Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer

Zen Technologies Limited; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Zen Technologies Limited in Hyderabad seeks an experienced GNC Engineer to design, implement and validate guidance, navigation, sensor fusion and control algorithms for high-speed defence platforms.

You will work on real-time embedded software (STM32, ARM Cortex-M7), perform SITL/HITL validation, and support field test campaigns with telemetry analysis and model correlation.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in estimation theory (Kalman filtering) and control theory.
• Hands-on experience with IMU/GNSS integration and real-time embedded programming (STM32, ARM Cortex-M7, RTOS).
• Fluency in MATLAB/Simulink for rapid prototyping and C/C++ for production embedded software.
• Ability to read and interpret test telemetry: sensor traces, actuator logs, power profiles.
• 3+ years implementing guidance and navigation algorithms on real hardware, not just simulation.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement guidance laws for high-speed engagement scenarios.
• Architect and tune sensor fusion pipelines for real-time state estimation.
• Develop engagement state machines for navigation and guidance endgame.
• Implement gain-scheduled controllers stable across varying dynamics.
• Model and compensate propulsion-dependent control authority variations.

Skills

Kalman filtering

Sensor fusion

Real-time embedded programming

MATLAB/Simulink

C/C++

Telemetry analysis

Guidance & navigation algorithms

Education

B.Tech or M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering/Controls/Robotics

Tools

STM32

ARM Cortex-M7

RTOS

Job description

Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Hyderabad, Zen Technologies is a leading Indian defence technology company with a presence in India, the UAE and the USA. We design and manufacture advanced Combat Training Solutions and Counter-Drone Systems for defence and security forces worldwide. With 40+ indigenously developed products, 1,000+ training systems deployed globally and 170+ patents filed or granted, Zen is at the forefront of defence innovation. We are certified ISO 9001:2015, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and CMMI Maturity Level 5.

Role overview

We are looking for an experienced GNC Engineer to design, implement and validate guidance, navigation, sensor fusion and control algorithms. The role covers real-time embedded implementation, simulation-based validation, telemetry analysis and support for field test campaigns.

What you'll do

• Design and implement guidance laws (proportional navigation, augmented PN, zero-effort miss variants) for high-speed engagement scenarios
• Architect and tune sensor fusion pipelines that combine IMU, GNSS and seeker inputs through extended/unscented Kalman filters for real-time state estimation
• Develop engagement state machines covering midcourse navigation, terminal acquisition, seeker handoff and guidance-driven endgame
• Implement gain-scheduled controllers that stay stable across widely varying dynamic pressure and velocity regimes
• Model and compensate for propulsion-dependent control authority variations, including power source degradation effects on actuator responsiveness
• Run Monte Carlo miss distance analyses across target manoeuvre profiles, sensor noise, latency and atmospheric disturbances
• Work with the simulation engineer to validate algorithms in SITL and HITL environments before field testing
• Support field test campaigns: pre-test prediction, real-time telemetry monitoring, post-test data analysis and model correlation

What you'll need

• Strong foundation in estimation theory (Kalman filtering, sensor fusion) and control theory (classical PID, LQR, robust control, gain scheduling)
• Hands-on experience with IMU/GNSS integration and real-time embedded programming (STM32, ARM Cortex-M7, RTOS)
• Fluency in MATLAB/Simulink for rapid prototyping and C/C++ for production embedded software
• Ability to read and interpret test telemetry: sensor traces, actuator logs, power profiles
• Strong analytical skills, with comfort deriving guidance laws from first principles and validating them against measured data
• 3+ years implementing guidance and navigation algorithms on real hardware, not simulation only
• B.Tech or M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering, Controls, Robotics or a related discipline

Nice to have

• Experience with missile or terminal homing guidance, including target motion analysis and engagement geometry optimisation
• Prior work on autonomous UAV navigation, control or guidance, particularly high-speed or high-g regimes
• Familiarity with PX4/ArduPilot and MAVLink
• Background in counter-UAS systems, loitering munitions or autonomous engagement platforms