Lead GNC Engineer – Seeker Missile Systems

Mavensoft Technologies. • Chandler, AZ

15h • Onsite

About The Position

The Lead GNC Engineer will 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 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 contingent upon obtaining and maintaining required program access within a reasonable period, as determined by the company.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with 14 years of professional experience, a master’s degree with 12 years of professional experience, or a PhD with 10 years of professional experience in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Existing U.S. Government Secret-level security clearance.
• Demonstrated experience with guidance, navigation, and control concepts, algorithms, or analysis for aerospace or missile systems.
• Experience leading or significantly contributing to development, modeling, simulation, testing, integration, or analysis for aerospace, missiles, spacecraft, or autonomous systems.
• Proficiency with one or more of MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C/C++, or similar technical software tools, with development in a Linux environment.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• 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 filters, extended Kalman filters, and unscented Kalman filters, including tuning and performance assessment in realistic scenarios.
• Deep domain knowledge in infrared and/or radio-frequency target tracking and seeker systems, including requirements definition and algorithm design.
• Experience developing and validating target dynamics and measurement models and integrating them into end-to-end six-degrees-of-freedom simulations.
• Experience with seeker measurements, including angle-only measurements, line-of-sight rate estimation, infrared pixel- or centroid-based 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 in the presence of 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 flight and simulation software.
• Own the design and maintenance of six-degrees-of-freedom 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.
• Integrate hardware and software components and conduct performance assessments and trade studies.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Senior