Senior GNC Engineer

Samson Rose; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Samson Rose is partnering with an innovative aerospace company to hire a Senior Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer in Southern California. You will lead design, development, and flight testing of next-generation autonomous aircraft systems.

Ideal candidates have 7+ years in GNC, strong MATLAB/Simulink, C++, Python, and experience with PX4 and MAVLink. You will work in a fast-paced, collaborative engineering environment on cutting-edge flight dynamics and control algorithms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace/related field.
• 7+ years of engineering experience in GNC.
• Strong background in flight dynamics and control systems.
• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, C++, and Python.
• Experience with PX4 autopilot and MAVLink.
• Knowledge of EKF, SLAM, or VIO.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize GNC systems for aircraft.
• Perform linear and nonlinear simulations to assess flight performance.
• Develop flight control algorithms for multiple regimes.
• Integrate PX4 autopilot for advanced flight applications.
• Develop navigation/state estimation for GPS-denied environments.
• Support hardware/software integration and HIL testing.
• Participate in flight testing and data analysis.

Skills

Flight dynamics

Control theory

Embedded systems

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace/Mechanical/Robotics

Master's degree in engineering

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

C++

Python

PX4 autopilot

MAVLink

Job description

Location: Southern California
Employment Type: Full-Time | On-Site

About the Opportunity

We are partnering with an innovative aerospace company developing advanced autonomous aircraft systems.

Our client is seeking a Senior Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer to support the design, development, integration, and flight testing of next-generation aircraft.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer with strong expertise in flight dynamics, control systems, and simulation who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative engineering environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize aircraft guidance, navigation, and control systems.

• Perform linear and nonlinear simulations to evaluate flight performance and stability margins.

• Develop flight control algorithms for multiple flight regimes.

• Integrate and customize PX4 autopilot software for advanced flight applications.

• Develop navigation and state estimation algorithms for GPS-denied environments.

• Support integration of autonomous sensing and obstacle avoidance technologies.

• Collaborate on hardware/software integration, sensor calibration, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing.

• Participate in flight testing, data analysis, and control system improvements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.

• 7+ years of relevant engineering experience, preferably in aircraft guidance, navigation, or control systems.

• Strong knowledge of flight dynamics, control theory, and aircraft control system development.

• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, C++, and Python.

• Experience with PX4 autopilot systems and MAVLink communication protocols.

• Familiarity with navigation algorithms such as EKF, SLAM, or VIO.

• Experience with embedded systems, hardware/software integration, and simulation-based testing.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline.

• Hands-on experience with UAVs, autonomous aircraft, or advanced aerospace platforms.

• Experience with 6DOF simulations, control law development, and stability analysis.

• Experience with flight testing and autonomous navigation systems.

Why Join?

• Contribute to the development of cutting-edge aerospace technologies.

• Take ownership of complex engineering challenges from design through flight testing.

• Work closely with a collaborative, multidisciplinary engineering team.

• Join an innovative environment that values initiative, technical excellence, and hands-on problem-solving.