Sr​/Principal UAS GNC Engineer

The company is a fast‑moving aerospace startup founded in 2019 that builds cutting‑edge unmanned aerial platforms and miniaturized sensor technologies for defense and commercial use. We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Sr./Principal UAS GNC Engineer to lead the full lifecycle development of a small unmanned electric aircraft with a multidisciplinary team from concept through delivery.

• 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.

• $150K – $200K Competitive Annual Base Salary plus Stock Option Package and Bonus Plan commensurate with experience.

• Fully onsite role based in the Paradise Valley, AZ area.

• 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 Benefit Hub
• Clever Rx Prescription Discount Program

• 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.

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Bachelor’s Degree in a 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.

• 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.