GNC / Control Lead Engineer
Location: New York City, NY (Onsite)
Employment Type: Full-time
Compensation: $120,000 – $185,000 annually
Overview:
An advanced defense technology organization is seeking a GNC / Control Lead Engineer to design and implement guidance, navigation, and control systems for autonomous platforms.
This is a high-impact engineering role focused on building closed-loop control systems enabling autonomous tracking, interception, and navigation in dynamic real-world environments. The role spans the full lifecycle from concept ? prototype ? field deployment, working across software, hardware, simulation, and real-world testing.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design and implement closed-loop control systems for autonomous platforms.
- Develop tracking, interception, and navigation behaviors.
- Integrate perception outputs into control loops.
- Work with and extend ArduPilot / PX4 flight control capabilities.
- Tune, validate, and optimize control performance in both simulation and real-world testing environments.
- Collaborate closely with perception, autonomy, hardware, and embedded systems teams.
Required Qualifications:
- 5+ years of experience in control systems, robotics, or autonomous systems engineering.
- Strong background in:
- Control systems
- Robotics
- Guidance and navigation systems
- Experience with:
- State estimation
- Kalman filters
- Sensor fusion
- Experience with UAV or autonomous vehicle control systems.
- Familiarity with:
- MAVLink
- Flight control stacks
- Strong programming skills in:
- C++ (or Rust)
- Python
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with:
- Optical flow
- GPS-denied navigation
- Real-time control under latency constraints
- Experience with tracking or interception systems.
- Aerospace, robotics, or defense systems background.
- Must meet ITAR requirements (U.S. Citizen, Green Card holder, or eligible status).
- Onsite work required in NYC.
Benefits:
- Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
- Vision and dental coverage.
- 401(k) retirement plan.
- High-impact role within a fast-moving engineering environment.
