GNC Engineer

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GNC Engineer
Arlington, Virginia
I'm looking for a GNC Engineer to develop and sustain the guidance, navigation, and control software that powers advanced unmanned systems.
Your primary focus will be enabling strike drone capabilities, including integration of the software stack onto partner hardware and ensuring reliable performance in operational environments. You’ll work closely with product and field teams to improve system performance, support deployments, and rapidly troubleshoot issues observed during testing and real-world operations.
ResponsibilitiesDevelop and maintain guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) capabilities, including new features, performance improvements, and automated testingOwn and evolve the US guidance controller for strike applications, ensuring robustness and mission effectivenessDefine, analyze, and review software requirements to meet customer needs, system performance targets, and quality standardsDesign and implement flight- and mission-critical onboard software for unmanned systemsDiagnose and resolve GNC-related issues from field operations through flight log analysis, providing rapid initial assessment and driving root-cause resolutionCollaborate with product, integration, and flight operations teams to support deployments and continuously improve system performanceTravel to customer sites (typically 1–2 weeks at a time) to support platform integration, testing, and advanced GNC tuning
QualificationsMaster’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related fieldStrong grasp of flight dynamics and fundamentals of aerodynamicsProficient in C/C++ (particularly on Linux-based systems and memory-constrained embedded processors) and PythonWorking knowledge of PX4 or comparable autopilot technologyExperience programming robotic applications in ROS/ROS2Understanding of Kalman filtering and other state estimation algorithms xzbcwsv Strong written and verbal communication skillsHands-on drone experience, including piloting, is a plusUS citizenship and eligibility to obtain a Secret clearance required
Compensation & BenefitsBase salary: $140,000 – $170,000Flexible working hoursStock optionsUnlimited PTOHealth insurance (includes dental & vision)Medical flex spendingLife insurance401(k) with company matchEnhanced maternity & paternity leave
If you’re passionate about flight-critical software and want to work on high-impact unmanned systems, I'd like to hear from you.