Scientist-Inertial Navigation

Aerosphere Power and Navigation•Mount Olive, NJ

12d•$140,000 - $180,000

About The Position

Aerosphere Power and Navigation is seeking a senior individual-contributor Scientist to serve as a technical authority for advanced inertial sensing and navigation technologies, particularly Ring Laser Gyro (RLG) and Fiber Optic Gyro (FOG) systems. The role combines scientific expertise, hands-on investigation, and cross-functional technical leadership to improve sensor performance, guide next-generation product development, and resolve complex technical challenges. The Scientist will help set technology strategy, lead research and development, and translate scientific principles into reliable, manufacturable products, influencing decisions from early concept through qualification and production. The position works with engineering, operations, business development, manufacturing, quality, customers, and other organizations. It also includes technical mentorship and support for innovation, product development, production consistency, and customer-facing technical work. The position is located in Budd Lake, New Jersey.

Requirements

Master's degree in physics, optics, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, applied mathematics, or a closely related discipline.
Typically 15 or more years of relevant experience in inertial sensing, precision instrumentation, navigation systems, or related advanced technologies.
Demonstrated technical leadership and recognized expertise in RLG, FOG, or closely related precision sensing technologies.
Deep understanding of inertial sensor physics, optical sensing, signal processing, control systems, and sensor error characterization.
Proven record of translating research or advanced development into demonstrated product performance, successful product introduction, or sustained manufacturing improvements.
Strong experience developing models, designing experiments, analyzing complex data, and correlating theoretical predictions with measured results.
Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multidisciplinary technical investigations and resolve ambiguous problems.
Proficiency with scientific computing and analysis tools such as MATLAB, Python, or equivalent platforms.
Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to engineers, executives, customers, and other stakeholders.
Demonstrated success mentoring technical personnel and influencing decisions across organizational boundaries.

Nice To Haves

Ph.D. in physics, optics, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, applied mathematics, or a closely related discipline.
Expertise in RLG phenomena such as lock-in, backscatter coupling, dither behavior, cavity dynamics, and associated compensation methods.
Expertise in FOG technologies, including interferometric sensing, optical modulation, polarization effects, optical sources, and fiber coils.

Responsibilities

Serve as a principal technical authority for inertial sensor physics, gyro performance, and navigation-system error mechanisms across RLG- and FOG-based product lines.
Define and guide technology roadmaps, research priorities, and development strategies aligned with customer needs, product objectives, and long-term business goals.
Lead scientific investigations and feasibility studies for new sensing concepts, performance improvements, and advanced navigation capabilities.
Develop and validate analytical models, simulations, and error budgets connecting sensor physics, optical and electronic behavior, environmental effects, and system-level performance.
Guide the development of signal processing, control, calibration, compensation, and estimation approaches to improve accuracy, stability, and repeatability.
Lead resolution of complex performance issues involving bias stability, scale factor, nonlinearity, noise, thermal sensitivity, vibration sensitivity, aging, and other error sources.
Design and oversee experiments to establish physical mechanisms, validate models, and demonstrate measurable improvements.
Collaborate with optical, electrical, mechanical, software, systems, test, and manufacturing engineers to translate research findings into practical product designs.
Provide technical oversight for architecture reviews, design trade studies, development gates, and qualification-readiness assessments.
Partner with manufacturing and quality teams to improve process capability, production yield, calibration efficiency, and long-term product consistency.
Support customer technical discussions, proposals, research opportunities, and external technical collaborations.
Develop technical reports, invention disclosures, and publications as appropriate while protecting proprietary information and intellectual property.
Mentor scientists and engineers, strengthen technical review practices, and promote rigorous, evidence-based problem-solving.