Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer

Destinus; Madrid; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Destinus seeks a senior GNC specialist to own the six-degree-of-freedom flight simulation, guiding the interceptor from flight to terminal engagement. You translate performance into vehicle requirements and engineering decisions, working with MATLAB, Simulink and Python to develop terminal guidance and robust control strategies.

You will manage error budgets, run nominal and stressed campaigns, and collaborate with the engineering team to integrate GNC into the overall interceptor design,

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant engineering field or maths.
• 10+ years GNC experience on missiles or comparable high-performance systems.
• Proven ability to translate models into hardware-ready designs.

Responsibilities

• Own the six-degree-of-freedom flight simulation used as the reference model.
• Develop navigation and estimation, manage the error budget, and craft terminal guidance.
• Own the terminal miss budget and quantify effects of noise and disturbances.
• Design and tune control algorithms across flight phases and assess robustness.
• Run campaigns and translate findings into vehicle and subsystem requirements.
• Collaborate with the wider team to integrate GNC into interceptor design.

Skills

GNC system design

Six-DOF flight simulation

Guidance, Navigation, Control

MATLAB

Simulink

Python

Hardware-in-the-loop testing

Education

BSc/MSc/PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Control Engineering, or Applied Mathematics

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

Python

Job description

Imagine this, you own the guidance, navigation, and control behind an exo-atmospheric interceptor, including the final seconds where precision determines whether the engagement succeeds.

Bliksem Exo is a four-nation European consortium developing an anti-ballistic missile system at operational pace. Destinus is the programme prime and responsible for the exo-atmospheric interceptor, engineered for affordability and production at scale.

In this role, you will own the flight simulation, navigation, guidance, and control algorithms that take the interceptor from flight to terminal engagement. You will work hands-on with the models and analysis, translating performance results directly into vehicle requirements and engineering decisions.

At Destinus, we are revolutionizing the defense industry with cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Our innovative technologies are designed to meet the unique demands of modern defense operations, delivering unparalleled speed, precision, and cost effectiveness. Destinus partners with government agencies and defense organizations worldwide to provide advanced solutions for mission-critical operations, enabling a new era of efficiency and technological superiority. Join us in shaping the future of defense with groundbreaking aerospace innovations.

What You'll Do

• Build and own the six-degree-of-freedom flight simulation used as the reference model for vehicle performance and analysis
• Develop navigation and estimation throughout the flight, manage the error budget through handover, and develop terminal guidance for the final engagement
• Own the terminal miss budget, quantifying how sensing noise, timing, disturbances, and other uncertainties affect end-to-end accuracy
• Design and tune control algorithms across the phases of flight, assessing stability and robustness throughout the operating envelope
• Run analysis and simulation campaigns across nominal and stressing conditions, translating findings into vehicle and subsystem requirements
• Work closely with the wider engineering team to integrate GNC performance into the overall interceptor design

Who You Are

• You are comfortable owning complex GNC problems from mathematical models through implementation and validation
• You think in terms of complete system performance rather than isolated algorithms
• You challenge models, assumptions, and results until you understand what drives performance
• You thrive in a small technical team where ownership, speed, and engineering judgement matter
• BSc, MSc, or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Control Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related field
• 10+ years of GNC experience on missiles, interceptors, spacecraft, launch vehicles, or comparable high-performance systems
• Strong expertise in at least two areas across guidance, navigation and estimation, and control, with solid understanding across the complete GNC loop
• Experience developing and implementing flight-proven systems for hypersonic and/or space applications, including qualified hardware and software
• Strong MATLAB, Simulink and/or Python skills
• Nice to have: Experience taking GNC systems through hardware-in-the-loop testing and/or flight testing