Guidance Navigation Control Engineer

PDS Defense, Inc.; Chandler (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

PDS Defense, Inc. is seeking a senior aerospace engineer to lead the development and evaluation of guidance, navigation, and control systems for aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and launch vehicles.

You will architect 6-DOF simulations, define performance metrics, and integrate hardware and software to ensure reliability and mission success. You will mentor engineers, set technical direction on GNC approaches, and collaborate across integration, test, and analysis activities with cross-functional

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of professional experience, or Master's with 6+, or PhD with 4+ years.
• Security clearance at Secret level required.
• Experience with guidance, navigation, and/or control concepts for aerospace or missile systems.
• Proficiency in C++, Python, MATLAB/Simulink in Linux environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and verification of GNC software and 6-DOF simulations.
• Define performance metrics and optimize flight algorithms and code.
• Mentor early career engineers and provide technical direction.
• Present results, risks, and recommendations to program leadership.

Skills

Guidance navigation control

Leadership mentoring

6-DOF simulations

C++

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's degree in engineering

PhD in engineering

Tools

C++

Python

MATLAB/Simulink

Jira

Job description

In this role, you will lead the development and evaluation of guidance, navigation, and control systems for advanced aerospace applications, including aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and launch vehicles. You will apply mathematical modeling, control theory, and algorithm development to achieve precise navigation and control performance and will own key analysis and design tasks. Your work will include architecting and maintaining six degrees of freedom (6 DOF) simulations, defining performance metrics, designing and implementing solutions, and integrating hardware and software components to help ensure system reliability and mission success. You will mentor early career engineers, provide technical direction on GNC approaches, and collaborate with cross functional teams across integration, test, and analysis activities.

Responsibilities include

leading the design, development, implementation, verification, and test of high quality software and simulation toolchains; owning the development and maintenance of six degree of freedom (6 DOF) simulations used to design, analyze, and validate flight algorithms and flight code; optimizing flight and simulation software for performance, robustness, and maintainability; defining and executing trajectory analysis and optimization campaigns to evaluate mission performance and GNC designs; and presenting technical results, risks, and recommendations to program leadership.

This position is contingent upon obtaining and maintaining required program access(es) within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company.

Basic Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree with 8 years of professional experience, or a Master's degree with 6 years of professional experience, or a PhD with 4 years of professional experience, in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related engineering discipline. Must have an existing U.S. Government security clearance at the Secret level.

Demonstrated experience with guidance, navigation, and/or control concepts, algorithms, or analysis for aerospace or missile systems.

Experience leading or significantly contributing to development, modeling, simulation, test, integration, or analysis activities for aerospace or autonomous systems.

Proficiency with one or more of the following: C++, Python, MATLAB/Simulink, or similar technical software tools, with development in a Linux environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's or PhD in a relevant engineering discipline. Strong foundation in control systems theory and guidance law design, including application to flight software.

Navigation experience including Kalman filters, GPS anti jam techniques, and M code, with demonstrated ability to analyze and tune performance.

Experience with tracking, discrimination, and state estimation algorithms for aerospace or autonomous systems. Competence in C++, Python, Jira, and development in a Linux environment, including use of modern software engineering practices such as version control and continuous integration.