GNC Engineer, Navigation-focused

Stratolaunch; California, Northern (MO, KY); Hybrid; USD 121,000 - 237,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid maternity/paternity leave

401(k) match

Job summary

Stratolaunch is seeking a Sr, Staff, or Principal Level GNC Engineer focused on navigation to help develop hypersonic vehicle flight control systems. You will design, verify requirements, and test flight control components using navigation algorithms and simulations.

The role involves evaluating a broad range of technical data and requires the ability to obtain a security clearance. Hybrid work from Mojave, CA with travel allowed.

Qualifications

• Experience with navigation system design, development and testing on aerospace systems.
• Kalman filtering and other estimation techniques experience.
• GPS-aided strapdown navigation implementation experience.
• Experience with navigation simulation models and flight test data.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and evaluate advanced navigation algorithms.
• Develop navigation models and simulations to predict performance.
• Verify algorithms meet requirements through analyses.
• Contribute to flight control system design, development, and test.
• Develop engineering tools as needed to complete tasks.
• Communicate with Vehicle Management System and GNC Leads.
• Demonstrate honesty, responsibility, integrity, and commitments.

Skills

Navigation design

Kalman filtering

GPS/INS integration

Inertial sensors

Flight test data analysis

MATLAB/Simulink

Git/Bitbucket

MS Office

C/C++

Python

Education

Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in a related field

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

Git

Bitbucket

MS Office

Job description

Stratolaunch is a technology accelerator that engineers operationally realistic testing at Mach 5+. Our air-launched, Talon testbeds are reusable, cost-effective platforms that enable routine access to the hypersonic environment. We deliver flight data critical to validating system performance and achieving rapid technology deployment. Together with our customers, we drive innovations that are imperative to advancing national security.

To help achieve these efforts, Stratolaunch is seeking a Sr, Staff, or Principal Level Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer, with a focus in navigation, to participate in the development of hypersonic vehicle flight control systems. You will contribute to the design, development, requirements verification, and test execution for hypersonic vehicle flight control systems. This position will include evaluation of a broad range of technical data.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Development and evaluation of advanced algorithms to satisfy navigation requirements
• Development of navigation models and simulations to predict navigation performance
• Perform analyses to verify algorithm designs meet requirements
• Contributions to aspects of the overall flight control system design, development, implementation, integration, and test
• Development of engineering tools, as needed, to complete the tasking
• Regular and comprehensive communication to the Vehicle Management System and GNC Leads
• Demonstrate honesty, responsibility, integrity, and fulfillment of commitments

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience with navigation system design, development and testing on aerospace systems
• Experience in Kalman filtering, Extended Kalman filtering, and other estimation techniques
• Experience implementing tightly coupled GPS aided strapdown navigation solutions
• Experience building navigators to operate in contested environments and resilience approaches
• Experience with inertial measurements systems and common errors, drifts, and biases
• Experience developing and anchoring navigation simulation models to flight test data
• Familiarity with design robustness to address reset, initialization, dropout, and outlier rejection
• Familiarity with Anti-Jam approaches for modern GPS receivers such as CRPAs
• Familiarity with transfer alignment approaches for missile systems on military platforms
• Fundamental knowledge and understanding of flight dynamics and GPS technology
• Experience with software development processes and methodologies
• Ability to take initiative and prioritize tasking to fit within business goals
• Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance

Required Computer Skills:

• Proficient with Matlab and Simulink
• Proficient with revision control tools (Git, Bitbucket)
• Proficient with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience implementing and troubleshooting closed loop GPS simulations in HIL environments
• Experience fusing multiple navigation aiding sources including non-GPS based data sources
• Experience with alternative aiding approaches for denied or degraded environments (e.g. TDOA)
• Experience implementing mitigations to electronic attack, and navigation signal spoofing in hardware and software for navigation systems
• Experience with cold start, warm start, and hot start for GPS systems
• Experience estimating wind relative angles utilizing synthetic air data and navigator states
• Experience with hypersonic or near-hypersonic missile or launch vehicle design
• Familiarity with P(Y) and M code GPS receivers and cryptographic keying of GPS receivers
• Familiarity with adjoint methods for miss distance decomposition and allocation
• Familiarity with trackers, target discrimination and classification, and aimpoint refinement
• Familiarity with collaborative navigation and targeting utilizing missile-to-missile datalinks
• Algorithm requirements development, design, implementation, test, and post-flight analysis
• Advanced degree with technical focus in GNC relevant areas
• TS/SCI security clearance

Preferred Computer Skills:

• Familiar with C/C++ and Python

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Sr-level ($120,500-$158,000): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 5-10 years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience
• Staff Level ($157,000-$206,000): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 10-20 years of engineering experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience
• Principal Level ($181,000-$237,200): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 20-25 years of engineering experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience

Special remarks regarding work environment, if applicable

• Position based in Mojave, CA. Consideration for hybrid (partial remote/on-site work) work location arrangement for well-qualified candidates.
• Travel, as needed, to support the department. Travel estimated to be <5%

Base salary and leveling are established on a case‑case basis. We consider several factors to ensure a competitive offer, including your location, educational background, and a comprehensive assessment of the skills and experience demonstrated during your interviews.
Benefits and our location(s):

• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
• 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500

This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties.

Mojave Air & Spaceport is located just outside of Lancaster/Palmdale and is only 95 miles north of Los Angeles. The area offers both affordability and central access to a variety of California's best attractions and landmarks.

Not much for the outdoors and prefer the city life? You’re within a half day’s drive or less of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco where you can find a variety of live entertainment, museums, tours, and historical sight‑seeing. Theme parks are in abundance, with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm ready to meet the needs of rollercoaster thrill seekers.

Food and drink fanatics are in a haven of delectable choices. Wine aficionados will also find easy access to some of the state’s best vino in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and even more locally in Tehachapi and Agua Dulce. Beer fanatics will find some of the best West Coast IPAs at Bravery and Lucky Luke’s in Lancaster. Any food option you crave is covered, and we always recommend the authentic and fresh Mexican food that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States.

Stratolaunch is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at our company. We encourage people from all walks of life to apply, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our management team does not tolerate discrimination or harassment at any point during our employees’ and applicants’ time with us, especially with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment. For purposes of transparency, U.S. Citizenship may be required for some positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law: