Principal GNC Engineer - Tracking & Estimation

Mavensoft Technologies. • Chandler, AZ

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Lead the development and evaluation of guidance, navigation, and control systems for advanced aerospace applications, with a focus on seeker-based missile engagements and precision intercept performance. The role owns algorithm design and analysis, applying mathematical models, control theory, and state-estimation techniques to process seeker measurements and develop guidance and control laws.

The position includes architecting and maintaining six-degrees-of-freedom (6 DOF) simulations, defining performance metrics, integrating hardware and software components, and conducting performance assessments and trade studies. The engineer will provide technical direction on seeker and tracking approaches, mentor early-career engineers, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to support system reliability and mission success. The role is onsite in Chandler, Arizona, and is a 12-month W2 contract contingent on obtaining and maintaining required program access within a reasonable period.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 14 years of professional experience, or a master’s degree and 12 years, or a PhD and 10 years, in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Existing U.S. Government Secret security clearance.
• Demonstrated experience with GNC concepts, algorithms, or analysis for aerospace or missile systems.
• Experience leading or significantly contributing to development, modeling, simulation, test, integration, or analysis activities for aerospace, missile, spacecraft, or autonomous systems.
• Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C/C++, or similar technical software tools, with development in a Linux environment.
• Must obtain and maintain required program access within a reasonable period, as determined by the company.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Strong foundation in control systems theory, guidance law development, and flight software implementation.
• Experience with state estimation and nonlinear filtering, such as Kalman, Extended Kalman, or Unscented Kalman filters, including tuning and performance assessment in realistic scenarios.
• Deep domain knowledge in target tracking and infrared and/or radio-frequency seeker systems, including requirements definition and algorithm design.
• Experience developing and validating target dynamics and measurement models and integrating them into end-to-end 6 DOF simulations.
• Experience with seeker measurements, including angle-only measurements, line-of-sight rate estimation, pixel/centroid-based infrared seeker measurements, and/or RF seeker range, range rate (Doppler), azimuth/elevation, and angle-only tracking.
• Experience with data association methods, track initiation and maintenance logic, and multi-target tracking amid false alarms and clutter.
• Ability to lead small technical teams or work packages, mentor junior engineers, and communicate complex technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ and Python and experience with software development tools such as Jira, version control, and continuous integration workflows in a Linux environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, implementation, verification, and testing of high-quality flight and simulation software.
• Own the design and maintenance of 6 DOF simulations used to develop, analyze, and validate flight algorithms and code.
• Optimize flight and simulation software for performance, robustness, and maintainability.
• Define and execute analysis campaigns using trajectory optimization and evaluation tools.
• Present technical results, risks, and recommendations to program leadership.
• Provide technical direction on seeker and tracking approaches and mentor early-career engineers.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support system reliability and mission success.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior