Navigation engineer

GMV; Nottingham; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

Teleworking outside geographical area

Personalized career plan

Language learning support

Competitive compensation

Wellbeing program

Job summary

GMV, a technology leader in navigation and autonomous systems, invites you to join our UAV team to lead guidance, navigation and control of unmanned aircraft from flight controller setup to autonomous testing.

This role blends hands-on development with real-world flight work on next‑gen positioning and timing capabilities, working within GMV's assured and resilient division. You will apply multi-sensor fusion and AI tools to ensure robust navigation, even under challenging conditions.

Qualifications

• Degree in Aerospace, Physics or other relevant STEM field.
• Guidance, navigation and control / control systems fundamentals.
• Programming in Python and/or C/C++.
• Flight log analysis and practical flight testing.
• Multi-sensor fusion and state estimation (vision, INS/GNSS, signals of opportunity).
• Hands-on experience with at least one open-source flight stack (ArduPilot, PX4 or Betaflight), including configuration, parameter tuning and MAVLink.

Responsibilities

• Take control algorithms from concept to flight.
• Work with open-source flight stacks alongside GMV's in-house software.
• Contribute to multi-sensor fusion positioning and timing work to support autonomous UAVs.
• Collaborate with the UAV team within the assured and resilient positioning, navigation, and timing division.

Skills

Python

C/C++

Guidance navigation and control

Flight log analysis

Multi-sensor fusion

State estimation

Vision systems

MAVLink

Education

Degree in Aerospace, Physics or other relevant STEM field

Tools

ArduPilot

PX4

Betaflight

Job description

Are you ready to build your future with an innovative and established organisation that empowers you to achieve more......

At GMV, you'll join a technology leader that's shaping tomorrow's world through innovation, collaboration, and expertise.

Join our navigation sector, where you'll be taking a leading hands‑on role in the guidance, navigation and control of our unmanned aerial vehicle platforms, from flight controller configuration and tuning through to autonomous behaviour and flight testing.

WHAT CHALLENGE WILL YOU BE TAKING ON?

This is an exciting opportunity to work on innovative UAV and resilient navigation technologies, contributing to projects that push the boundaries of autonomous systems and next‑generation positioning, navigation and timing capabilities.

Working closely with our UAV team within the assured and resilient Positioning, navigation, and timing division. You'll take control algorithms from concept to flight, working with open‑source flight stacks alongside GMV's in‑house software to make aircraft that fly well in the real world.

Alongside the UAV work, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to the diverse work of the division. Our mission is to ensure that position and timing is available and reliable everywhere and every time. We work on multi‑sensor fusion positioning using space signals of opportunity, advanced modelling and simulation, AI tools, interference detection, and much more to support users when satellite navigation is jammed or spoofed.

The ARPNT team, have a broad remit so there’s room to grow across the wider team's within GNC activities.

WHAT DO WE NEED IN OUR TEAM?

First and foremost, we are seeking a motivated candidate with a passion for drones, autonomous systems, and bringing advanced technology into the real world.

We're looking for qualifications and knowledge in the following areas, but whether your experience comes from industry, academia, or personal projects, we encourage you to apply if you're excited about pushing the boundaries of UAV and navigation technology.

• Degree in Aerospace, Physics or other relevant STEM field.


• Guidance, navigation and control / control systems fundamentals


• Programming in Python and/or C/C++


• Flight log analysis and practical flight testing


• Multi‑sensor fusion and state estimation (vision, INS/GNSS, signals of opportunity)


• Hands‑on experience with at least one open‑source flight stack (ArduPilot, PX4 or Betaflight), including configuration, parameter tuning and MAVLink.

You’ll be even more successful in this role, if you can bring knowledge and experience in the following areas:

• Multi‑rotor or fixed‑wing airframe build and integration


• 3D printing and CAD for airframes, mounts and enclosures


• Drone electronics (ESCs, motors, power systems, RX/TX)


• Computer vision / camera‑based navigation


• Experience integrating with UAV autonomy or payload APIs (e.g. DJI SDK, MAVSDK)

Owing to the nature of the work, we require someone who either has UK security clearance (SC or above), or is willing and eligible to obtain it within the next 12 months. If you're not sure, please find more information here.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-securityvetting-clearance-levels

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

• Hybrid working model and 8 weeks per year of teleworking outside your usual geographical area.


• Personalized career plan development, training and language learning support.


• Competitive compensation with ongoing reviews, flexible compensation and discount on brands.


• Wellbeing program: Health, dental and free fruit and coffee and much more!


• In our recruitment processes you will always have telephone and personal contact, face‑to‑face or online, with our talent acquisition team. In addition, bank transfers and bank cards will never be requested. If you are contacted through any other process, please write to our team at [e-mail].


• We promote equal opportunities in recruitment, and we are committed to inclusion and diversity.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Nina Miller, in charge of this vacancy.

Nina Miller