We're looking for a people-first Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineering  Manager to oversee the development, integration, and maintenance of the guidance, navigation, control and analysis domains of our software for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This role involves leading a team of GNC engineers, collaborating with cross-functional teams (aero, software, hardware, systems, and flight operations), and ensuring that all software complies with safety, performance, and regulatory requirements. The candidate will be responsible for the entire software development lifecycle, from requirements gathering through design, implementation, and validation.  

GNC Engineering Manager – Responsibilities 

• Team Leadership & Management: Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing GNC engineering team developing mission-critical embedded software for UAV flight control, communications, mission planning, and data processing. 

• Technical Direction & Architecture Oversight: Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance for GNC algorithms, ensuring scalability, safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance. 

• Project & Execution Coordination: Coordinate with product and program managers to define project scope, allocate resources, set priorities, and manage software development schedules for flight control, mission management, and payload software programs. 

• Systems Integration & Delivery: Collaborate with cross-functional engineering groups to ensure seamless integration of GNC software with hardware, sensors, communication systems, and ground control systems. 

• Quality Assurance & Safety: Oversee verification and validation activities, including unit testing, simulation, hardware-in-the-loop (HITL), and flight testing to ensure performance, robustness, and safety of delivered software. 

• Compliance & Certification Leadership: Ensure development follows certification frameworks and safety standards such as DO-178C, ARP4754, and other UAV regulatory requirements. 

• Innovation & Technology Strategy: Evaluate emerging technologies and drive adoption into product roadmaps, supporting advancement in autonomy, communications, and mission capabilities. 

• Process Improvement: Help refine development best practices, coding standards, test methodologies, and documentation processes to support scalability and efficiency. 

• Stakeholder Collaboration: Align software engineering goals with product, business, and operational requirements by coordinating closely with program and product management, systems engineering, hardware engineering, and flight operations teams. 

• Documentation Oversight: Ensure creation and maintenance of high-quality documentation including design artifacts, test plans, certification documentation, and user manuals. 

Qualifications 

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

• Experience: Minimum of 7+ years of GNC engineering experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership, management, or team-lead role. 

• Skills: 

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

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

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

• Effective communication and collaboration skills 

• Knowledge of software development lifecycle tools and workflow systems (Git, GitHub, JIRA, CI/CD). 

• Demonstrated ability to lead diverse technical teams, communicate effectively, and drive results in a fast-paced engineering environment. 

• Familiarity with safety-critical systems and certification standards such as DO-178C and ARP4754. 

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. 

• Experience with Group 1-4 UAS flight controls software design 
• Prior involvement in scaling engineering teams or multi-program software organizations. 

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 - 

Level V - $197,000 - $226,000

Level VI - $226,000 - $265,000

#LI-AW1

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 - 

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

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

#LI-AW1

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:

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

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

#LI-AW1

We are currently looking for a GNC Engineer III/IV to join our software and flight test group in Fort Walton Beach, FL. In this role, you'll play a crucial part in designing, analyzing, and building flight controls software for UAS. You will work closely with the engineering team to develop new software components, build models in Matlab/Simulink, run high-fidelity SW and HW in the loop simulations, and generate auto-code for embedded systems. Peer review and effective communication across disciplines are critical to improving the design cycle.

Responsibilities:

• Design, analyze, and build flight controls software for groups 1 to 4 UAS
• Develop software components for deployment to flight test
• Create and modify software modules in the Zone 5 avionics suite
• Perform controls analysis to assess stability and performance
• Run high-fidelity SW and HW in the loop simulations
• Generate auto-code for embedded systems
• Design ground tests to verify the function of new features
• Support integration and test of aircraft for flight test
• Conduct peer reviews and collaborate with cross-functional teams

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in flight controls engineering for UAS
• Proficiency in Matlab/Simulink
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Effective communication and collaboration skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in aerospace engineering or related field
• Experience with Group 1-4 UAS flight controls software design
• Knowledge of embedded systems and auto-code generation
• Ability to mentor and train junior engineers

Pay Range by Level:
Level III - $131,000 - $158,000

Level IV - $158,000 - $188,000

#LI-AW1

We are currently looking for a GNC Engineer III/IV to join our software and flight test group in San Luis Obispo, CA. In this role, you'll play a crucial part in designing, analyzing, and building flight controls software for UAS. You will work closely with the engineering team to develop new software components, build models in Matlab/Simulink, run high-fidelity SW and HW in the loop simulations, and generate auto-code for embedded systems. Peer review and effective communication across disciplines are critical to improving the design cycle.

Responsibilities:

• Design, analyze, and build flight controls software for groups 1 to 4 UAS
• Develop software components for deployment to flight test
• Create and modify software modules in the Zone 5 avionics suite
• Perform controls analysis to assess stability and performance
• Run high-fidelity SW and HW in the loop simulations
• Generate auto-code for embedded systems
• Design ground tests to verify the function of new features
• Support integration and test of aircraft for flight test
• Conduct peer reviews and collaborate with cross-functional teams

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in flight controls engineering for UAS
• Proficiency in Matlab/Simulink
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Effective communication and collaboration skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in aerospace engineering or related field
• Experience with Group 1-4 UAS flight controls software design
• Knowledge of embedded systems and auto-code generation
• Ability to mentor and train junior engineers

Pay Range by Level:

Level III - $135,000 - $167,000

Level IV - $167,000 - $197,000

#LI-AW1