--- title: 'Spacecraft Orbiter Guidance, Navigation, and Control System Engineer at ispace, inc.' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/spacecraft-orbiter-guidance-navigation-and-control-system-engineer-ispace-inc-srz757nvs28y' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-08' --- # Spacecraft Orbiter Guidance, Navigation, and Control System Engineer at ispace, inc. - **Company:** ispace, inc. - **Location:** Tokyo, Japan - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** hybrid - **Posted:** 2026-03-17 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/ispace-inc/364238ca-d4de-4619-9910-611a1d348f3f ## Job description ispace is looking for Spacecraft Orbiter Guidance, Navigation, and Control System Engineer to join our growing team in Tokyo. You will lead the end-to-end development of the lunar lander’s orbiter system—including design, verification, and operations—from the perspective of the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) subsystem. Define and manage requirements for the GNC subsystem, including sensors, software and other hardware components. Manage technical coordination and interface alignment with other subsystems. Manage the integrity and performance of GNC algorithms in the FSW development and deliverables. Support mission operations and preparation activities. 月着陸船の軌道系誘導航法制御サブシステムの観点から、軌道系GNCサブシステム全体開発（設計、検証、運用）を担当する。センサー、ソフトウェアおよびその他のハードウェアコンポーネントを含む軌道系誘導航法制御サブシステムの要求定義、管理を行う。各サブシステムとの技術調整、インターフェース調整を担当する。FSW開発および成果物におけるGNCアルゴリズムの完全性と性能を管理する。ミッション運用および準備活動を支援する。 ## Key responsibilities (1) Join our engineering team overseeing the entire lunar lander orbiter system, supporting end-to-end development—design, verification, and operations—from the perspective of the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) subsystem. (2) Develop orbiter GNC design and perform GNC-related analysis (such as guidance law design and analysis, control law design and performance analysis, thruster duty analysis, DV analysis, attitude dynamics analysis, sloshing and flexible dynamics, navigation filter design, covariance analysis, various GNC sensor evaluation, etc) by using control engineering tools as well as software development activities. (3) Design the system and the orbiter Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) subsystem using FMECA (Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis) and MCFMA (Mission Critical Fault and Mitigation Analysis) methodologies. (4) Plan, implement, and execute comprehensive verification and validation activities for the orbiter system, spanning from component-level (GNC sensors) to system-level tests (SCLT, DOLT, DCLT). These include nominal, off-nominal, and fault simulations for orbit operations. (5) Define OGNC flight software/algorithm requirement specifications (6) Develop GNC subsystem requirements, design, constraints, and operations with a deep understanding of the technical coordinations and interface alignments with systems engineering and other subsystems (propulsion, structures, thermal, avionics, flight software, mission planning, and operations). (7) Define OGNC unit specifications as flow-down of the OGNC system requirements and design specifications (8) Support lander system design with providing GNC feasibility studies and design inputs for the key system design trade-offs such as actuator and sensor configuration and selection, component layout, controlability, delta V, RCS budget, etc. (9) Support the selection, verification, and operational readiness of key orbiter system components—such as Sun sensors, IMUs, star trackers and propulsion—from both technical and theoretical perspectives. (10) Design and support throubleshooting activities of GNC FSW algorithms and components and propose solutions to mitigate errors and misbehaviors in the GNC subsystem. (11) Document the technical specifications of the GNC subsystem with a deep understanding of the functions and relations with other subsystems. (1) 月着陸船のシステム全体を統括するエンジニアリングチームの一員として、主に誘導航法制御サブシステムの観点から、軌道系GNCサブシステム全体開発（設計、検証、運用）をサポートする。 (2) 軌道系誘導航法制御に関する設計解析（誘導制御則設計、制御性能解析、スラスタ制御解析、DV解析、姿勢力学解析、スロッシング、柔軟ダイナミクス解析、航法フィルタ設計、誤差共分散解析、GNCセンサ評価など）を制御工学ツールとソフトウェア開発活動を通して実施する。 (3) FMECA（Faulure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis）およびMCFMA（Mission Critical Fault and Mitigation Analysis）に基づくシステムおよび軌道系GNCサブシステムのロバストな設計を行う。 (4) コンポーネントレベル（GNCセンサー）からシステムレベル（SCLT, DOLT, DCLT）までを含めた軌道システム全体のハードウェアを含めた検証および妥当性確認を計画、実装、実行する。これらには、軌道上運用におけるノミナル、オフノミナルおよび故障シミュレーションが含まれる。 (5) 軌道系GNCのフライトソフトウェア／アルゴリズムの要求仕様を定義する。 (6) 誘導航法制御サブシステム（GNCセンサー含む）の要求、設計、制約、運用を深く理解し、システムズエンジニアリングチームおよび各サブシステム（推進、構造、熱、アビオニクス、フライトソフトウェア、飛行計画、運用）との技術調整およびインターフェース管理を行う。 (7) 軌道系GNCシステムの要件および設計仕様をもとに、軌道系GNCユニットの仕様を定義する (8) アクチュエータやセンサーの構成・選定、コンポーネントの配置、制御性、デルタV、RCS予算など、主要なシステム設計上のトレードオフに関するGNCの実現可能性調査および設計インプットを提供し、月着陸船システムの設計を支援する。 (9) 月着陸船軌道システムのキーとなるコンポーネント（太陽センサ、IMU、スタートラッカー）の選定、モデリング、検証、運用を技術的/理論的観点からサポートする。 (10) GNC FSWアルゴリズムおよびコンポーネントの設計とトラブルシューティング活動を支援し、GNCサブシステムにおけるエラーや誤動作を軽減する解決策を提案する。 (11) GNCサブシステムの技術仕様を、その機能および他サブシステムとの関連性を深く理解した上で文書化する。 ## Basic Qualifications ・5+ years of experience in developing Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) subsystems, including algorithm and sensors ・5+ years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering (including Failure mode analysis) ・Good understanding of software capabilities and functionalities in languages like C/C++, Python, etc. ・Experience using software control systems like Git ・Experience in closed loop frameworks (MIL, SIL, PIL, HIL, etc.) with proven experience in developing sensor/actuators models and interfaces such as Sun sensors, IMUs, star trackers and propulsion systems ・Hands-on experience with system-level testing for spacecraft (SCLT, DOLT, DCLT) ・Strong sense of initiative, continuous improvement mindset, and ability to work effectively as a team player ・Excellent communication skills ・Business level English communication skill ・5年以上の誘導航法制御サブシステムのアルゴリズムおよびセンサーの開発経験を有すること ・5年以上の宇宙機のシステムズエンジニアリング（故障モード解析を含む）の経験を有すること ・C/C++、Pythonなどの言語におけるソフトウェアの能力と機能性に対する深い理解 ・Gitなどのソフトウェア管理システムの使用経験 ・閉ループフレームワーク（MIL、SIL、PIL、HILなど）の経験を有し、太陽センサ、IMU、スタートラッカー、推進システム等のセンサー/アクチュエータモデルおよびインターフェースの開発経験を有すること ・宇宙機のシステムレベル試験（SCLT, DOLT, DCLT）の経験を有すること ・向上心と積極性、良いチームプレイヤーであること ・高いコミュニケーション能力を有すること ・ビジネスレベル以上の英語での意思疎通ができること ## Preferred qualifications ・10+ years of experience in developing Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) subsystems, including algorithm and sensors ・10+ years of experience of systems engineering within the space industry ・Experience of spacecraft operation ・Experience of MATLAB/Simulink ・Experience of software integration with different programming languages, C/C++, Python, Matlab, etc. ・Experience in real time FSW implementations ・Business level Japanese communication skill (speaking and writing) ・10年以上の誘導航法制御サブシステムのアルゴリズムおよびセンサーの開発経験を有すること ・10年以上の宇宙機のシステムズエンジニアリングの経験を有すること ・宇宙機の運用経験 ・MATLAB/Simulinkの使用経験 ・C/C++、Python、Matlabなど異なるプログラミング言語を用いたソフトウェア統合の経験 ・リアルタイムFSW実装の経験 ・ビジネスレベル以上の日本語での意思疎通ができること（読み書き） Others - Support development studies of space vehicles for future missions - ・将来ミッションのための宇宙機開発や実現性検討の支援 ## About ispace, inc. ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: ispace is a global lunar exploration company developing high-frequency, low-cost transportation services to the Moon and building the foundation for a sustainable cislunar economy. - **Entity Type**: Public (listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2023) - **Headquarters**: Tokyo, Japan (with offices in Denver, Colorado, USA and Luxembourg) - **Founded**: September 2010 - **Founders**: Takeshi Hakamada (Founder & CEO) ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Space exploration / Lunar transportation services - **Target customers**: B2B (space agencies, commercial payload operators, research organizations) - **Mission**: “Extend the sphere of human life into space and create a sustainable world by providing high-frequency, low-cost transportation services to the Moon.” ## Products & Services - **Lunar Lander Missions**: ispace designs, builds and operates robotic lunar landers. Current missions include “Mission 2.5” and the upcoming “Mission 3” featuring the new larger ULTRA lander. - **Payload Development & Integration**: Offers payload hosting and development services for lunar orbiting and landing missions. - **Lunar Surface Data**: Sale and survey of Moon surface data for research and commercial use. - **Space Resource R&D**: Research and development focused on utilizing lunar water resources. - **Marketing Support**: Supports space content industries with marketing services related to lunar activities. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed in provided sources (publicly listed, market cap fluctuates) - **Key Metric**: Total funding record – raised a record 10.35 billion yen in Series A in 2017 (private round). As a public company, revenue is reported but not listed in these materials. - **Notable Investors/Partners**: The company evolved from Team HAKUTO, a finalist in the Google Lunar XPRIZE. Global presence includes ispace technologies U.S. inc. and ispace Europe SA. - **Growth Signals**: - 317 employees as of March 31, 2025 - First Japanese space company to list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (2023) - Multiple missions in the pipeline (Mission 2.5, Mission 3 with ULTRA lander) - Global offices in Japan, USA, and Luxembourg ## Competitive Advantages - **Early mover in commercial lunar services**: One of the few private companies with flight heritage (first mission launched in 2022). - **End‑to‑end lunar transportation**: Offers landers, payload integration, and data services – a vertically integrated lunar logistics provider. - **Global footprint**: Engineering and business presence across three continents enables access to diverse customers and talent. - **Heritage from Google Lunar XPRIZE**: Team HAKUTO experience provides technical and operational credibility. ## Strategic Focus ispace is focused on achieving high‑frequency, low‑cost lunar transportation to construct an Earth‑Moon economic zone. Key priorities include: - Launching Mission 2.5 and the larger ULTRA lander on Mission 3 - Developing space resource utilization (especially water on the Moon) - Expanding payload and data services to support a growing cislunar infrastructure - Scaling globally through its offices in Japan, the US, and Europe ## Why Work Here - **Diverse, inclusive culture**: As of December 2025, ispace reports ~24% non‑Japanese nationality and ~45% Japanese nationality, reflecting a commitment to global diversity. - **Mission‑driven team**: “Driven by a shared passion, our Crew of engineers, scientists and experts are shaping the future of space.” - **Work options**: Roles range from on‑site (Tokyo, Denver, Luxembourg) to hybrid (Tokyo CFO Office). Engineering roles include R&D, propulsion, GNC, and spacecraft systems. - **Fast‑growing organization**: 317 employees and growing, with a clear trajectory of missions and revenue expansion. - **Perks & culture**: Emphasis on inclusive hiring, professional development, and equitable pay; “true innovation comes when diverse viewpoints collaborate as equals.” ## Sources 1. [ispace Home Page](https://www.ispace-inc.com/) 2. [About Us – ispace](https://2022.ispace-inc.com/aboutus) 3. [Careers – ispace](https://www.ispace-inc.com/careers/) 4. [Career Overview – ispace](https://www.ispace-inc.com/career-overview/) 5. 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