Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineer for Flight Systems

Leidos; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 108,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos Defense Sector in Huntsville, AL seeks a Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineer to advance flight-system guidance for air, land, and sea platforms. The role focuses on developing algorithms, simulations, and flight software for 6-DOF models.

You will perform trade studies, validate performance, and support flight tests with pre- and post-flight analyses. A Bachelor's in engineering or physics and 8–10 years of related experience are required, plus the ability to obtain a Secret

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or physics.
• 8–10 years of experience in state estimation, GPS navigation, trajectory optimization, guidance, and/or optimal estimation with basic aerodynamics knowledge.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and analyze guidance, navigation and autopilot algorithms; implement in 6-DOF simulations and operational flight software.
• Conduct trade studies, develop verification/validation techniques, support flight tests with pre-flight predictions and post-flight analyses.

Skills

State estimation

GPS navigation

Control systems

Trajectory optimization

Guidance algorithms

MATLAB/Simulink

Math

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or physics

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

Job description

The Defense Sector at Leidos currently has an opening for Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineer to work in our Huntsville, AL office. This is an exciting opportunity to support rapid development for guidance and control of air, land, and sea launched flight systems. Leidos is expanding the guidance and control team due to recent growing programs, such as the AGM-190/A Small Cruise Missile, DoW Low Cost Containerized Munition, US SOCOM GBU 69/B Small Glide Munition, multiple Hypersonic Missile programs, MDA Low Cost Interceptor, and other rapid development efforts.

Job responsibilities

• Development and analysis of guidance, navigation and autopilot algorithms, implementation of these items in 6-DOF simulations and operational flight software.
• Conduct trade studies for design decisions, develop techniques to assess, validate and verify performance, and support flight tests with pre-flight predictions and post-flight analyses.

Basic qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or physics.
• 8-10 years of work and experience in areas such as state estimation algorithms, GPS navigation techniques, 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.

Other qualifications

• Strong math skills are required in the areas of linear algebra, matrix math, statistics, trigonometry and coordinate transformation.
• Experience in MATLAB and Simulink programming.
• Solid technical communication skills and an ability to work in both collaborative team environments and independently.
• 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.
• Experience in terrestrial navigation, SAASM, M-Code, and GPS-denied operations are also desired.

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: September 23, 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 $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and 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.