Cleared Guidance and Control Engineer III - TS/SCI

JPL/NASA · Pasadena, CA

Level: Senior
Team: Controls
Base pay: $146k–$183k
Degree: Required
Experience asked: 6+ years
Industry: Industrial
Posted: 2 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A senior controls role at JPL/NASA (industrial) in Pasadena, CA. You will work for the Guidance and Control Section in the Control Analysis Group.

They ask for: 6+ years · degree required
Tools it names: Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Robotics
Base pay: $146k–$183k

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026

Controls Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $123k–$179k. This one lists $146k–$183k.

Median of the low and high ends of 55 live postings that list pay, out of 88 controls engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 87 other live controls postings in California.

Base pay: About 9% above similar roles
Experience asked: More than usual (6+ vs 5+)

Skills these teams ask for most

Automation 63%
PLC 48%
✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 40%
Python 39%
✓ Robotics 35%
New product launch 20%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

It asks for 6+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at JPL/NASA
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

Full description from JPL/NASAAs posted on their careers site.Show

Required Qualifications

✓MUST HAVE AN ACTIVE TS/SCI CLEARANCE
✓Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field with a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience; or a Master’s degree with a minimum of 4 years of experience; or a PhD with a minimum of 2 years of experience.
✓Strong technical background in modern guidance, navigation, estimation, and control for aerospace systems
✓Experience in the research and development of advanced GNC systems for precision pointing
✓Demonstrated ability to work effectively in teams and lead technical efforts; excellent communication and presentation skills

Highly desired experience includes

✓GNC system architectures
✓Precision payload dynamics and controls
✓Advanced control methods (linear and nonlinear)
✓Estimation (Kalman filtering, random processes, nonlinear filtering, computer vision)
✓Linear and nonlinear dynamics, multi‑rigid‑body dynamics
✓On‑board guidance and navigation (optimization, convex methods)
✓Attitude estimation and control
✓Precision pointing control
✓Pointing, acquisition, and tracking systems
✓GNC for autonomous aerial vehicles
✓Rotorcraft dynamics and control
✓Vision‑based navigation
✓Terrain‑relative navigation (TRN)
✓3D lidar‑based navigation
✓Fast steering mirror control
✓High‑bandwidth mechatronics
✓Active and passive vibration control
✓Control of gimbaled or articulated platforms
✓Controlled optics
✓Optical wavefront and path‑length control
✓Structural modeling and finite element analysis
✓GNC‑related on‑board and ground calibration
✓Integrated modeling (flexible structures/optics/thermal, dynamics and control)
✓Time‑domain simulation and multi‑rate systems
✓Small spacecraft design
✓Multi‑vehicle formation flying
✓Control of large monolithic or segmented telescopes
✓Control of large distributed systems
✓Aerodynamic control for deep‑space planetary exploration
✓Comfortable working with Matlab/Simulink

Additional desired experience

✓Strong background in technology development
✓Experience with instrument/optical pointing systems and integrated GNC hardware/software
✓Experience with lasers, detectors, fast steering mirrors, and high‑rate control systems
✓Experience in autonomous system design and spacecraft autonomy
✓Demonstrated ability to manage cost and schedule in new technology development
✓General familiarity with signal processing

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.

$145,808 - $182,728

Show full description ↓

Job Details

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

This unique opportunity is part of the Mechanical Control Systems Division , which is responsible for technology development, advanced concepts, design, development, delivery, integration and test, verification and validation, and operation of complex Mechanical, Thermal, Propulsion, Robotics, and Guidance and Control (G&C) systems.

As a cleared Guidance and Control Engineer at JPL, you will work for the Guidance and Control Section in the Control Analysis Group. You will contribute to the advancement and development of spacecraft and payload/instrument guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) architectures, designs, algorithms, simulations, flight software implementations, performance validation and on-orbit commissioning and operations.

include

Conceiving, designing, analyzing, simulating, and evaluating complex GNC subsystem performance

•Delivering advanced algorithms and associated flight software code for integration and test at the GNC subsystem and system level
•Developing and executing detailed subsystem test and verification plans at the system level
•Leading teams that develop and operate GNC systems and coordinating the validation and documentation of subsystem performance prior to delivery