Principal Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer

Modern Technology Solutions, Inc.; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 160,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20 days PTO/year + 10 holidays/year

Flexible schedules

6% 401k match with immediate vesting

Educational reimbursement up to $10,00

ESOP

Health and life insurance options

Job summary

Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. seeks a senior missile systems engineer to perform GNC design, performance analysis, and testing for seeker and image processing, supporting DoD programs.

The role involves developing navigation solutions, testing with legacy 6-DOF simulations in FORTRAN/C++, and delivering analytical products for evolving missile concepts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and 12–20 years of missile systems experience.
• In-depth knowledge of ballistic and hypersonic missiles, BMDS, and kill vehicles.
• Proficiency with FORTRAN, C++, Python, and MATLAB development.
• Strong grasp of modern control theory applied to GNC systems.

Responsibilities

• Conduct performance analysis, design, integration, and testing of GNC systems for missiles.
• Develop navigation solutions and image-level processing for precision guidance.
• Prototype and test concepts using legacy 6-DOF simulations in FORTRAN and C++.
• Provide analytical products to support DoD programs.
• Support ongoing missile programs and contribute to corporate tool sets.

Skills

GNC systems analysis

Missile systems knowledge

Cross-language integration

Education

Bachelor's degree

MS or PhD preferred

Tools

FORTRAN

C++

Python

MATLAB

Job description

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct performance analysis, design, integration, and testing of GNC systems with a focus on seeker and image processing for offensive and defensive missile systems.
• Develop and analyze navigation solutions and image-level processing techniques to support precision guidance of missiles in challenging environments.
• Collaborate with engineers and developers to prototype and test weapon system concepts using legacy high-fidelity 6-DOF simulations in FORTRAN and C++.
• Provide detailed analytical products for emerging missile and weapon system concepts supporting DoD programs.
• Support ongoing missile programs and contribute to the development of corporate tool sets.

Qualifications:

• US citizenship and a secret level clearance required
• Bachelor's degree and 12-20 years of experience in missile systems development, including ballistic and hypersonic missiles, tactical weapons, BMDS interceptors, kill vehicles, on-board algorithms, and related analysis.
• Software development skills include but not limited to FORTRAN, C++, Python, MATLAB
• Strong background in modern control theory (e.g., optimal control, robust control, adaptive control) applied to missile and GNC systems.
• Experience integrating models from different coding languages
• Experience with hypersonic advanced concepts and strategic missions
• Experience with 6-DOF simulation models of: Aerodynamics, Autopilots design, development, tuning, gain scheduling, and stability analysis across flight regimes, Guidance algorithms, Navigation systems, state estimation, and advanced filtering techniques including Kalman filters and their variants, Propulsion, High fidelity seeker processing including pixel-level modeling and image processing (IR, RF, optical sensors), Target discrimination algorithms.

Preferred qualifications

• MS or PhD
• Candidate should also have demonstrated ability to formulate and conduct analyses at the missile system and subsystem level to support requirements development and performance assessment.
• Demonstrated capability in GNC system performance analysis and design.

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Interesting Work:

Our co-workers support some of the most important and critical programs to our national defense and security.

Values:

Our first core value is that employees come first. We challenge our co-workers to provide the highest level of support and service, and reward them with some of the best benefits in the industry.

100% Employee Owned:

We have a stake in each other's success, and the success of our customers. It's also nice to know what's going on across the company; we have company wide town-hall meetings three times a year.

Great Benefits - Most Full-Time Staff Are Eligible for:

• Starting PTO accrual of 20 days PTO/year + 10 holidays/year
• Flexible schedules
• 6% 401k match with immediate vesting up to $9k annually
• Semi-annual bonus eligibility (July and December)
• Company funded Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) - a separate qualified retirement account
• Up to $10,000 in annual educational reimbursement
• Other company funded benefits, like life and disability insurance
• Optional zero deductible Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance plan

Track Record of Success:

We have grown every year since our founding in 1993.

Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI) is a 100% employee-owned engineering services and solutions company that provides high-demand technical expertise in Digital Transformation, Modeling and Simulation, Rapid Capability Development, Test and Evaluation, Artificial Intelligence, Autonomy, Cybersecurity and Mission Assurance

MTSI delivers capabilities to solve problems of global importance. Founded in 1993, MTSI today has employees at over 20 offices and field sites worldwide.

For more information about MTSI, please visit www.mtsi-va.com

MTSI embraces nine core values including our first core value of Employees come first. Consistent with our Core Values, we are committed to Equal Opportunity, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, military/veteran status, disability, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. MTSI is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with physical and/or mental disabilities.