Aerospace Engineer GNC / PNT

Bowhead seeks a GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control) Aerospace Engineer to support hypersonic research efforts of the NSWCDD in Dahlgren, VA. This role provides technical expertise across system modeling, simulation, algorithm development, data analysis, and integration activities in support of weapon system development, performance assessment, and mission engineering. The Engineer will directly support government technical leads and collaborate with associated subsystem SMEs to deliver analytical rigor, modeling capability, and engineering insight into guidance, navigation, and control solutions used in government test and evaluation environments.

• Develop, implement, and refine GNC algorithms for guidance laws, control loops, navigation filters, and state estimation.
• Support weapon system modeling and simulation, including 6 DOF (six degrees of freedom) simulation environments and subsystem integration.
• Perform trajectory analysis, mission performance evaluations, and control system stability assessments.
• Develop navigation solutions integrating IMUs, GPS, INS, seekers, and other sensor modalities.
• Conduct Monte Carlo analysis, uncertainty modeling, and system performance sensitivity studies.
• Implement GNC prototypes in MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C/C++, or equivalent simulation frameworks.
• Analyze telemetry, flight test data, and HWIL/SIL outputs to validate system performance.
• Support requirements decomposition, interface definition, and subsystem integration with E20 system engineering teams.
• Document models, test results, algorithm behavior, and performance in technical reports and presentations.
• Participate in technical reviews, design sessions, and engineering working groups with government and contractor personnel.

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related discipline or a Master’s degree (preferred) with coursework such as Modern Control Systems, Modern (or Optimal) Control Theory, MIMO Control, Linear Systems Theory, Robotics, [Optimal] State Estimation, or courses with Sensing, Navigation, Localization, or Mapping in the name.
• 4+ years experience in GNC engineering, missile guidance, flight controls, or related system modeling.

• Expertise in state estimation (e.g. Kalman filters for tracking or inertial navigation) with the ability to evaluate real multi-source measurement datasets processed with legacy or novel candidate-developed state estimation algorithms in MATLAB and C++ and translate the evaluations into reports and briefing material.
• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and at least one programming language (Python or C/C++).
• The successful candidate shall have experience with guidance algorithms (proportional navigation, pursuit guidance, optimal guidance, intercept geometry), navigation & estimation, Kalman filtering (EKF/UKF), inertial navigation, GPS/INS integration, sensor fusion, control engineering, PID, LQR, state space control, autopilot design, stability & robustness analysis, M&S (Modeling & Simulation), MATLAB/Simulink, Python (NumPy/SciPy), C/C++ for embedded or real time simulation, and familiarity with 6 DOF modeling.• Ability to work with E20 technical SMEs to develop or refine analytical tools, performance models, or algorithmic improvements.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance (current Secret preferred).

Preferred Qualifications

• A background in aerospace vehicles.

• Familiarity with hardware in the loop (HWIL) or software in the loop (SIL) environments is a plus.
• Experience supporting missile systems, unmanned systems, or weapons/flight dynamics programs.
• Experience supporting NSWCDD, NAVSEA, or other DoD weapons engineering divisions.
• Experience with aerospace flight test data analysis or guidance law verification.
• Knowledge of seeker modeling, sensor suite integration, or autopilot tuning.

SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIRED: Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the Secret level.  US Citizenship is a requirement for Secret clearance at this location.

Physical Demands:
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds
• Must be able to stand and walk for prolonged amounts of time
• Must be able to twist, bend and squat periodically

Targeted salary range is $140,000 to $145,000 annually based on qualifications and experience.

Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Bowhead considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and business considerations when extending an offer.

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