Senior GNC Engineer

applied; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Intuition Defence UK is seeking a Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer to design, integrate, and test core flight autonomy capabilities for aerial UAS platforms. You will work across multiple programs to adapt GNC algorithms and contribute to reusable software across the stack.

The role requires a strong background in control theory and hands-on experience with C++, PX4/ArduPilot, and flight testing. A security clearance is preferred and collaboration with external vendors is expected.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field required.
• 6+ years of hands-on GNC software experience for autonomous systems.
• Experience developing autonomy algorithms in C++.
• Experience with outer-loop control or path planning algorithms.
• Strong foundation in control theory, dynamics, and optimization applied to autonomous systems.
• Experience modeling 3DoF/6DoF air vehicle dynamics for GNC development.
• Experience with UAS GNC/navigation systems such as PX4 and ArduPilot.

Responsibilities

• Design, integrate, and rigorously test core flight autonomy capabilities across the full range of aerial UAS platforms.
• Develop and adapt GNC algorithms and software across multiple programs for reuse in the core stack.
• Collaborate with third-party UAS vendors to integrate autonomy software onto OEM hardware.

Skills

C++ development

Autonomy algorithms

Flight data analysis

PX4/ArduPilot

Docker

Linux

Education

Master's degree in Aerospace/Robotics/EE/ME/CS

Tools

Docker

Job description

Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company’s solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co.

We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that full-time employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments. This in-office expectation does not apply to contractor positions

GNC Engineer

About Applied Intuition Defence

Applied Intuition UK is a software and infrastructure supplier that accelerates the deployment of next-generation autonomous capabilities to the warfighter across air, land, sea, and space. A subsidiary of Applied Intuition, we deliver dual-use solutions to national security customers that build upon several years of product development and experience from commercial autonomy programs. Based in London, our seasoned defence team hails from Palantir, Anduril, SpaceX, Google, Lockheed Martin, and the UK and US Armed Services. Learn more at appliedintuitiondefense.com.

About the role

As a Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer at Applied, you'll be at the forefront of defense aerial autonomy. You'll design, integrate, and rigorously test core flight autonomy capabilities across the full range of aerial UAS platforms, from agile quadrotors to long-range fixed wings. Partnering with teams across the company, you'll create and adapt GNC algorithms to the unique requirements of each program, contributing directly to our core software stack so your work becomes a reusable capability that powers every program, not just one. The mission is bold and the stakes are real: you'll be engineering the systems that give our military an unmatched edge in the skies.

At Applied, you will:

• Write software that operates real autonomous aircraft systems including group 1-5 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as simulated models to accomplish tactical military missions
• Build, leverage, and improve aerial autonomy software architectures that are ultimately tested and deployed on real systems to accomplish military missions
• Collaborate with 3rd party UAS vehicle vendors to develop and integrate aerial autonomy software onto OEM hardware

We're looking for someone who has:

• Master's degree in Aerospace, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science or similar field
• 6+ years of hands-on experience developing GNC software for autonomous systems
• Experience developing autonomy algorithms in C++
• Experience developing or implementing outer-loop control systems or path planning algorithms
• Strong foundation in control theory, dynamics, and optimization, with experience applying them to real-world autonomous systems
• Experience developing and simulating 3DoF or 6DoF models of air vehicles to support GNC algorithm development
• Experience with flight testing and performing data analysis
• Experience with UAS GNC/navigation systems such as PX4 and Ardupilot
• Strong functional, procedural, data-oriented, and object-oriented programming experience

Travel Requirements:

• General willingness to travel for company business between our offices, as well as to customer sites

Security Requirements:

• Must have ability to hold UK Security Clearance (current or previous preferred)

Nice to have:

• Ability to use data visualization and debugging tools to support autonomy control development
• Experience developing in Docker and containerized development environments, using Linux-based operating systems (e.g., RHEL, Ubuntu), source control systems, and artifact registries
• Understanding of key technologies: C++, Python, DevOps, Containers, Linux
• Familiarity with software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) development and testing
• Experience with Bazel
• Experience working projects related to national security for one or more government agencies
• References who will describe them as low-ego, highly motivated, thoughtfully opinionated, strong communicators and curious listeners

Don’t meet every single requirement? If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws.

FOR US-BASED ROLES:

Applied Intuition is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive application and interview experience to applicants who are disabled veterans and other applicants with disabilities or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations are available, requesting an accommodation will not affect your candidacy in any way, and you are not required to disclose the nature of your disability or medical condition in order to make a request. If you require an accommodation please contact [e-mail]. We will work with you!