Senior Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer

Aion Robotics Corporation • Arvada, CO

4d • $150,000 - $250,000

About The Position

AION Robotics is hiring a Senior Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer in Arvada, Colorado. The engineer will design and implement robust vehicle-control architectures optimized for real-time edge computing in challenging 3D outdoor environments. The role develops and refines multi-sensor fusion frameworks using odometry, IMU calibration and filtering, GNSS, LiDAR, and vision-based localization, as well as motion-control systems, advanced PID tuning, and optimization-based model-predictive control strategies.

The position also builds and integrates navigation planners and mapping solutions, develops safety-critical embedded systems for autonomous vehicles, and contributes to hardware-in-the-loop simulation and low-level safety monitoring. The engineer works with CAN bus communications, sensor and actuator drivers, and ROS2-based system architecture, collaborating with hardware, software, and perception teams. Electrical and sensor-level knowledge is applied to improve vehicle stability, accuracy, and robustness.

AION Robotics describes the opportunity as work on autonomous vehicles in challenging real-world environments and across construction, mining, energy, and defense sectors. Compensation is listed as $150,000–$250,000 per year, with the actual level and base salary determined case by case. The total rewards package may include restricted stock options or other long-term awards and discretionary bonuses, personalized PTO subject to manager approval, wellness programming, a 401(k) retirement plan, medical, vision, and dental coverage, and short- and long-term disability and life insurance.

Requirements

• Proven GNC engineering expertise, ideally in autonomous vehicle or robotics applications.
• Strong background in sensor fusion, including hands-on integration of multiple odometry sources, IMUs, GNSS, LiDAR, and visual SLAM.
• Deep understanding of control systems, including motion control, advanced PID, and nonlinear or optimal control methods.
• Strong ROS2 experience, including navigation stacks, transform handling, and middleware integration.
• Hands-on experience with hardware-in-the-loop simulation environments for control validation and tuning.
• Low-level embedded systems experience, including safety-critical architectures, CAN bus, and real-time firmware.
• Solid electrical engineering foundation and familiarity with MEMS sensors, calibration, and sensor-level signal processing.
• Strong programming skills in C++, Python, or embedded C.
• Track record of deploying robust control systems in real-world robotics or autonomous platforms.

Nice To Haves

• Background in off-highway, aerospace, defense, or rugged autonomous systems.
• Familiarity with GPU-accelerated or edge-compute architectures, such as NVIDIA Jetson.
• Experience with redundancy strategies and fault-tolerant control.
• Strong understanding of 3D outdoor mapping, localization, and terrain-adaptive navigation.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement robust vehicle-control architectures optimized for real-time edge computing in challenging 3D outdoor environments.
• Develop and refine multi-sensor fusion frameworks using odometry, IMU calibration and filtering, GNSS, LiDAR, and vision-based localization.
• Develop motion-control systems, tune advanced PID controllers, and implement optimization-based model-predictive control strategies.
• Build and integrate navigation planners and mapping solutions, including accurate transform calculations and geo-referencing.
• Develop safety-critical embedded systems for autonomous vehicles, including hardware-in-the-loop simulation and low-level safety monitoring.
• Integrate and optimize communication and control over CAN bus while working with sensor and actuator drivers.
• Collaborate with hardware, software, and perception teams to support tightly coupled system integration.
• Provide electrical and sensor-level insights, including for MEMS IMUs and other precision sensors, to improve vehicle stability, accuracy, and robustness.
• Contribute to ROS2-based system architecture and ensure modular, reliable, and scalable implementations.

Benefits

• Restricted stock options or other long-term incentives, which may include long-term cash awards.
• Aggressive annual bonus and base salary reviews; potential discretionary bonuses.
• Personalized paid time off, subject to manager approval.
• Wellness program.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Medical, vision, and dental coverage.
• Short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed