GNC Engineer III (TX)

ConsultNet Technology Services and Solutions; Fort Worth (TX); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

ConsultNet Technology Services and Solutions seeks a GNC Engineer III to develop, integrate, and validate guidance, navigation, and controls for autonomous heavy-equipment applications. You will work on localization, state estimation, trajectory planning, and system dynamics to ensure safe operation across challenging terrains.

The role requires 5+ years in robotics-related controls and strong C++/Python skills, plus MATLAB/Simulink and ROS/ROS2 experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field such as Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Robotics, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science.
• 5+ years of experience in controls, navigation, robotics, vehicle dynamics, state estimation, or autonomous systems.
• Strong understanding of control theory, including feedback control, PID, stability, and dynamics.
• Experience developing and tuning control algorithms on robotic, automotive, aerospace, industrial, or heavy-equipment systems.
• Experience with localization, navigation, trajectory generation, path tracking, or state estimation.
• Proficiency in C++ and Python and MATLAB/Simulink or equivalent tools.
• Experience developing software in Linux environments.
• Familiarity with ROS/ROS2 or similar middleware.
• Understanding of coordinate systems, transformations, and vehicle dynamics.
• Experience with simulation, testing, version control, automated testing, and CI.

Responsibilities

• Develop, integrate, tune, and validate GNC algorithms for autonomous vehicle applications.
• Develop motion-control capabilities including path tracking, trajectory following, steering, propulsion, braking, and speed control.
• Design and tune feedback-control algorithms to improve stability, accuracy, responsiveness, and performance.
• Develop localization and state-estimation solutions using GNSS/GPS, inertial sensors, odometry, encoders, and other data.
• Contribute to trajectory generation, path planning, and motion-planning solutions.
• Develop vehicle-dynamics and system models for controller design, simulation, and analysis.
• Integrate GNC algorithms with perception, planning, embedded software, and vehicle-control systems.
• Evaluate performance using SIL, HIL, replay, and field testing.
• Analyze vehicle logs to identify performance issues and edge cases.
• Develop tools and scripts for simulation, data processing, visualization, automated testing, and tuning.
• Troubleshoot issues involving control, localization, sensor timing, coordinates, and integration.
• Own assigned GNC features through development, testing, and field validation.
• Document algorithms, models, interfaces, results, and limitations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams through design reviews and investigations.

Skills

C++

Python

MATLAB/Simulink

ROS/ROS2

Linux

Control theory

Kalman filters

State estimation

Trajectory planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Computer Engineering, Computer Science

Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Engineering/Robotics/Controls

Tools

Git

CAN

ROS/ROS2

Job description

Title: Guidance, Navigation & Controls (GNC) Engineer III

Location : Dallas/Ft Worth region (hybrid, onsite 3x/wk)

Target Start Date : ASAP

Type: Contract (2-3+ years)

Pay Rate : $52.54-$69.38/hr

Job Summary

Our client, a global leader in advanced autonomous and robotic solutions across multiple industries, is seeking a GNC Engineer III to develop, integrate, and validate Guidance, Navigation, and Controls algorithms for autonomous heavy-equipment applications. This role focuses on vehicle dynamics, localization, state estimation, trajectory planning, path tracking, and control systems to enable safe, accurate, and reliable autonomous operation across challenging terrain and operating conditions.

Responsibilities

• Develop, integrate, tune, and validate GNC algorithms for autonomous vehicle applications.


• Develop motion-control capabilities including path tracking, trajectory following, steering, propulsion, braking, and speed control.


• Design and tune feedback-control algorithms to improve stability, accuracy, responsiveness, and performance.


• Develop localization and state-estimation solutions using GNSS/GPS, inertial sensors, odometry, encoders, and other vehicle data.


• Contribute to trajectory generation, path planning, and motion-planning solutions.


• Develop vehicle-dynamics and system models for controller design, simulation, and performance analysis.


• Integrate GNC algorithms with perception, task planning, embedded software, vehicle-control systems, and other subsystems.


• Evaluate performance using simulation, software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), recorded-data replay, and field testing.


• Analyze vehicle logs and field data to identify performance issues, localization errors, control instability, and edge cases.


• Develop tools and scripts for simulation, data processing, visualization, automated testing, controller tuning, and performance analysis.


• Troubleshoot issues involving control behavior, localization, sensor timing, coordinate systems, and system integration.


• Own assigned GNC features through development, integration, testing, and field validation.


• Document algorithms, mathematical models, software interfaces, test results, and system limitations.


• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering and field teams through design reviews, code reviews, testing, and technical investigations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.


• 5+ years of experience in controls, navigation, robotics, vehicle dynamics, state estimation, or autonomous systems.


• Strong understanding of control theory, including feedback control, PID control, stability, and system dynamics.


• Experience developing and tuning control algorithms on physical robotic, automotive, aerospace, industrial, or heavy-equipment systems.


• Experience with localization, navigation, trajectory generation, path tracking, or state estimation.


• Proficiency in C++ and Python and experience with MATLAB/Simulink or comparable engineering tools.


• Experience developing software in Linux-based environments.


• Familiarity with ROS/ROS2 or comparable robotics middleware.


• Understanding of coordinate systems, transformations, vehicle kinematics, and vehicle dynamics.


• Experience with simulation and test data analysis, version control, automated testing, and continuous integration.


• Strong analytical, mathematical, troubleshooting, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Engineering, Robotics, Controls, or a related discipline.


• Experience with autonomous vehicles, construction equipment, heavy machinery, mobile robots, or off-road platforms.


• Experience with Kalman filters, EKF, particle filters, or other state-estimation techniques.


• Experience with GNSS/RTK, IMUs, odometry, encoders, and multi-sensor localization.


• Experience with model-based design, system identification, controller tuning, or vehicle-dynamics modeling.


• Knowledge of optimization-based control, model predictive control, trajectory optimization, or motion planning.


• Experience integrating algorithms with vehicle-control units, embedded controllers, CAN networks, or drive-by-wire systems.


• Experience with SIL, HIL, and recorded-data replay testing.


• Familiarity with functional safety and validation of autonomous or safety-critical systems.

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