Lead Inertial Sensor Engineer- MEMS

Advanced Navigation; Sydney; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Advanced Navigation is seeking a subject matter expert to bridge software, mechanical and electronic engineering in sensor technology. The role focuses on hands-on testing and deep theoretical understanding of inertial sensors to improve system performance.

You will lead sensor development, calibration, and integration across our product range, collaborating with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in Physics, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or related field required.
• Master's/PhD in sensor tech or inertial navigation advantageous.
• Proven experience designing and executing tests for inertial sensors.
• Experience developing new sensors (MEMS, FOG or similar).
• Strong INS understanding and software data analysis (Python/MATLAB).

Responsibilities

• Contribute to R&D of internally-developed sensor technologies.
• Provide expert guidance on sensor properties for inertial navigation systems.
• Develop and implement advanced sensor calibration techniques.
• Lead testing, characterization, and selection of third-party inertial sensors.
• Analyze test data to identify performance limitations and improvements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate sensors into products.

Skills

Python

MATLAB

Data analysis

Education

Physics degree

Mechatronics degree

Electrical Engineering degree

Master's or PhD in sensor tech or inertial navigation

Tools

MEMS

FOG (Fibre‑Optic Gyroscopes)

Job description

Advanced Navigation is the world’s most determined innovator in AI robotics and navigation technologies across land, air, sea and space applications. Founded on a culture of research and discovery, Advanced Navigation's mission is to be the catalyst of the autonomy revolution. Fields of expertise include artificial intelligence, underwater sonar, GNSS, radio frequency systems, inertial sensors, robotics, quantum sensors and photonics.

Today, Advanced Navigation is a supplier to some of the world's largest companies, including Airbus, Boeing, Google, Tesla, NASA, Apple, and General Motors. Discover it for yourself: https://youtu.be/F7uAqs1gtuk

Overview Of Role

In this role you will be a subject matter expert, filling a critical knowledge gap in your engineering team. Given that our company heavily relies on software to enhance hardware performance, this person must have a strong multidisciplinary background across physics, electronics, and software.

The ideal candidate would have a unique blend of hands‑on testing experience and a deep theoretical understanding of sensor technologies. Your background should bridge the gap between our software, mechanical, and electronic engineering teams.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Contribute to the research and development of novel, internally-developed sensor technologies.
• Provide expert guidance to the engineering team on the critical properties of sensors for inertial navigation systems.
• Develop and implement advanced sensor calibration techniques to optimise system performance.
• Lead the testing, characterisation, and selection of third‑party inertial sensors.
• Analyse test data to identify sensor performance limitations and areas for improvement.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to integrate sensors into our diverse product range, from low-cost to high‑end systems.

Qualifications, Experience & Skills

Educational Background: A degree in a relevant field such as Physics, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related discipline is essential. An advanced degree (Master's or PhD) would be highly advantageous, especially if their research was focused on sensor technology or inertial navigation.

Sensor Testing and Characterisation: They must have proven experience in designing and executing tests for inertial sensors (accelerometers and gyroscopes). This includes understanding test methodologies, sources of error, and how to analyse the resulting data.

Sensor Development: Experience in the development of new sensors is crucial. This could involve technologies like MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems), FOG (Fibre‑Optic Gyroscopes), or other emerging sensor tech. This experience ensures they can contribute to your in‑house sensor development.

Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) Expertise: A deep understanding of how sensor characteristics impact the performance of an INS is paramount. They should be able to identify which sensor properties are most critical for your high‑performance navigation systems.

Calibration Techniques: The candidate should be proficient in advanced sensor calibration methods to minimise errors and optimise performance.

Software and Data Analysis Skills: Proficiency in software tools used for data acquisition and analysis, such as Python or MATLAB, is important.

Industry Experience: While not mandatory, experience in one of our key industries—like defense, maritime, or autonomous vehicles—would be a significant plus, as they would