Senior Flight Software Engineer – GNC & Control

Arxlight; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Arxlight in Oakland seeks a GNC Engineer to design, develop, and implement algorithms for UAV flight control, estimation, and guidance across flight regimes.

You will bridge flight physics and software, enabling stability and performance from software to hardware in HITL setups.

Ideal candidates hold a Master’s/PhD in a controls-focused field with 5–10 years in aerospace controls, and strong Python/MATLAB plus C++ experience for flight software.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in relevant field with 5–10 years of experience.
• Deep understanding of control theory, stability, and robust design.
• Proficiency in Python or MATLAB/Simulink for modeling and C++ for flight software.

Responsibilities

• Flight Dynamics Modeling: develop high-fidelity 6-DOF simulations.
• Control Law Design: tune and analyze PID, LQR/LQG, state-space methods.
• Navigation & Estimation: implement sensor fusion (IMU, GPS, star tracker).
• Guidance Algorithms: trajectory generation and path planning for autonomous missions.
• Performance Analysis: Monte Carlo simulations and stability margins.

Skills

Control theory

Python

MATLAB/Simulink

C++

MIMO/SISO

Lyapunov stability

Quaternions / Euler angles

Education

Master’s or PhD in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering (Controls focus)

Tools

JSBSim

Gazebo

Open-source autopilot

Job description

Arxlight in Oakland seeks a GNC Engineer to design, develop, and implement algorithms for UAV flight control, estimation, and guidance across flight regimes.

You will bridge flight physics and software, enabling stability and performance from software to hardware in HITL setups.

Ideal candidates hold a Master’s/PhD in a controls-focused field with 5–10 years in aerospace controls, and strong Python/MATLAB plus C++ experience for flight software.