Guidance Navigation and Controls (GNC) Engineer I - Project Based

Autonomous Solutions•Fort Worth, TX

About The Position

This is a project-based employee role supporting the development, integration, and validation of ASI's autonomous compactor platforms. Development phases of this nature typically continue through project completion, often spanning two to four years, although scope and duration are determined by business and customer needs. The Guidance, Navigation, and Controls Engineer I supports the development, integration, and testing of algorithms that enable ASI's autonomous compactors to navigate work areas, follow planned paths, maintain stable vehicle control, and complete compaction tasks safely and accurately. This role works with vehicle dynamics, localization, state estimation, path tracking, trajectory planning, and control systems to support autonomous operation in construction environments. As a Level I engineer within ASI's five-level engineering structure, this position completes defined engineering assignments under the guidance of more experienced engineers. The role provides practical experience in robotics, control systems, autonomous vehicle software, simulation, and heavy-equipment testing while contributing to the Compactor Team's development and validation goals.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field
Zero to two years of professional experience in controls, navigation, robotics, vehicle dynamics, autonomous systems, or software engineering
Academic, internship, research, or project experience developing software in C++, Python, MATLAB, Simulink, or similar tools
Basic understanding of feedback control, PID control, system dynamics, stability, or vehicle-control principles
Familiarity with localization, navigation, path planning, trajectory generation, or state-estimation concepts
Basic understanding of coordinate systems, transformations, vehicle kinematics, and sensor data
Familiarity with Linux-based software-development environments
Basic understanding of version-control systems such as Git
Ability to analyze technical data and communicate findings clearly
Strong mathematical, analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills
Strong attention to detail and willingness to follow established engineering processes
Ability to receive technical direction and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams
Strong written and verbal communication skills

Nice To Haves

Internship, research, capstone, or personal-project experience involving robotics, autonomous vehicles, controls, or mobile systems
Familiarity with ROS, ROS2, or similar robotics middleware
Experience with MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C++, Gazebo, or comparable simulation and development tools
Exposure to PID tuning, model-based design, system identification, or vehicle-dynamics modeling
Familiarity with Kalman filters, extended Kalman filters, or other state-estimation methods
Experience working with GPS/GNSS, RTK positioning, IMUs, encoders, odometry, or related sensors
Exposure to embedded controllers, vehicle-control units, CAN communication, or drive-by-wire systems
Experience with software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, simulation, or recorded-data replay testing
Familiarity with construction equipment, compactors, heavy machinery, or off-road vehicles
Interest in soil compaction, route coverage, construction automation, or autonomous heavy equipment
Experience testing software or robotic systems in outdoor or field environments

Responsibilities

Support the development, implementation, and testing of guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for autonomous compactor applications
Assist with vehicle motion-control capabilities involving steering, propulsion, braking, speed control, path tracking, and trajectory following
Support the development and tuning of feedback-control algorithms under the direction of experienced engineers
Assist with localization and state-estimation solutions using GPS/GNSS, inertial sensors, encoders, vehicle feedback, and other system data
Develop and maintain software components, scripts, simulations, and engineering tools for assigned GNC functions
Support navigation and path-planning capabilities that allow autonomous compactors to move efficiently through defined work areas
Assist with compaction-related behaviors such as route coverage, pass planning, overlap management, and work-area completion
Integrate assigned GNC software components into ASI's autonomous compactor platforms and embedded control systems
Evaluate assigned features using simulation, recorded-data replay, software-in-the-loop testing, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and vehicle field testing
Collect and analyze vehicle logs to evaluate path accuracy, tracking error, controller response, localization performance, and system behavior
Assist with controller tuning on physical equipment under varying terrain, speed, and operating conditions
Develop basic tools for data visualization, automated testing, simulation, controller analysis, and performance reporting
Troubleshoot defined control, localization, software, sensor, and system-integration issues with support from experienced engineers
Collaborate with perception engineers to integrate terrain, obstacle, and environmental information into navigation and control behavior
Work with embedded software engineers to integrate GNC algorithms with vehicle controllers, communication interfaces, and real-time systems
Support test engineers and field testers in developing procedures, reproducing issues, and validating corrective actions
Participate in code reviews, design discussions, sprint planning, technical training, and team development activities
Document software changes, algorithms, models, test results, technical findings, and known system limitations
Support field testing, customer demonstrations, and deployment activities as required
Follow established software-development, safety, quality, and configuration-management practices