Guidance Navigation Controls (GNC) Engineer V/VI

Location: Fort Walton Beach, Florida, United States

Department: Flight Dynamics

The GNC Engineer V/VI is a senior-level individual contributor role responsible for leading the design, development, and optimization of advanced guidance, navigation, and control systems for UAS. This position involves driving innovation in flight controls software, mentoring junior engineers, and collaborating across disciplines to deliver cutting-edge UAS technologies. Engineers in this role will contribute to strategic initiatives, ensure high performance in flight control systems, and lead efforts from concept to flight testing.

Responsibilities:

• Technical Leadership: Lead the design, analysis, and development of flight controls software for Group 1 to 4 UAS.

• Software Development: Architect and implement advanced software components for deployment to flight tests.

• Simulation Expertise: Oversee the creation and execution of high-fidelity SWIL and HWIL simulations to validate system performance.

• Advanced Modeling: Develop and refine complex models in Matlab/Simulink, ensuring accuracy and performance optimization.

• Controls Analysis: Perform advanced stability and performance analyses, providing guidance on control system optimization.

• Mentorship: Mentor and train junior engineers, fostering technical growth and team collaboration.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Drive effective communication and alignment across engineering disciplines to meet project objectives.

• Innovation and R&D: Lead research initiatives in advanced flight control methodologies, embedded systems, and auto-code generation.

• Documentation and Review: Produce comprehensive technical documentation and lead peer review processes to ensure quality and compliance.

Qualifications:

• Education: Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.

• Experience: 10+ years of experience in flight controls engineering, with at least 5 years in UAS applications.

• Skills:

  • Expertise in Matlab/Simulink and auto-code generation for embedded systems.

  • Advanced knowledge of control theory, flight dynamics, and embedded systems.

  • Experienced in state estimation and Kalman filtering.

  • Proven ability to run and analyze SWIL and HWIL simulations.

  • Strong leadership and project management skills.

  • Effective communication and collaboration skills.

  • Familiarity with Group 1-4 UAS flight controls and avionics suites.

• Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams.

  • Knowledge of advanced control techniques and optimization algorithms.

  • History of contributing to successful flight test programs and R&D projects.

Pay Range by Level for Fort Walton Beach, FL:

Level V - $188,000 - $216,000

Level VI - $216,000 - $250,000

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