Senior Engineering Manager (Guidance, Navigation and Control)

Sierra Space Corporation; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401K + match

Life Insurance

Disability insurance

Employee assistance program

Educational reimbursement

Job summary

Sierra Space Corporation in Louisville, KY seeks a Sr Manager, Guidance, Navigation, & Control (GNC) Engineering to provide senior technical and organizational leadership across GNC disciplines, including guidance, navigation, controls, and sensor integration.

The role combines hands-on leadership on major programs with supervision of managers and senior engineers to drive strategy, execution, and outcomes of large-scale GNC projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of GNC engineering management experience.
• Experience with flight control systems and avionics certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior technical and organizational leadership across multiple GNC disciplines.
• Supervise managers and senior engineers to drive strategy, execution, and outcomes of large-scale GNC projects.
• Develop and implement advanced GNC methodologies and architectures for aerospace or autonomous systems.
• Influence certification strategies for flight control systems and avionics qualification.
• Manage Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) tasks, long-term plans, and budgets.

Skills

GNC leadership

Control theory

State estimation

Sensor fusion

Trajectory optimization

Program management

Strategic direction

Budget management

IMS scheduling

Education

B.S. in Aerospace Eng

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

Job description

• The Sr Manager, Guidance, Navigation, & Control (GNC) Engineering provides senior technical and organizational leadership across multiple GNC disciplines, including guidance, navigation, controls, and sensor integration
• This role combines significant individual technical leadership on major programs with direct supervision of managers and senior engineers, driving the strategy, execution, and outcomes of large-scale GNC projects that impact multiple areas of the organization
• The Sr Manager provides strategic direction on complex GNC architectures for aerospace or autonomous systems, influences certification strategies related to flight control systems and avionics qualification, and supports the Director in shaping long-range GNC engineering roadmaps
• This individual champions company values, enforces high standards of technical excellence, and builds engineering leadership capability across the organization
• The Sr Manager, GNC Engineering provides significant individual technical leadership on major programs, owning complex GNC analyses and shaping technical approaches for high-impact deliverables while applying advanced expertise in modern control theory, state estimation, sensor fusion, and trajectory optimization
• This individual provides strategic direction on complex GNC architectures for aerospace or autonomous systems, develops and implements advanced GNC methodologies such as adaptive control, navigation, and fault-tolerant architectures for high-reliability applications, and applies in-depth knowledge of industry standards and regulations related to flight control systems, avionics certification, and qualification requirements, influencing certification strategies as needed
• This role drives the strategy and success of larger GNC projects that contribute to multiple areas of the organization, including critical flight control systems for complex missions, and drives program strategy, execution, and outcomes that impact multiple business areas, including aircraft or spacecraft development efforts
• In addition to technical leadership, the Sr Manager manages the activities of multiple GNC disciplines, providing direct supervision to managers and senior engineers across guidance, navigation, controls, and sensor integration teams
• This individual supports the Director in shaping long-range GNC engineering roadmaps, contributing technical insight, resource planning, and cross-disciplinary strategic input to ensure alignment with organizational goals
• Responsibilities include developing Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) tasks, creating long-term plans and Gantt charts for program execution, supporting internal and external proposals and Statements of Work (SOWs), and managing budgets
• This role leads major organizational or technology transformations, including the adoption of new engineering processes, tools, or structures, and solves complex, ambiguous technical challenges requiring conceptual thinking and an understanding of organizational and market contexts
• The Sr Manager communicates high-stakes technical content to executives, partners, and external stakeholders, champions company values, enforces high standards of technical excellence across the organization, and mentors, develops, and scales engineering leadership talent

Benefits

• Medical Coverage: We offer two comprehensive medical plans, a PPO and an HDHP, designed to prioritize the well-being of our team members
• Dental Coverage: HMO and PPO dental plans are aimed at promoting optimal oral health and reducing costs
• Vision Coverage: Our vision plan offers access to a wide range of in-network and out-of-network providers
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Maximize savings and use pre-tax dollars to pay for medical and dependent care expenses
• Health Savings Account: This tax-advantaged savings account allows team members to set aside pre-tax funds to cover qualified medical expenses
• Life and AD&D Insurance: Comprehensive Basic and Supplemental Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance offers financial protection to your family
• Disability Insurance: Short-term and long-term disability insurance provides wage replacement should you suffer a disability that prevents you from working
• 401K Profit Sharing Plan: Employees may contribute 1% to 100% of base salary up to the annual IRS maximum. Employer match provided with a 5-year vesting schedule
• Employee Assistance Program: Confidential service available 24/7 that provides assessment, counseling, resources and referrals to employees
• Professional Development / Educational Reimbursement Plan: Reimbursement for undergraduate and graduate tuition, books and fees.

In-depth knowledge of industry standards and regulations related to flight control systems, avionics certification, and qualification requirements, with the ability to influence certification strategiesExperience developing and implementing advanced GNC methodologies, including adaptive control, navigation, and fault-tolerant architectures for high-reliability applicationsExperience supporting a Director in shaping long-range GNC engineering roadmaps, including technical insight, resource planning, and cross-disciplinary strategic inputExperienced in developing Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) tasks, creating long-term plans and Gantt charts for program execution, and supporting internal and external proposals and Statements of Work (SOWs)Exceptional communication skills, with experience presenting high-stakes technical content to executives, partners, and external stakeholdersBachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent work experience)Ability to solve complex, ambiguous technical challenges requiring conceptual thinking and understanding of organizational and market contextsAdvanced expertise in GNC principles including modern control theory, state estimation, sensor fusion, and trajectory optimization, with the ability to provide strategic direction on complex GNC architectures for aerospace or autonomous systemsDemonstrated ability to drive program strategy, execution, and outcomes that impact multiple business areas, including aircraft or spacecraft development effortsAbility to champion company values and enforce high standards of technical excellence across the organizationDemonstrated ability to drive the strategy and success of larger GNC projects that contribute to multiple areas of the organization, including critical flight control systems for complex missionsMinimum of five years of relevant guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) engineering management experience through a technical leadership or managerial roleExperience managing activities of multiple GNC disciplines and providing direct supervision to managers and senior engineers across guidance, navigation, controls, and sensor integration teamsExperience managing budgetsExperience leading major organizational or technology transformations, including adoption of new engineering processes, tools, or structuresStrong capability in mentoring, developing, and scaling engineering leadership talent