We are seeking a Senior GNC Engineer IV with extensive experience in drone flight dynamics, control theory, state estimation, and autonomous flight systems. In this role, you will lead the design, implementation, and optimization of the core algorithms that govern aircraft stability, navigation, and mission execution for our advanced UAS platforms. You will serve as a technical leader across the flight‑control stack owning control‑loop architecture, estimator design, simulation frameworks, and real‑world flight‑test validation. This role is ideal for engineers who thrive at the intersection of theory and practice, and who want to shape the flight behavior of next‑generation autonomous aircraft.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development of GNC algorithms for multirotor UAS, including attitude control, rate control, position control, trajectory generation, and guidance logic.
- Model, analyze, and simulate nonlinear flight dynamics, actuator behavior, and environmental disturbances.
- Design and implement state‑estimation algorithms (EKF, UKF, complementary filters) for robust sensor fusion across IMU, GPS, magnetometer, barometer, optical flow, LiDAR, and vision‑based systems.
- Architect and tune real‑time control loops for stability, responsiveness, and robustness across diverse flight regimes.
- Develop and maintain simulation environments (MATLAB/Simulink, Gazebo, PX4 SITL, custom tools) for algorithm validation and regression testing.
- Collaborate with embedded and flight‑software teams to deploy GNC algorithms on real‑time flight‑control hardware.
- Lead flight‑test campaigns, analyze telemetry, and iterate on algorithm performance based on real‑world data.
- Provide technical leadership in system‑level architecture discussions involving autonomy, perception, and mission‑planning integration.
- Mentor junior engineers and contribute to best practices in modeling, simulation, and control‑system development.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
- 5+ years of experience developing GNC algorithms for drones, robotics, or aerospace systems.
- Deep understanding of rigid‑body dynamics, nonlinear control, and estimation theory.
- Hands‑on experience with multirotor flight dynamics and real‑time control implementation.
- Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink, Python, or C/C++ for algorithm development and simulation.
- Experience deploying control and estimation algorithms on embedded flight‑control systems.
- Familiarity with PX4, ArduPilot, or custom autopilot architectures.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance may be required depending on program needs.
- Must be a U.S. citizen for export‑controlled technology.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with advanced control methods (MPC, adaptive control, robust control, nonlinear observers).
- Background in GN&C for autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, or mission‑level behaviors.
- Experience with propulsion modeling, thrust characterization, and actuator dynamics.
- Familiarity with ROS/ROS2, real‑time middleware, or distributed robotics systems.
- Experience with HIL testing, automated simulation pipelines, or digital‑twin environments.
- Knowledge of aerospace safety standards or certification processes.