Senior GNC & Trajectory Analysis Lead

AeroVironment, Inc.; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401K with company match

9/80 schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. in Huntsville, AL seeks a Principal Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) & Trajectory Analyst to refine missile defense trajectories for flight tests and sensor validation. You will contribute to target design, perform 6-DoF/3-DoF analyses, and support data products across GNC and M&S domains.

The role requires extensive DoD program experience, DoD clearance, and strong skills in MATLAB, Python, and TAOS/STK. Excellent collaboration and communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree with 12+ years in missile defense or DoD programs
• Bachelor’s degree with 20+ years in missile defense or DoD programs
• Active DoD Secret clearance; US Citizenship required
• Strong understanding of aerodynamics, equations of motion, coordinate systems, vehicle dynamics, GNC
• Experience with missile trajectory analysis across coordinate frames, endo/exo-atmospheric behaviors
• Knowledge of satellite orbital mechanics, ephemeris, orbit propagation, perturbations, maneuver planning
• Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, Java, C#, and other programming languages
• Familiarity with modeling and simulation tools TAOS and STK
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Responsibilities

• Develop missile defense target vehicles and support the Targets Program Office
• Support Systems Engineering in requirements, modeling, testing, and reporting
• Apply knowledge of missile characteristics to support engineering data products
• Focus on GNC, Modeling & Simulation, and vehicle performance assessments
• Generate and analyze 6-DoF and 3-DoF trajectory data using TAOS, MATLAB, Python
• Assist flight test analysis and trajectory reconstruction from onboard data
• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to develop analysis tools

Skills

Guidance & Control

Modeling & Simulation

Trajectory Analysis

MATLAB

Python

Java

C#

TAOS

STK

Aerodynamics

Education

Master's degree

Bachelor's degree

Active DoD clearance

Tools

TAOS

STK

MATLAB

Python

C#

Job description

AeroVironment, Inc. in Huntsville, AL seeks a Principal Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) & Trajectory Analyst to refine missile defense trajectories for flight tests and sensor validation. You will contribute to target design, perform 6-DoF/3-DoF analyses, and support data products across GNC and M&S domains.

The role requires extensive DoD program experience, DoD clearance, and strong skills in MATLAB, Python, and TAOS/STK. Excellent collaboration and communication are essential.