Blast Talent
The company is a fast-moving aerospace startup launched in 2019, focused on building cutting-edge unmanned aerial platforms and miniaturized sensor technologies for defense and commercial use. Currently seeking a highly skilled and experienced Sr/Principal UAS GNC Engineer to lead full lifecycle development of a small unmanned electric aircraft with a multidisciplinary team from concept through delivery.
The Company
Founded by individuals with deep operational field experience, this agile engineering organization designs and builds advanced unmanned systems and next-gen sensor platforms for mission-critical applications. The team combines technical depth with a strong sense of mission, delivering practical solutions for users working in complex, real-world environments. Seeking a Sr/Principal UAS GNC Engineer to drive flight control system development and integration on cutting-edge small unmanned aircraft. The Compensation
$150K - $200K Competitive Annual Base Salary Plus Stock Option Package and Bonus Plan Commensurate with Experience The Location
Fully onsite role based in the Paradise Valley, AZ area The Benefits Comprehensive Medical Coverage (2 PPO & 1 PPO/Health Savings Account Options) Preventative Care Services Covered at No Cost Dental PPO Plan Options Vision Plan Options Voluntary Life & AD&D Insurance Short & Long-Term Disability Plans Exclusive Employee Discount Program through BenefitHub Clever Rx Prescription Discount Program
The Role
Lead adaptation and development of onboard flight control systems for small unmanned aerial vehicles. Collaborate with aerospace, mechanical, electrical, and software engineers to translate system-level functionality into software requirements. Partner with aircraft designers to size and spatially configure control actuators, defining and experimentally validating control authority requirements. Architect, implement, optimize, and tune vehicle and component control loops and state estimation algorithms. Work with software and aerospace teams to build and run 6-DOF simulation models and software-in-the-loop testing environments. Help scope and schedule project tasks alongside management. Develop accurate vehicle and component-level physics models. Research, evaluate, and source sensors and computational hardware components. Advance GPS-denied and visual-inertial odometry (VIO) integration within vehicle navigation systems. The Background Profile
U.S. Citizenship required Bachelor's Degree in relevant Engineering discipline; Master's Degree a plus 5-10+ years of GNC experience developing embedded systems software Comprehensive end-to-end embedded systems development expertise Hands-on experience across electrical, embedded software, and avionics disciplines Proficient in state estimation algorithms, control loop design, and tuning Skilled in embedded programming, particularly C/C++, with familiarity in Python and C# preferred Strong knowledge of avionics hardware and debugging tools, including wiring diagrams and oscilloscopes Experience with physics-based actuator and vehicle modeling Familiarity with Ardupilot, PX4 codebases, and compatible hardware preferred Ability to work onsite full-time at the Paradise Valley, AZ facility The Ideal Background
Innovative, hands-on, and highly practical in approach Multidisciplinary problem solver driven by rigorous engineering analysis Goal-oriented, learns from mistakes, and ensures a complete design process Strategic, balancing scope and effort effectively Highly skilled in clear communication through both discussion and documentation Collaborative and thrives in teamwork to develop plans and solve complex problems
The Company
Founded by individuals with deep operational field experience, this agile engineering organization designs and builds advanced unmanned systems and next-gen sensor platforms for mission-critical applications. The team combines technical depth with a strong sense of mission, delivering practical solutions for users working in complex, real-world environments. Seeking a Sr/Principal UAS GNC Engineer to drive flight control system development and integration on cutting-edge small unmanned aircraft. The Compensation
$150K - $200K Competitive Annual Base Salary Plus Stock Option Package and Bonus Plan Commensurate with Experience The Location
Fully onsite role based in the Paradise Valley, AZ area The Benefits Comprehensive Medical Coverage (2 PPO & 1 PPO/Health Savings Account Options) Preventative Care Services Covered at No Cost Dental PPO Plan Options Vision Plan Options Voluntary Life & AD&D Insurance Short & Long-Term Disability Plans Exclusive Employee Discount Program through BenefitHub Clever Rx Prescription Discount Program
The Role
Lead adaptation and development of onboard flight control systems for small unmanned aerial vehicles. Collaborate with aerospace, mechanical, electrical, and software engineers to translate system-level functionality into software requirements. Partner with aircraft designers to size and spatially configure control actuators, defining and experimentally validating control authority requirements. Architect, implement, optimize, and tune vehicle and component control loops and state estimation algorithms. Work with software and aerospace teams to build and run 6-DOF simulation models and software-in-the-loop testing environments. Help scope and schedule project tasks alongside management. Develop accurate vehicle and component-level physics models. Research, evaluate, and source sensors and computational hardware components. Advance GPS-denied and visual-inertial odometry (VIO) integration within vehicle navigation systems. The Background Profile
U.S. Citizenship required Bachelor's Degree in relevant Engineering discipline; Master's Degree a plus 5-10+ years of GNC experience developing embedded systems software Comprehensive end-to-end embedded systems development expertise Hands-on experience across electrical, embedded software, and avionics disciplines Proficient in state estimation algorithms, control loop design, and tuning Skilled in embedded programming, particularly C/C++, with familiarity in Python and C# preferred Strong knowledge of avionics hardware and debugging tools, including wiring diagrams and oscilloscopes Experience with physics-based actuator and vehicle modeling Familiarity with Ardupilot, PX4 codebases, and compatible hardware preferred Ability to work onsite full-time at the Paradise Valley, AZ facility The Ideal Background
Innovative, hands-on, and highly practical in approach Multidisciplinary problem solver driven by rigorous engineering analysis Goal-oriented, learns from mistakes, and ensures a complete design process Strategic, balancing scope and effort effectively Highly skilled in clear communication through both discussion and documentation Collaborative and thrives in teamwork to develop plans and solve complex problems