Guidance & Control Algorithms Engineer

We’re partnering with an early-stage European defence-tech company developing autonomous robotic systems for real-world operational environments.

The team is building next-generation autonomy technology, with a current focus on aerial robotics and counter-drone systems. Their work combines advanced algorithms, robotics, perception, control and physical hardware to create autonomous systems capable of operating reliably in complex and dynamic environments.

We’re looking for an engineer with a strong mathematical and algorithmic background who wants to take ownership of the guidance and control algorithms behind autonomous robotic systems.

This is an opportunity to work on challenging engineering problems where mathematical models and algorithms must ultimately perform on real hardware

• Guidance & autonomy algorithms: Design, develop and improve algorithms that enable autonomous systems to make decisions and execute reliable trajectories in dynamic environments.

• Trajectory generation & optimization: Work on trajectory calculation, planning and optimization, accounting for system dynamics and operational constraints.

• Optimal control: Develop and implement control algorithms using classical or modern approaches, translating mathematical models into practical solutions.

• State estimation & navigation: Contribute to algorithms that estimate the system's state and support reliable guidance and control using available sensor information.

• Simulation & validation: Build, test and refine algorithms in simulation before integrating and validating them on physical robotic platforms.

• Real-world integration: Collaborate with robotics, perception and embedded engineers to ensure algorithms operate reliably as part of the wider autonomous system.

• Technical ownership: Take responsibility for your algorithms from mathematical formulation and prototyping through implementation, testing and continuous improvement.

• Strong background in applied mathematics, control theory, algorithms or a closely related engineering discipline.

• Experience developing guidance, control, trajectory planning or optimization algorithms.

• Solid understanding of optimal control and the mathematical principles behind dynamic systems.

• Strong programming skills in Python, with the ability to translate mathematical concepts into working algorithms.

• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink, C++ or similar engineering and scientific computing tools.

• Ability to work independently on complex mathematical and engineering problems.

• Interest in developing algorithms for real autonomous systems, beyond purely theoretical research.

• Comfortable working in English within a multidisciplinary engineering team.

We’re open to engineers from different backgrounds, including robotics, aerospace, control engineering, applied mathematics and physics. You don’t necessarily need to have held a formal Guidance or GNC Engineer title if you have the mathematical and algorithmic foundation to take ownership of this work.

• Experience with UAVs, drones or other autonomous vehicles.

• Background in Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC).

• Experience with Model Predictive Control (MPC), trajectory optimization or advanced control methods.

• Familiarity with state estimation, Kalman filtering or sensor fusion.

• Experience with C++ and real-time software development.

• Familiarity with ROS2, PX4 or Ardu Pilot.

• Experience with simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing or sim-to-real development.

• Previous experience in aerospace, defence or other safety-critical engineering environments.

• Mathematically curious — you enjoy understanding why algorithms work, not just implementing existing solutions.

• Ownership-driven — you want…