Sr/Principal UAS GNC Engineer

Job DescriptionJob Descriptionn

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.

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The Company

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• 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.
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• The team combines technical depth with a strong sense of mission, delivering practical solutions for users working in complex, real-world environments.
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• Seeking a Sr/Principal UAS GNC Engineer to drive flight control system development and integration on cutting-edge small unmanned aircraft.
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The Compensation

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• $150K - $200K Competitive Annual Base Salary Plus Stock Option Package and Bonus Plan Commensurate with Experience
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The Location

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• Fully onsite role based in the Paradise Valley, AZ area
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• The Benefits
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• Comprehensive Medical Coverage (2 PPO & 1 PPO/Health Savings Account Options)
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• Preventative Care Services Covered at No Cost
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• Dental PPO Plan Options
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• Vision Plan Options
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• Voluntary Life & AD&D Insurance
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• Short & Long-Term Plans
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• Exclusive Employee Discount Program through BenefitHub
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• Clever Rx Prescription Discount Program
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The Role

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• Lead adaptation and development of onboard flight control systems for small unmanned aerial vehicles.
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• Collaborate with aerospace, mechanical, electrical, and software engineers to translate system-level functionality into software requirements.
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• Partner with aircraft designers to size and spatially configure control actuators, defining and experimentally validating control authority requirements.
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• Architect, implement, optimize, and tune vehicle and component control loops and state estimation algorithms.
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• Work with software and aerospace teams to build and run 6-DOF simulation models and software-in-the-loop testing environments.
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• Help scope and schedule project tasks alongside management.
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• Develop accurate vehicle and component-level physics models.
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• Research, evaluate, and source sensors and computational hardware components.
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• Advance GPS-denied and visual-inertial odometry (VIO) integration within vehicle navigation systems.
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The Background Profile

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• U.S. Citizenship required
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• Bachelors Degree in relevant Engineering discipline; Masters Degree a plus
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• 5-10+ years of GNC experience developing embedded systems software
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• Comprehensive end-to-end embedded systems development expertise
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• Hands-on experience across electrical, embedded software, and avionics disciplines
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• Proficient in state estimation algorithms, control loop design, and tuning
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• Skilled in embedded programming, particularly C/C++, with familiarity in Python and C#
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• Strong knowledge of avionics hardware and debugging tools, including wiring diagrams and oscilloscopes
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• Experience with physics-based actuator and vehicle modeling
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• Familiarity with Ardupilot, PX4 codebases, and compatible hardware
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• Ability to work onsite full-time at the Paradise Valley, AZ facility
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The Ideal Background

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• Innovative, hands-on, and highly practical in approach
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• Multidisciplinary problem solver driven by rigorous engineering analysis
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• Goal-oriented, learns from mistakes, and ensures a complete design process
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• Strategic, balancing scope and effort effectively
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• Highly skilled in clear communication through both discussion and documentation
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• Collaborative and thrives in teamwork to develop plans and solve complex problems
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