GNC Engineer

Auterion; Arlington (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Stock Options

Unlimited PTO

Health Insurance (includes dental &amp

Medical flex spending

Life Insurance

Retirement Plan - 401k with company匹

Job summary

Auterion seeks a GNC Engineer to develop and sustain guidance, navigation, and control software for the Skynode platform built on PX4. You will enable strike drone capabilities by integrating Auterion’s stack onto partner hardware, ensuring reliability in testing and field environments.

You will lead GNC feature work, perform flight- and mission-critical software design, and diagnose issues from logs to support rapid root-cause resolution with field teams. Domestic travel is expected.

Qualifications

• Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Strong grasp of flight dynamics and fundamentals of aerodynamics.
• Proficient in C/C++ (Linux based systems and memory-constrained embedded processors) and Python.
• Working knowledge of PX4 or comparable autopilot technology.
• Experience programming robotic applications in ROS/ROS2.
• Understanding of Kalman filtering and state estimation algorithms.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for a global team.
• Hands-on drone experience is a plus.
• US citizenship and eligibility to obtain secret clearance required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain GNC capabilities within PX4 and AuterionSDK, including new features and automated testing.
• Own and evolve the US guidance controller for strike applications for robustness and mission effectiveness.
• Define, analyze, and review software requirements to meet customer needs and quality targets.
• Design and implement flight- and mission-critical onboard software for unmanned systems.
• Diagnose GNC issues from field operations and flight logs, driving root-cause resolution.
• Collaborate with product, integration, and flight operations teams to support deployments and performance improvements.
• Travel to customer sites (typically 1–2 weeks) for platform integration and advanced GNC tuning.

Skills

C/C++

Python

PX4 autopilot

ROS/ROS2

Kalman filtering

Flight dynamics

Communication skills

Security clearance

Education

Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

PX4

Autopilot technology

Linux (embedded)

Job description

As a GNC Engineer, you will be responsible for developing and sustaining the guidance, navigation, and control software that powers Auterion’s Skynode platform, built on PX4. Your primary focus will be enabling strike drone capabilities, including integration of Auterion’s software stack onto partner hardware and ensuring reliable performance in operational environments. You will work closely with product and field teams to improve system performance, support deployments, and rapidly troubleshoot issues observed during testing and real-world operations.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Develop and maintain guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) capabilities within PX4 and AuterionSDK, including new features, performance improvements, and automated testing
• Own and evolve the US guidance controller for strike applications, ensuring robustness and mission effectiveness
• Define, analyze, and review software requirements to meet customer needs, system performance targets, and quality standards
• Design and implement flight- and mission-critical onboard software for unmanned systems
• Diagnose and resolve GNC-related issues from field operations through flight log analysis, providing rapid initial assessment and driving root-cause resolution
• Work closely with product, integration, and flight operations teams to support deployments and continuously improve system performance
• Travel to customer sites (typically 1–2 weeks at a time) to support platform integration, testing, and advanced GNC tuning

Qualifications and Skills:

• Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
• Strong grasp of flight dynamics and fundamentals of aerodynamics
• Proficient in C/C++ (particularly on Linux based systems and memory-constrained embedded processors) and Python
• Working knowledge of PX4 or comparable autopilot technology
• Experience programming robotic applications in ROS/ROS2
• Understanding of Kalman filtering and other state estimation algorithms
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to keep a global team fully informed
• Hands‑on drone experience, including piloting, is a plus
• US citizenship & eligibility to obtain secret clearance required.

Benefits:

• Flexible working hours
• Stock Options
• Unlimited PTO
• Health Insurance (includes dental & vision)
• Medical flex spending
• Life Insurance
• Retirement Plan - 401k with company match
• Enhanced maternity & paternity leave

About Auterion

We are building the leading software platform for AI-powered autonomous systems for enterprise and government customers. Our team is supporting the most important missions and solving the most challenging problems.

At Auterion, we bring together the sharpest minds who love to solve the hardest problems. Join a vibrant team built on innovation, openness, and excellence, where you’ll be empowered to develop ideas, collaborate across all levels, and make an impact that matters.