GNC Engineer H/F

Alta Ares; Paris; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Alta Ares seeks a GNC Engineer to develop guidance, navigation, and control capabilities for autonomous platforms. You will shape architecture from design studies to flight testing, working on real-world deployments with operators and end users.

We value ownership, rapid iteration, and delivering robust algorithms tested in live environments beyond the lab. Join a growing team shaping next-generation defense systems.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in Guidance, Navigation & Control, flight control, robotics, or autonomous systems.
• Experience developing algorithms with MATLAB/Simulink, Python, and C/C++.
• Strong systems engineering skills with aerospace V&V experience.
• Motivation to participate in field testing on deployed systems.
• Analytical, rigorous, and autonomous in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and improve guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for autonomous aerial systems.
• Develop flight dynamics and vehicle models.
• Contribute to system architecture, control strategies, and performance trade-offs from earliest design phases.
• Integrate and tune GNC software on target platforms.
• Support flight-test campaigns and operational demonstrations.
• Analyze flight data, investigate anomalies, and improve system performance.
• Collaborate with software, AI, systems engineers, test pilots, and operators to validate solutions.

Skills

GNC experience

Tools

MATLAB & Simulink

Python

C/C++

Job description

About Alta Ares

Alta Ares is an air defense Neoprime. We build AI-guided interceptors to counter drones and cruise missiles, along with the software platform that powers them.

Our customers are NATO-aligned militaries and defense institutions, and our systems are regularly deployed during live exercises and operational demonstrations across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Founded in 2024, we have grown to 90 people, raised over $60M, and increased revenue 40× this year. We are now entering a new phase of international expansion, industrial scaling, fundraising, and product development.

The GNC team is growing across Paris and Kyiv. As one of our early GNC engineers, you'll help shape the architecture of our autonomous systems from the earliest design studies through flight testing and final acceptance. We work in short iterations, with a strong culture of experimentation and field validation. Our engineers regularly work alongside operators and end users, ensuring that every algorithm is designed for real operational conditions: not just simulation.

Role & Mission

As a GNC Engineer, you will develop the guidance, navigation, and control capabilities that enable our autonomous platforms to operate reliably in challenging environments. You'll contribute across the entire development lifecycle—from system architecture and flight modelling to live flight testing and operational validation.

We are looking for engineers who enjoy taking ownership of their work, iterating quickly, and seeing their algorithms perform outside the lab.

Guidance, Navigation & Control

• Design, develop, and improve guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for autonomous aerial systems.

• Develop and maintain flight dynamics and vehicle models.

• Contribute to system architecture, control strategies, and performance trade-offs from the earliest design phases.

• Integrate and tune GNC software on target platforms.

• Participate in flight-test campaigns and operational demonstrations.

• Analyze flight data, investigate anomalies, and continuously improve system performance.

• Work closely with software, AI, systems engineers, test pilots, and operators to validate solutions in real operational conditions.

Requirements

• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in Guidance, Navigation & Control, flight control, robotics, or autonomous systems.

• Solid experience in algorithm development with two or more:

  • MATLAB & Simulink

  • Python

  • C/C++

• Great systems engineering skills. Prior experience with aerospace V&V processes.

• Motivation to participate in field testing and work directly on deployed systems.

• Strong analytical skills, engineering rigor, and ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced environment.

Nice to Have

• Embedded software development experience.

• Experience with open source flight control software stacks.

• Programming skills in C++ and Python.

• Experience with UAVs, robotics, or autonomous systems.

• Familiarity with ROS/ROS2 or real-time embedded systems.

• Experience with state estimation, sensor fusion, or navigation algorithms.

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