Guidance, Navigation and Controls Manager

Zone 5 Technologies; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 177,000 - 209,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k with company-match

4 weeks PTO

12 annual holidays

Job summary

Zone 5 Technologies is seeking a GNC Engineering Manager to lead the guidance, navigation, and control software for UAVs. You will oversee a team of engineers, coordinate with cross-functional groups, and ensure safety, performance, and DO-178C/ARP4754 compliance across the software lifecycle.

Responsibilities include technical direction, architecture oversight, integration with hardware and sensors, validation through HITL and flight tests, and certification leadership to advance autonomy and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or related field; master's preferred.
• 7+ years in GNC engineering with at least 3 years in leadership roles.
• Expertise in MATLAB/Simulink and embedded systems.
• Solid knowledge of control theory, flight dynamics, and SWIL/HWIL simulations.
• Experience with life-cycle tools and workflows (Git, GitHub, JIRA, CI/CD).
• Familiarity with safety-critical systems and DO-178C/ARP4754.

Responsibilities

• Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing GNC engineering team developing mission-critical embedded software for UAV flight control, communications, mission planning, and data processing.
• Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance for GNC algorithms ensuring safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate with product/program managers to define scope, allocate resources, set priorities, and manage schedules for flight control and payload software.
• Collaborate with cross-functional groups to ensure seamless integration with hardware, sensors, and ground control systems.
• Oversee verification and validation activities including unit testing, simulation, HITL, and flight testing.
• Ensure development follows certification frameworks and safety standards such as DO-178C and ARP4754.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and drive adoption into product roadmaps for autonomy and mission capabilities.
• Refine development practices, coding standards, test methodologies, and documentation processes.
• Coordinate with stakeholders across product, systems engineering, hardware, and flight operations.
• Ensure creation and maintenance of design artifacts, test plans, certification docs, and user manuals.

Skills

MATLAB/Simulink

Control theory

Flight dynamics

Embedded systems

SWIL/HWIL simulations

Git/GitHub/JIRA/CI/CD

Communication & collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Git

GitHub

JIRA

CI/CD

Job description

At Zone 5 Technologies, we're redefining what's possible in unmanned aircraft systems. Our team of engineers and innovators is developing cutting-edge autonomous solutions that push the boundaries of UAS technology - solving complex challenges that matter.

We're building the future of UAS capabilities, and we're looking for exceptional talent to join us. If you're driven by hard problems, energized by rapid innovation, and ready to make an impact on next-generation flight systems, you belong here.

We're looking for a people-first Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineering Manager to oversee the development, integration, and maintenance of the guidance, navigation, control and analysis domains of our software for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This role involves leading a team of GNC engineers, collaborating with cross-functional teams (aero, software, hardware, systems, and flight operations), and ensuring that all software complies with safety, performance, and regulatory requirements. The candidate will be responsible for the entire software development lifecycle, from requirements gathering through design, implementation, and validation.

GNC Engineering Manager – Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Management: Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing GNC engineering team developing mission-critical embedded software for UAV flight control, communications, mission planning, and data processing.
• Technical Direction & Architecture Oversight: Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance for GNC algorithms, ensuring scalability, safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
• Project & Execution Coordination: Coordinate with product and program managers to define project scope, allocate resources, set priorities, and manage software development schedules for flight control, mission management, and payload software programs.
• Systems Integration & Delivery: Collaborate with cross-functional engineering groups to ensure seamless integration of GNC software with hardware, sensors, communication systems, and ground control systems.
• Quality Assurance & Safety: Oversee verification and validation activities, including unit testing, simulation, hardware-in-the-loop (HITL), and flight testing to ensure performance, robustness, and safety of delivered software.
• Compliance & Certification Leadership: Ensure development follows certification frameworks and safety standards such as DO-178C, ARP4754, and other UAV regulatory requirements.
• Innovation & Technology Strategy: Evaluate emerging technologies and drive adoption into product roadmaps, supporting advancement in autonomy, communications, and mission capabilities.
• Process Improvement: Help refine development best practices, coding standards, test methodologies, and documentation processes to support scalability and efficiency.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Align software engineering goals with product, business, and operational requirements by coordinating closely with program and product management, systems engineering, hardware engineering, and flight operations teams.
• Documentation Oversight: Ensure creation and maintenance of high-quality documentation including design artifacts, test plans, certification documentation, and user manuals.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field (master's degree preferred).
• Experience: Minimum of 7+ years of GNC engineering experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership, management, or team-lead role.
• Skills:
• Expertise in MATLAB/Simulink and auto-code generation for embedded systems.
• Advanced knowledge of control theory, flight dynamics, and embedded systems.
• Proven ability to run and analyze SWIL and HWIL simulations.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills
• Knowledge of software development lifecycle tools and workflow systems (Git, GitHub, JIRA, CI/CD).
• Demonstrated ability to lead diverse technical teams, communicate effectively, and drive results in a fast-paced engineering environment.
• Familiarity with safety-critical systems and certification standards such as DO-178C and ARP4754.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading multi- disciplinary engineering teams.
• Knowledge of advanced control techniques and optimization algorithms.
• History of contributing to successful flight test programs and R&D projects.
• Experience with Group 1-4 UAS flight controls software design
• Prior involvement in scaling engineering teams or multi-program software organizations.

Pay range for this role

$177,000 - $209,000 USD

What's in it for you:

• Comprehensive benefit package options include medical, dental, vision, life, and more.
• 401k with company-match
• 4 weeks of paid time off each year
• 12 annual company holidays

Why Join Zone 5 Technologies?

• Innovative Environment: Work on cutting-edge technology that is shaping the future of defense and aerospace.
• Collaborative Culture: Join a team of passionate professionals dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what's possible.
• Career Growth: Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Zone 5 Technologies is a federal contractor and participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. As required by law, we will verify the identity and employment authorization of all new employees using the E-Verify system. Learn more about your rights and responsibilities under E-Verify: https://www.e-verify.gov.