Guidance and Control Engineer for Flight Systems

Leidos; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Secret clearance

Job summary

Leidos Defense Systems Sector in Huntsville, AL is seeking a Guidance and Control Engineer to advance navigation algorithms for air, land, and sea flight systems. You will develop and analyze 6-DOF simulations and flight software, and support flight tests with pre- and post-flight analyses.

The role requires a degree in engineering or physics, MATLAB/Simulink, and C/C++ expertise, with the ability to obtain a Secret clearance and work on-site in North Alabama.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or physics and 2-4 years of work or Master’s degree in engineering or physics and research in areas such as feedback control system design, trajectory optimization, guidance, and/or optimal estimation with knowledge of basic aerodynamic principles.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.
• Strong math skills in linear algebra, matrix math, statistics, trigonometry and coordinate transformation. Candidates must be experienced in MATLAB, Simulink, and C/C++ programming.
• Candidates must also possess solid technical communication skills and an ability to work in both collaborative team environments and independently.
• Candidates must be a resident of the North Alabama area or willing to relocate in order to work on-site at the Huntsville, AL office.

Responsibilities

• Development and analysis of guidance and autopilot algorithms, implementation of these items in 6-DOF simulations and operational flight software.
• Additionally, the candidate should be capable of conducting trade studies for design decisions, developing techniques to assess, validate and verify performance, and supporting flight tests with pre-flight predictions and post-flight analyses.

Skills

MATLAB

Simulink

C/C++ programming

Linear algebra

Statistics

Trigonometry

Coordinate transformation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or physics

Master’s degree in engineering or physics

Job description

Description

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact? At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.

Leidos Defense Systems Sector

Provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. The Defense Sector at Leidos currently has an opening for Guidance and Control Engineer to work in our Huntsville, AL office. This is an exciting opportunity to support rapid development for navigation of air, land, and sea launched flight systems. Leidos is expanding the navigation team due to recent growing programs, such as the AGM-190/A Small Cruise Missile, US SOCOM’s GBU 69/B Small Glide Munition, multiple Hypersonic Missile programs, DARPA’s Gremlins program, and other rapid development efforts.

Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world’s toughest security challenges for customers with “can’t fail” missions.

Primary Responsibilities

Development and analysis of guidance and autopilot algorithms, implementation of these items in 6-DOF simulations and operational flight software. Additionally, the candidate should be capable of conducting trade studies for design decisions, developing techniques to assess, validate and verify performance, and supporting flight tests with pre-flight predictions and post-flight analyses.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or physics and 2-4 years of work or Master’s degree in engineering or physics and research in areas such as feedback control system design, trajectory optimization, guidance, and/or optimal estimation with knowledge of basic aerodynamic principles.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.
• Strong math skills are required in the areas of linear algebra, matrix math, statistics, trigonometry and coordinate transformation. Candidates must be experienced in MATLAB, Simulink, and C/C++ programming. Candidates must also possess solid technical communication skills and an ability to work in both collaborative team environments and independently.
• Candidates must be a resident of the North Alabama area or willing to relocate in order to work on-site at the Huntsville, AL office.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity and experience with Department of War digital engineering paradigm, experience with flight vehicles, guided munitions and/or unmanned aerial systems.
• Masters degree or doctorate in engineering or physics is strongly desired.
• Current active Secret or higher level clearance.
• Familiarity with LQR/LQG, Kalman filtering, and nonlinear control techniques such as NDI and adaptive control.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting

August 18, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range

Pay Range $69,550.00 - $125,725.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.