Perception & Guidance Engineer - UAS (Aerospace Division)

Systems Technology, Inc. (STI); Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental and vision plans

ESOP

401(k) plan

Job summary

Systems Technology, Inc. (STI) in Hawthorne/Los Angeles, CA is seeking a Perception & Guidance Engineer - UAS to own the pipeline from raw camera frames to steering commands, developing detection, tracking, state estimation, and guidance laws for next-generation counter-UAS and interceptor platforms.

You'll work with embedded and systems engineering, ensure real-time performance on constrained flight hardware, participate in flight testing, and translate perception outputs into flight-control

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of professional experience in computer vision, guidance/navigation algorithms, or closely related controls/estimation work.
• Proficiency in Python and/or C++ for algorithm development.
• Working knowledge of computer vision fundamentals and/or classical guidance laws.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement detection and tracking algorithms for visual seeker systems.
• Develop state estimation for target position and velocity from visual data, with eye toward sensor fusion.
• Design and tune guidance laws for terminal-phase target intercept.
• Work with embedded engineers to run algorithms in real time on constrained flight hardware.
• Define and validate interfaces between perception/guidance outputs and flight control/mission systems.
• Support hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop simulations to evaluate algorithm performance before flight.
• Participate in flight testing, telemetry analysis, and post-flight debugging of guidance performance.
• Collaborate with GNC engineers to ensure guidance outputs fit flight-control assumptions.
• Maintain code quality through version control and structured testing.

Skills

Python/C++

Computer vision

Kalman filtering

Guidance/navigation algorithms

Problem solving

Job description

About the Role

Systems Technology, Inc. (STI) is seeking a Perception & Guidance Engineer - UAS to join our Aerospace division, developing the vision-based targeting and terminal guidance algorithms behind our next-generation counter-UAS and interceptor platforms. You'll own the pipeline from raw camera frames to steering command — writing detection and tracking algorithms, building state estimation, and translating that into guidance laws that fly. This role sits at the center of our seeker and interceptor programs, working closely with embedded and systems engineering to get algorithms from bench to flight.

What You'll Do

• Design and implement detection and tracking algorithms for dual-camera, gimbal-free visual seeker systems
• Develop state estimation for target position, velocity, and confidence from visual sensor data, with an eye toward future sensor fusion (IMU, GPS, radar)
• Design and tune guidance laws (e.g., proportional navigation and variants) for terminal-phase target intercept
• Work with embedded engineers to ensure algorithms run in real time on size-, weight-, and power-constrained flight hardware (e.g., ModalAI VOXL 2 Mini class compute)
• Define and validate the interface between perception/guidance outputs and downstream flight control and mission systems
• Support hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop simulation to characterize algorithm performance before flight
• Participate in flight testing, telemetry analysis, and post-flight debugging of guidance performance
• Collaborate with GNC engineers to ensure guidance outputs are compatible with flight control system assumptions
• Maintain code quality through version control, code review, and structured testing practices

Minimum Qualifications

• 2–4 years of professional experience in computer vision, guidance/navigation algorithms, or closely related controls/estimation work
• Proficiency in Python and/or C++ for algorithm development
• Working knowledge of computer vision fundamentals (detection, tracking, filtering — e.g., Kalman filter variants) and/or classical guidance laws
• Strong problem-solving, analysis, and debugging skills
• U.S. Person status required, as defined by ITAR (22 CFR 120.15), due to the export-controlled nature of this work
• This is an on-site position based in Hawthorne / Los Angeles, CA; remote or hybrid work is not available

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with UAS, UAVs, drones, or RC aircraft, particularly vision-based targeting or collision avoidance
• Experience deploying vision or estimation algorithms on embedded/constrained compute platforms
• Familiarity with real-time image processing pipelines and global-shutter camera systems (e.g., AR0144-class sensors)
• Familiarity with sensor fusion techniques and multi-target tracking
• Familiarity with simulation environments for guidance/seeker performance evaluation
• Familiarity with Git and modern software development practices

Compensation And Benefits

Systems Technology Inc. offers all employees competitive pay along with a benefits package encompassing the following and more:

• Medical benefits (HMO – 100% company paid for Employees & Dependents)
• Dental and vision plans
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• 401(k) Safe Harbor Retirement Plan and company defined contribution.
• Flexible spending Accounts (FSA), Dependent Care, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Life & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Fitness Program Reimbursement and Technology Stipends
• Tuition Assistance Programs
• Year-round company sponsored events.
• Employee rewards and recognition

Please note that this job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and does not include an exhaustive list of responsibilities and qualifications.

At Systems Technology Inc. (STI) we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent that possesses the skills and leadership necessary to grow our business. For this position we are targeting a total compensation pay between $109,600 – $139,880. This is inclusive of base pay, performance bonus and ESOP. The actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

U.S. Person status required, as defined by ITAR (22 CFR 120.15), due to the export-controlled nature of this work. No agency candidates considered.

STI is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.