Guidance Navigation and Control Engineer

Job Summary

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS supports critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide. We are seeking a Guidance, Navigation, and Controls (GNC) Engineer to join our Aerospace Systems Engineering Directorate, based in Huntsville, AL.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develops guidance, navigation and/or control algorithms and implements them in C/C++ and FORTRAN based six degree-of-freedom flight simulations.
• Supports small-medium sized engineering teams during the development of precision munitions such as guided missiles, gun-launched projectiles, and hypersonic weapon systems.
• Analyzes simulation, ground test, and flight test data in support of simulation model validation and algorithm improvements.
• Supports simulation development and documentation using GA-EMS guidelines and best industry practices.
• Supports peer reviews of GNC algorithms, simulation models, analysis tools, and other software modules as required.
• Collaborates daily with other GNC and simulation engineers as well as other engineering team members.
• Supports concept development activities for proposals and technical white papers.
• Performs other duties as required.

Travel Expectations

Less than 25%

Work Schedule

9x80 schedule with every other Friday off.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor's degree, master's degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; four or more years of experience with a bachelor's degree or two or more years of experience with a master's degree.
• Must have a solid foundation in guidance, navigation, and control concepts and principles.
• Prior experience with developing and using high fidelity flight simulations of missiles, projectiles or hypersonic vehicles is required.
• Must have strong skills in C and C++ code development as well as version control processes using Git.
• Must demonstrate strong GNC performance analysis capability using tools such as Matlab or Python.
• Must possess the ability to develop and communicate new concepts; apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment; organize task assignments to complete work products on time; demonstrate good time management skills needed to support multiple programs simultaneously.
• Must have strong communication, computer, documentation, presentation, and interpersonal skills, ability to work independently and as part of a team; able to perform complex tasks in one or more engineering areas.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense (DoD) Secret level security clearance (or equivalent DOE security clearance), with the ability to upgrade to Top Secret if required.
• Must be willing to work extended hours to meet deadlines and increase probability of project success.
• Must be customer focused and able to work on a self-initiated basis or in a team environment and able to work extended hours and travel as required.
• Success in position requires consistent display of the following key abilities: Strong initiative - Ability and desire to work closely with a small to medium sized multi-disciplinary team to rapidly develop and mature a new weapon system. Excellent communication - The successful candidate will routinely document, develop, and present technical work products to stakeholders across the organization. Rapid and effective problem solving – The successful candidate will identify issues, analyze and interpret data and develop innovative solutions to a variety of complex problems. Schedule performance – completing work products in a timely manner on fast-paced development efforts contributes to the project’s schedule success.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with implementing and testing autonomy, collaborative engagement, artificial intelligence, and machine learning algorithms is highly desired.
• Experience with developing GN&C solutions for air-launched and/or ground-launched cruise missiles is highly desired.
• Experience with modeling of missile control system actuators and guidance or navigations sensors is highly desired.
• Experience with signal processing is highly desired.
• Experience with developing algorithms and software for electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) or radio frequency (RF) terminal seekers, and associated simulation models to predict seeker performance, is desired.
• Experience with Software-In-The-Loop (SWIL) and Hardware-In-The-Loop (HWIL) testing is desired.