Senior Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) Engineer, Air Dominance & Strike - Advanced Effects

Anduril Industries; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 166,000 - 253,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive equity grants

Top-tier benefits package

Health support

Job summary

Anduril Industries, based in Costa Mesa, CA, is seeking a Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer to join our Flight Engineering team. This pivotal role involves the design, development, testing, and implementation of cutting-edge flight system technologies. Candidates should have a BS in Aerospace Engineering or a related field and a strong foundation in flight mechanics and control theory.

Experience with GNC solutions, simulation tools like MATLAB, and proficiency in programming languages such as C/C++ are required. An active U.S. Top Secret clearance is preferred. Anduril offers competitive salary ranging from $166,000 to $253,000 along with a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in GNC engineering or related fields.
• Strong theoretical knowledge of flight mechanics and control theory.
• Proficiency in GNC simulation tools like MATLAB and Simulink.

Responsibilities

• Develop and test algorithms for GNC systems.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure system integration.
• Conduct design reviews and safety assessments.

Skills

Guidance and Navigation Algorithms

Flight Mechanics

Control Theory

MATLAB

C/C++ Programming

Education

BS in Aerospace Engineering or related field

MS or Ph.D. preferred

Tools

Simulink

Git

Jira

Job description

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril’s family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI‑powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting‑edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years. Join our Flight Engineering team advancing the Air Dominance and Strike division’s portfolio, where we push the boundaries of aerospace technology. As a critical member of our team, the role of a Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer is pivotal in driving the design, development, testing, and implementation of cutting‑edge flight system technologies for our aerospace systems. Anduril fosters a dynamic learning culture, characterized by accelerated knowledge acquisition through modeling, simulation, analysis, and rigorous and frequent ground and flight test experimentation. You will be involved in flight testing the systems you develop.

What You’ll Do

• Develop, implement, and test algorithms for guidance, navigation, and control systems in line with project requirements.
• Design, implement, and assess the GNC architectures considering all elements, including sensors, actuators, and algorithms.
• Participate in all phases of system development, from concept to design, prototyping, testing, and operation.
• Collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team including systems engineers, flight software engineers, and test engineers to ensure system‑wide integration and performance.
• Contribute to design reviews, safety assessments, and system documentation.
• Use simulation and analysis tools to verify GNC models and system performance under different operating conditions.
• Provide system engineering expertise in the development of GNC systems, ensuring a cohesive and efficient approach to the design and implementation process.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to GNC systems during design, testing, and operational phases.
• Keep updated with the latest technologies and trends in GNC engineering and system architecture design.

Required Qualifications

• BS in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Aerospace Engineering or related field with focus on dynamics and control.
• A strong theoretical knowledge of flight mechanics, classical and modern control theory, estimation, and filtering techniques.
• Experience with developing GNC solutions for flight systems.
• Proficiency with GNC simulation tools like MATLAB, Simulink and related toolboxes.
• Familiarization with 6‑DOF simulations.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret clearance.

Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer

• 3 or more years of experience in Guidance, Navigation & Control engineering or related technical experience.

Senior Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer

• 8 or more years of experience in Guidance, Navigation & Control engineering or related technical experience.

Staff Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer

• 12 or more years of experience in Guidance, Navigation & Control engineering or related technical experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• MS or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field is a plus.
• Strong understanding of flight mechanics and related physics.
• Practical experience developing GNC designs for high speed flight systems and re‑entry vehicles.
• Practical experience with Explicit Model Following, Dynamic Inversion, and Adaptive Control techniques.
• Extensive experience in GNC system and architecture development and testing, preferably in the aerospace industry.
• Experience generating C or C++ code from Simulink models.
• Experience writing code in C/C++.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a team‑oriented, collaborative environment.
• Familiarity with agile and Lean product development methodologies such as Scrum.
• Experience using Jira, Git, GitHub, or GitLab.
• Understanding of and compliance with industry, safety, and quality standards appropriate for the application.
• Passion for defending the United States and its allies.
• Current Active U.S. Top Secret clearance preferred.

US Salary Range

$166,000—$253,000 USD

Benefits

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full‑time offers; and are considered part of Anduril’s total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top‑tier benefits for full‑time employees, including: For more information, Explore Our Benefits. At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you’re supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next.