Principal Systems Engineer – Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC)

Albers Aerospace; McKinney (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Albers Aerospace in McKinney, TX, seeks a Principal Systems Engineer for GNC to lead development, integration, and verification of guidance, navigation, and control solutions for advanced aerospace programs.

You will analyze requirements, design algorithms, and coordinate hardware/software integration across the lifecycle; a strong background in flight dynamics, control theory, and real-time embedded C/C++ is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering; Master’s preferred.
• Active DoD SECRET clearance (Top Secret eligibility) and U.S. citizenship are required.
• 10+ years of experience in GNC algorithm development, software engineering, or related aerospace/defense applications.
• Proficiency in MATLAB, Simulink, and control system toolboxes.
• Experience with simulation-based testing, hardware/software integration, and test data analysis.
• Strong understanding of flight dynamics, control theory, and embedded systems implementation.
• Experience developing and testing embedded GNC software in C/C++.
• Experience implementing flight control, navigation, estimation, or guidance algorithms in real-time environments.
• Familiarity with requirements traceability, code reviews, unit/integration testing, and software verification.
• Experience with Git, SVN, or similar repositories.
• Experience with Model-Based Design (MBD) and automatic code generation.
• Experience with seekers and sensor systems and their integration with GNC systems.
• Familiarity with RTOS-based embedded processors and hardware/software integration.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, integration, and verification of GNC solutions for advanced aerospace systems.
• Contribute to requirements analysis, algorithm development, software integration, and modeling/simulation across the lifecycle.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to validate performance and ensure system verification.

Skills

GNC algorithm development

software engineering

systems engineering

requirements traceability

code reviews

unit testing

integration testing

test data analysis

embedded system implementation

real-time software

flight dynamics

control theory

embedded C/C++

version control (Git/SVN)

Model-Based Design (MBD)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering (Master’s preferred)

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

control system toolboxes

C/C++

Git

SVN

Model-Based Design (MBD)

Job description

Principal Systems Engineer – Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC)

Albers Aerospace McKinney, Texas, United States

About this position

Our core competencies include systems engineering, program management, logistics, production support, aircraft maintenance, and aviation/aerospace services. We were founded in 2015 and since our establishment, we have been attracting the best talent in our fields of interest enabling us to provide cutting-edge solutions and support to our warfighters. We understand and provide expert consultation on weapons systems acquisition programs, maintenance/modernization programs, and sustainment programs. We know defense and we know aircraft systems.

The Principal Systems Engineer – GNC will serve as a key technical contributor supporting the development, integration, and verification of Guidance, Navigation, and Control solutions for advanced aerospace and defense systems. This role supports requirements analysis, algorithm development and assessment, software integration, modeling and simulation, and system verification activities across the product lifecycle.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering (Master’s preferred).
• U.S. Citizenship with active DoD SECRET clearance (Top Secret eligibility required).
• 10+ years of experience in GNC algorithm development, software engineering, systems engineering, or related aerospace/defense applications.
• Proficiency in MATLAB, Simulink, and control system toolboxes.
• Experience with simulation-based testing, hardware/software integration, and test data analysis.
• Strong understanding of flight dynamics, control theory, and embedded system implementation.
• Experience developing, integrating, and testing embedded GNC software in C/C++.
• Experience implementing flight control, navigation, estimation, or guidance algorithms in real-time software environments.
• Familiarity with requirements traceability, code reviews, unit testing, integration testing, and software verification.
• Experience with Git, SVN, or similar configuration management repositories.
• Experience with Model-Based Design (MBD) and automatic code generation.

• Experience with seekers and sensor systems and their integration with GNC systems.
• Familiarity with RTOS-based embedded processor architectures and hardware/software integration activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of WOSA or Open System Architectures.
• Experience with PX4, ArduPilot, ROS, DDS, or autonomy frameworks.
• Familiarity with Kalman Filters, EKF, UKF, or related estimation techniques.
• Knowledge of DO-178C or military software development processes.
• Prior technical leadership and mentorship experience.