Director of Navigation Engineering

Mackinnon Bruce International; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Mackinnon Bruce International is assisting a client seeking a senior technology leader to own GNSS hardware design and GPS/GNSS navigation development. The role emphasizes hands-on contribution with a small, specialist engineering team and close collaboration with the CTO on strategy.

The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in GNSS, sensor fusion, Kalman filtering, and signal processing, with a track record in defence, aerospace, or related navigation markets, and a genuine passion for

Qualifications

• Active, hands-on expertise in GNSS hardware design and navigation applications.
• Strong fundamentals in sensor fusion, Kalman filtering, and signal processing.
• Track record delivering commercial products in defence, aerospace, or adjacent navigation markets.

Responsibilities

• Own GNSS hardware design and GPS/GNSS navigation development as day-one priority.
• Apply deep expertise in sensor fusion, Kalman filtering, and signal processing to live engineering challenges.
• Drive R&D across GNSS, INS, and IMU product lines.
• Contribute to APNT innovation, from GPS alternatives to LiDAR or vision-based navigation.
• Architect and build hands-on across inertial navigation and positioning technologies.
• Mentor and lead a small, specialized engineering team.
• Collaborate with the CTO to shape long-term technology strategy.

Skills

GNSS hardware

Sensor fusion

Kalman filtering

Signal processing

Navigation algorithms

Leadership

Job description

Our client builds navigation and inertial systems used across some of the most demanding environments on the planet - defence platforms, aerospace applications, and autonomous systems where precision, reliability, and innovation are non-negotiable.

They're an incredibly high-growth, technically driven business led by engineers who care deeply about the calibre of their work. Hierarchy is flat. The culture is hands-on. And the problems they're solving are challenging. Their journey has taken them from chip-scale sensors to high-performance tactical grade IMUs over the last 2 decades, this appointment isthe next step in that journey.

The Opportunity

Reporting directly to the CTO, this is a senior technology leadership role with real engineering substance at its core. The immediate focus is GNSS receiver design and GPS/GNSS navigation in harsh and GNSS-denied environments, this is where you'll make an impact from day one. You'll be working at the application level: signal processing, navigation algorithms, sensor fusion, Kalman filtering. The fundamentals that make navigation systems work in these environments.

Over time, the role broadens. Into sensor architecture and inertial navigation systems. Into APNT, alternatives to GPS, vision-based sensing, multi-technology integration and everything at the forefront of the field. You'll help shape where the business goes technically over the next decade or more.

This is not a role for someone who wants to manage from a distance. The expectation is that you stay close to the engineering, hands-on, technically contributing, with a small specialist team around you.

What You'll Be Doing

• Owning GNSS hardware design and GPS/GNSS navigation development as the day-one priority
• Applying deep expertise in sensor fusion, Kalman filtering, and signal processing to live engineering challenges
• Driving R&D across GNSS, INS, and IMU product lines
• Contributing to APNT innovation, from alternatives to GPS, LiDAR, vision-based navigation, quantum sensing
• Architecting and building hands-on across inertial navigation and positioning technologies
• Mentoring and leading a small, highly specialised engineering team
• Collaborating directly with the CTO to shape long-term technology strategy

What We're Looking For

You must bring:

• Active, hands-on expertise in GNSS / GPS. A specialty in GNSS receiver design and navigation applications is a huge bonus
• Strong fundamentals in sensor fusion, Kalman filtering, and signal processing
• A track record of delivering commercial products in defence, aerospace, or adjacent navigation markets
• The ability and desire to stay technically hands-on at a senior level

It's an advantage if you also have:

• Exposure to APNT technologies, alternatives to GPS, LiDAR, vision-based or quantum navigation
• ASIC or transducer design background

The Kind of Person Who Fits

You've probably held a principal, staff, or fellow-level engineering title, or a technology director role where you kept your hands dirty. You might speak at conferences, publish work, or be known in the inertial and navigation community. You got into this field because the problems are interesting and you stay at the forefront of the field.

You're looking for an interesting technical challenge in a business where your knowledge directly shapes future success. A business where the people, culture and your personality matter just as much as your technical prowess.

The Details

• Location: Texas
• Reporting: Directly to the CTO.

Interested?

This search is being managed exclusively by Mackinnon Bruce International.

Candidates from defence, aerospace, autonomous systems, space, and adjacent navigation sectors are all encouraged to apply - discipline is less important than technology. If you work in GNSS, INS, sensor fusion, or signal processing at a senior level, we'd like to hear from you.