Apply:** https://spire.com/careers/job-openings/job/?gh_jid=8191296&gh_jid=8191296

## Job description

As a GNC/AOCS Engineer at Spire, you will operate as part of a technical team who maintains responsibility across the full lifecycle of the Spire GNC product and its subcomponents. The GNC team interfaces directly with many engineering groups to conduct R&D, design, manufacturing, and operations activities, ultimately ensuring all current and future spacecraft systems satisfy their mission. Ideal candidates will embrace the commercialization of nanosatellite systems and adapt to low-cost, fast-paced systems design, development, and implementation methodologies that set Spire apart from our competition. In this fast-paced environment, the design to launch cycle is measured in weeks and months, not years.

What You’ll Do:

- Design, evaluate, select, qualify and implement flight sensors, including magnetometers, sun sensors, inertial measurement devices, Earth sensors, and/or star trackers.
- Design, evaluate, select, qualify and implement flight actuators, including magnetic torque elements, reaction wheels, and propulsion systems.
- Design, implement and maintain simulation models for GNC subcomponents in our 6-DOF simulation environment.
- Technical ownership of current and future GNC avionics peripherals, supporting troubleshooting, design and updates to improve reliability and performance.
- Working closely with cross-functional teams, including hardware, software, and systems engineers, to integrate avionics solutions into the larger platform.
- Develop component qualification and acceptance processes and be hands-on in laboratory and manufacturing environments.

Key Skills:

- Experience with flight sensors for spacecraft attitude determination/estimation.
- Experience with actuators, including actuator sizing, modelling, design and integration.
- A solid foundation in spacecraft attitude dynamics and control algorithms, with emphasis sensor ingestions and actuator command calculation.
- Experience working hands-on with HW and familiarity with 'hardware-in-the-loop` simulation.
- Experience developing software using C/Python.
- Have experience or familiarity with the Linux development environment.
- Have experience working with external engineering contractors.

Preferred Skills:

- Experience writing flight software.
- Experience designing and/or implementing Kalman filters and feedback control for attitude estimation.
- Experience with C or C++ development for embedded systems.
- Experience with spacecraft design.
- Experience with spacecraft assembly, integration, and testing.
- Experience with spacecraft operations and maintenance.
- Experience identifying and resolving system anomalies.
- Experience creating and maintaining integration and test campaigns for attitude determination and control systems, including hardware and software.

Spire operates a hybrid work model, and this position will require you to work a minimum of three days per week in the office.

Access to US export-controlled software and/or technology may be required for this role. If needed, Spire will arrange the necessary licenses—this is not something candidates need to have before applying.

## . #LI-MI

Global Perks

🛰️ Name Your Satellite Program (NYSP) 🚀 Launch Attendance 🌴 Generous Time Off Policy 🎓 Education Assistance Program 🥰 Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 📈 Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP) 👣 Family Leave 💪 Fitness Reimbursement 🧡 Employee Referral Program 🍉 Healthy snacks & beverages in every office

## About Spire

We improve life on Earth with data from space.

Spire Global is a space-to-cloud analytics company that owns and operates the largest multi-purpose constellation of satellites. Its proprietary data and algorithms provide the most advanced maritime, aviation, and weather tracking in the world. In addition to its constellation, Spire’s data infrastructure includes a global ground station network and 24/7 operations that provide real-time global coverage of every point on Earth.

Spire is Global and our success draws upon the diverse viewpoints, skills and experiences of our employees. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status.

To help maintain a safe and secure workplace for Spire employees, all candidates who receive a conditional offer will be required to complete a background check. This may include criminal history and employment verification.

Please take a moment to review [Spire's Global Data Privacy Notice for Employees, Contractors, Candidates and Visitors](https://spire.com/global-data-privacy-notice/), as well as [Spire's Privacy Policy.](https://spire.com/privacy-policy/)

Kindly be advised that communication regarding your application may come from @spire.com, @recruiting.spire.com, or from Candidate.fyi (our scheduling tool).

## About Spire

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: A space-powered data and intelligence company that designs, builds, and operates its own satellite constellation to collect and process Earth observation data from space, turning it into actionable insights for government and commercial customers [spire.com](https://spire.com/).
- **Entity Type**: Public (NYSE: SPIR) – indicated by an Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP) that allows employees to purchase Spire shares [spire.com/careers](https://spire.com/careers/).
- **Headquarters**: Global offices in Washington DC (USA), Boulder (USA), Luxembourg, and Munich (Germany); primary operational headquarters not explicitly stated in provided sources [spire.com/about-us](https://spire.com/about-us/).
- **Founded**: Not publicly available in provided sources (commonly reported as 2012).
- **Founders**: Not publicly available in provided sources (commonly reported as Peter Platzer, Jeroen Cappaert, and Joel Spark).

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Earth observation / space‑based data analytics / satellite intelligence.
- **Target customers**: B2G (government / defense / national security) and B2B (aviation, weather & climate, maritime, logistics). Customers include federal agencies and commercial enterprises.
- **Mission**: “To inspire, lead, and create the business of Earth observation for the benefit of all.” [spire.com/careers](https://spire.com/careers/)

## Products & Services
- **Space‑Based Aviation Intelligence (ADS‑B)** – Real‑time flight tracking and analytics for operational efficiency and safety, including the EURIALO project to mitigate GPS jamming [spire.com](https://spire.com/).
- **Weather & Climate Data** – Global atmospheric data collected by radio occultation and other sensors, used for weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and risk assessment [spire.com](https://spire.com/).
- **Maritime Tracking (AIS)** – Vessel position and movement data for logistics, security, and environmental monitoring [implied from “transforming global logistics” on about‑us page].
- **Government & Defense Solutions** – Custom intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data feeds for national security customers [spire.com](https://spire.com/).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly available in provided sources.
- **Key Metric**: Annual revenue not disclosed in provided sources.
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: Not publicly available in provided sources.
- **Growth Signals**: Active hiring across multiple engineering, sales, and program management roles; continuous expansion of satellite constellation (LEMUR satellites); participation in government contracts (e.g., EURIALO) [spire.com/careers/job-openings](https://spire.com/careers/job-openings/).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Vertical Integration**: Designs, builds, and operates its own nanosatellites, ground stations, and software infrastructure, providing end‑to‑end control over data quality and latency [spire.com](https://spire.com/).
- **Global Coverage**: A large constellation of low‑Earth orbit satellites enables frequent revisit times and near‑global data collection [spire.com](https://spire.com/).
- **Speed & Agility**: Company culture emphasizes a “faster” and “unbounded” approach, allowing rapid iteration and deployment of new products [spire.com/careers](https://spire.com/careers/).

## Strategic Focus
- Expand government and defense sales (e.g., U.S. Federal Sales Director, Business Development Manager for Federal ISR) [spire.com/careers/job-openings](https://spire.com/careers/job-openings/).
- Deepen weather and climate analytics through product management and RF engineering investments [spire.com/careers/job-openings](https://spire.com/careers/job-openings/).
- Continue to enhance aviation intelligence offerings, especially in GPS jamming mitigation and flight path optimization [spire.com](https://spire.com/).
- Grow the global workforce to reflect the company’s international customer base and operational footprint [spire.com/careers](https://spire.com/careers/).

## Why Work Here
- **Culture & Values**: “Global,” “Unbounded,” “Faster,” “Reliable” – employees collaborate across time zones and continents; diversity is valued (employees from over 45 countries) [spire.com/careers](https://spire.com/careers/).
- **Benefits**:
  - Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
  - Generous family leave and flexible time‑off policy
  - Fitness reimbursement and healthy snacks/beverages
  - Learning & development support
  - Unique “Name Your Own Satellite” perk and VIP launch attendance [spire.com/careers](https://spire.com/careers/).
- **Work Model**: Hybrid / in‑office presence at locations in Washington DC, Boulder, Luxembourg, and Munich; some remote roles available (e.g., “Remote – Based in Europe”) [spire.com/careers/job-openings](https://spire.com/careers/job-openings/).
- **Engineering Focus**: Heavy investment in RF engineering, spacecraft software, back‑end development, and systems engineering; many senior‑level openings indicate a focus on experienced talent [spire.com/careers/job-openings](https://spire.com/careers/job-openings/).

## Sources
1. [spire.com](https://spire.com/) – Homepage: “Turning space data into actionable insights”
2. [spire.com/about-us](https://spire.com/about-us/) – About Us: mission, leadership, locations
3. [spire.com/careers](https://spire.com/careers/) – Careers page: values, benefits, culture
4. [spire.com/careers/job-openings](https://spire.com/careers/job-openings/) – Job openings: active roles, departments
5. [linkedin.com/company/spireglobal](https://www.linkedin.com/company/spireglobal) – LinkedIn company page (used for verification)

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