---
title: 'GNC Orbit Controls Engineer at Xona Space Systems'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/gnc-orbit-controls-engineer-xona-space-systems-burlingame-6ytpd04z89nd'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-14'
---

# GNC Orbit Controls Engineer at Xona Space Systems

- **Company:** Xona Space Systems
- **Location:** Burlingame, CA
- **Compensation:** $130k–$175k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-05-29
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-14
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/xona-space/fe931ada-3345-4e79-b5d5-34dc7f3c5203/application

**Skills:** C++, MATLAB, Orbital Mechanics, Orbit Propagation, Extended Kalman Filter, GNSS, Trajectory Design, Delta V Optimization, Monte Carlo Simulation, SIL Testing, HIL Testing, Electric Propulsion, Thrust Modeling, CCSDS Ephemeris, CCSDS Attitude Formats

> Design and implement GNC algorithms and onboard software for orbit determination, guidance, and maneuver execution to ensure precise spacecraft station-keeping and disposal.

## Job description

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

We're looking for a GNC Orbit Controls Engineer to design and implement the algorithms and onboard software that handle orbit determination, guidance, maneuver execution, and post-maneuver analysis to deliver safe, efficient, and highly automated station-keeping and disposal. We’re building the software that keeps our spacecraft exactly where they need to be.

## What You’ll Do

- Develop open-loop and closed-loop controllers for altitude management, station-keeping, and end-of-life disposal
- Implement and maintain onboard orbit propagators, select and validate integrators, and ensure numerical consistency with ground truth
- Build orbit determination pipelines using EKF with GNSS
- Design burns and long-arc trajectories, and optimize delta V and timelines under comm visibility, power and thermal, and operations constraints
- Coordinate burn pointing and wheel momentum strategy with ADCS
- Maintain numerically consistent MATLAB and C++ simulators, create Monte Carlo campaigns, run SIL and HIL tests, and perform post-maneuver reconstruction

Required Qualifications

- You are familiar with orbital mechanics and simulation and have had exposure with onboard propagators with perturbation models and integrators on flight targets
- You have GNC software experience in C++ and MATLAB for analysis, modeling, and test-vector generation
- You have supported real maneuvers and can reconcile plan versus truth with post-burn estimation
- You are comfortable at the ADCS and propulsion interface for burn pointing and momentum management

Desired Qualifications

- B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Control Systems, Applied Physics, or a related field
- Familiar with electric propulsion including thrust modeling and calibration, long-burn guidance, duty-cycle planning, and thermal constraints
- Experience with orbit propagation algorithms
- Trajectory design and optimization expertise
- Familiarity with CCSDS ephemeris and attitude formats

For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

## About Xona Space Systems

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Xona Space Systems is building Pulsar, a high-integrity positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) constellation in Low Earth Orbit that delivers authenticated, centimeter-accurate services as a resilient alternative to GPS.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C – $170M raised ~April 2026)
- **Headquarters**: Burlingame, California, USA (also offices in Montreal, Canada and London, England)
- **Founded**: 2019
- **Founders**: Brian Manning (CEO), Tyler Reid (CTO), Adrien Perkins (VP of Engineering)

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Aerospace / Satellite Navigation, Defense & Critical Infrastructure, Autonomous Systems
- **Target customers**: B2B / B2G – enterprise, government, defense, autonomous robotics, construction, industrial IoT, and any application requiring resilient PNT
- **Mission**: “Unlock the potential of tomorrow’s technologies by providing the most robust and accurate navigation and timing services on Earth.”

## Products & Services
- **Pulsar Constellation**: A network of 258 small, software-defined satellites in LEO broadcasting secured, authenticated PNT signals. Offers native user accuracy at centimeter level and is designed to upgrade existing GPS devices via a software update.
- **Pulsar‑Verified Receivers & Simulators**: Certified hardware and test platforms for integrators. Includes reference designs and simulation tools.
- **Time Authentication Service**: A cryptographic layer that validates the origin and integrity of timing signals, providing resilience against spoofing and jamming.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (conflicting reports may exist; no official figure available)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding $327.53M (CB Insights); latest Series C closed ~April 2026 (amount $170M)
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: Not publicly disclosed (funding specifics unknown). Key partners include Murata (MOU for LEO navigation in industrial applications), the Government of Canada (R&D collaboration to strengthen timing resilience), and the National Research Council of Canada.
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Successfully launched Pulsar‑0, the first commercially funded navigation satellite, now in orbit for one year (June 2026).
  - 11+ patents filed (encrypted navigation signals, wireless locating, etc.).
  - Active hiring in Burlingame, Montreal, and London; 828 employees on LinkedIn as of mid‑2026.
  - Collaboration with ISED, NRC, and DRDC to broadcast Canada’s official time signal (UTC(NRC)) from space.

## Competitive Advantages
- **First‑mover with a privately funded navigation satellite** – Pulsar‑0 set a precedent for commercial LEO PNT.
- **Authenticated signals** – Cryptographic security native to the signal provides spoofing/jamming resistance unmatched by traditional GPS.
- **Software‑defined satellites** – Rapid constellation scaling and in‑orbit updates at a fraction of legacy system cost.
- **Multi‑national timing broadcast** – Ability to carry multiple official time standards (US, UK, Canada) on a shared infrastructure, creating sovereign resilience for allies.

## Strategic Focus
- **Constellation deployment** – Scale from prototype (Pulsar‑0) to a full production fleet of 258 satellites.
- **Ecosystem enablement** – Grow partner network of receiver makers, chipset vendors, and integrators (e.g., Murata, government bodies).
- **Geographic expansion** – Establish a strong presence in Canada (Montreal) and the UK (London) while deepening relationships with allied governments.
- **Defense & critical infrastructure** – Pursue contracts that require autonomous, tamper‑proof PNT for military, aviation, and grid timing.

## Why Work Here
- **Impact** – Work on “a generational technology at startup speed”; decisions are pushed to the people closest to the work. Culture of ownership and rapid iteration.
- **Compensation** – Competitive salary, equity (ownership culture), 401(k) / Roth 401(k).
- **Benefits** – 95% of healthcare premiums covered for US employees (50% for dependents); HSA/FSA options; supportive parental leave (equitable); flexible time off.
- **Workplace** – Burlingame office with catered lunches twice a week, snacks, drinks, coffee. Roles also in Montreal and London (hybrid likely per location, but remote‑first not stated).
- **Culture** – Engineering‑driven, fast‑shipping, collaborative; team includes leaders from industry and academia.

## Sources
1. [xonaspace.com](https://www.xonaspace.com/)
2. [xonaspace.com/careers](https://www.xonaspace.com/careers)
3. [xonaspace.com/mission](https://www.xonaspace.com/mission)
4. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/xonaspace)
5. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/xona-space-systems)

## Other roles at Xona Space Systems

- [Materials & Inventory Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/materials-inventory-specialist-xona-space-systems-burlingame-p58ech32axv8) — Burlingame, CA
- [Développeur(-euse) principal(e) de produits, Fullstack / Senior Product Developer](https://feeny.ai/job/developpeur-euse-principal-e-de-produits-fullstack-senior-product-developer-5ms7v4x25mjs) — Montréal, Canada
- [Mechanical Designer](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-designer-xona-space-systems-montreal-ag4x17p05a7c) — Montréal, Canada
- [Manufacturing Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-specialist-xona-space-systems-montreal-4bc9hnte6h2t) — Montréal, Canada
- [Manufacturing Technician / Technicien(ne) en Fabrication](https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-technician-technicien-ne-en-fabrication-xona-space-systems-j5tdvq7300ys) — Montréal, Canada
- [Spacecraft Test Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/spacecraft-test-engineer-xona-space-systems-burlingame-rs38mda13pmy) — Burlingame, CA
- [Manufacturing Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-engineer-xona-space-systems-burlingame-6qxd9mezckkj) — Burlingame, CA
- [Software Developer / Développeur(euse) logiciel](https://feeny.ai/job/software-developer-developpeur-euse-logiciel-xona-space-systems-montreal-wf929qs3v0rr) — Montréal, Canada
- [Cloud Infrastructure Engineer - Platform Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/cloud-infrastructure-engineer-platform-engineering-xona-space-systems-burlingame-96dpvd85gdtc) — Burlingame, CA
- [Spécialiste GNSS / GNSS Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/specialiste-gnss-gnss-specialist-xona-space-systems-montreal-6shb1yzhx57k) — Montréal, Canada