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Jobs · Engineering · California

Guidance, Navigation, & Control Engineer (GNC)

OKSI · Torrance, CA · 3 days ago
On-siteEngineering$240k–$290k/yrFull-time

Description

Target Tracking, Estimation & Fusion:

  • Design and implement multi-target tracking pipelines for static and moving targets.
  • Develop nonlinear estimators (EKF, UKF, IMM) for target state, relative geometry, and passive ranging solutions.
  • Integrate multi-modal sensor fusion across EO, IR, and inertial sources; RF where the platform provides it.
  • Own lock-on-after-launch (LOAL) logic: acquisition, track confirmation, and handoff into terminal guidance.

    Terminal Guidance & Seeker Algorithms

    Build image-based ATD/ATR chains feeding closed-loop guidance:

    • Detection, classification, orientation and rate estimation, and vulnerability aimpoint selection.
    • Develop and evaluate terminal guidance laws (proportional navigation and variants) against miss distance, seeker field-of-view, and control authority constraints.
    • Harden endgame performance in real-world conditions: clutter, low contrast, obscuration, and high closing rates.

    GPS-Denied Navigation

    Create visual-inertial navigation delivering drift-free, absolute positional awareness through midcourse and terminal phases without GPS or laser designators:

    • Characterize, align, and calibrate INS/IMU systems on low-cost, SWaP-C-constrained inertial hardware.
    • Implement georegistration, photogrammetry, and map-matching approaches that bound inertial drift; integrate with flight stacks (PX4, ArduPilot).

      Real-Time Software

      Write modern, object-oriented C++ implementations of all algorithms, running inside containerized guidance modules on embedded targets (NVIDIA, Qualcomm Snapdragon, FPGA) under hard SWaP-C and timing constraints:

      • Prototype in Python or MATLAB, then carry it to flight-quality code yourself—there's no throwing it over the wall to a software team here.

      Simulation, Test & Analysis

      Exercise algorithms in physics-based, photorealistic simulation environments (Unreal, Unity, CSG, AFSIM, FLITES, MODTRAN, DIRSIG) and run Monte Carlo and hardware-in-the-loop campaigns to validate performance:

      • Support captive-carry and live flight test; own the anomaly investigation when telemetry disagrees with the model.

      Technical Leadership

      Set the algorithm architecture and mentor engineers implementing alongside you:

      • Engage directly with customers and partners: technical interchanges, live demos, proposals, and SBIR/STTR white papers.

      Requirements

      • BS in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or related field.
      • 8+ years developing estimation, tracking, GNC, or seeker algorithms for aerospace or defense systems.
      • Proven expertise in nonlinear estimation (EKF, UKF, IMM or equivalent).
      • Production experience with multi-target tracking, data association, and track management algorithms.
      • Proficiency in real-time C++ for embedded systems.
      • Experience with sensor fusion across multiple modalities (EO, IR, inertial, RF).
      • Demonstrated capability shipping algorithm code to hardware under SWaP-C constraints.

      PREFERRED

      • Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in relevant technical discipline.
      • 10+ years in aerospace or defense guidance/navigation/control.
      • Direct experience with terminal guidance law development and closed-loop control.
      • Hands-on work with image-based detection, tracking, or target recognition (ATD/ATR chains).
      • GPS-denied or visual-inertial navigation system design and implementation.
      • INS/IMU characterization, error modeling, and calibration on tactical-grade hardware.
      • Fly test participation (captive-carry and live fire).
      • Proficiency in simulation tools (Unreal, Unity, AFSIM, MODTRAN, DIRSIG, or equivalent).
      • MATLAB/Simulink prototyping transitioning to production code.
      • Customer-facing technical presentation and proposal experience.
      • Familiarity with containerized deployment (Docker) and flight stacks (PX4, ArduPilot).
      • Experience with hardware-in-the-loop and Monte Carlo validation campaigns.

      Compensation And Benefits

      • Salary range: $240K–$290K.
      • Medical, dental, and vision coverage fully paid by the employer for employees.
      • Three weeks of vacation to start.
      • Automatic company contribution to 401K – 5% of earned wages (no matching required).
      • Educational assistance and professional development opportunities.
      • In-office (Jacksonville, AK or Los Angeles, CA ) or remote work (United States) available (position dependent).

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