GNC Engineer Missile Defense

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own all aspects of Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) system development for missile systems including architecture definition algorithm design verification hardware integration flight test support and operational deployment.
• Design test and validate GNC flight software and embedded algorithms for missiles operating across multiple flight regimes and environmental conditions.
• Develop and maintain navigation and state estimation algorithms including sensor fusion frameworks (e.g. EKF UKF particle filters) integrating IMU GPS/INS seeker data and other sensor modalities to provide high-rate high-accuracy state estimates throughout the engagement timeline.
• Develop guidance laws (proportional navigation augmented PN optimal guidance) and autopilot designs; implement them in flight software; verify performance and robustness through high-fidelity 6-DOF simulation Monte Carlo analysis hardware-in-the-loop testing and flight test correlation.
• Design implement and maintain high-fidelity simulation environments capturing aerodynamics propulsion atmospheric effects target dynamics sensor models and actuator dynamics for SIL HIL and mission analysis across the full flight envelope.
• Utilize frequency-domain and time-domain control analysis techniques to ensure stability margins.
• Develop terminal guidance algorithms for intercept of maneuvering targets including target tracking aimpoint selection miss distance prediction time-to-go estimation and endgame steering logic.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering mechanical engineering electrical engineering physics or related field
• 5+ years of relevant GNC engineering experience in the aerospace and defense industry preferably with tactical missile systems interceptors or guided munitions
• Coursework or project experience in flight dynamics aerodynamics control systems and state estimation
• Strong understanding of physics rigid body dynamics intercept geometry proportional navigation and real-time software development principles
• Experience with C++ and/or Python for algorithm development numerical methods real-time control or simulation
• Familiarity with missile GNC concepts including guidance laws autopilot design sensor fusion inertial navigation seeker operation and aerodynamic/thrust vector control
• Exposure to filtering and estimation methods (e.g. Kalman filters complementary filters INS/GPS integration) through internships coursework or projects
• Ability to build test and debug flight software real-time control systems and simulation tools
• Strong analytical skills with emphasis on dynamics controls and numerical methods; ability to work effectively in a fast-paced multidisciplinary engineering environment
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of complex technical problems and drive solutions from concept through flight test
• Ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI US government security clearance

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master's degree or PhD in aerospace engineering control systems or equivalent discipline
• Experience with terminal guidance algorithms proportional navigation variants optimal guidance theory or modern guidance techniques
• Experience developing autopilot designs for agile missiles including gain scheduling adaptive control or nonlinear control methods
• Experience with INS/GPS integration sensor calibration alignment algorithms and error budget analysis
• Experience with aerodynamic modeling CFD correlation to flight data or aeroservoelastic analysis
• Experience developing and executing hardware-in-the-loop test campaigns with flight representative GNC hardware
• Flight test experience including test planning instrumentation selection telemetry analysis and flight data reconstruction
• Experience with intercept kinematics target tracking miss distance analysis and covariance propagation
• Experience performing line-of-sight stability analysis including jitter noise rejection and seeker tracking performance
• Hands-on experience with GNC hardware integration sensor characterization and actuator calibration
• Familiarity with missile-specific tools and standards (e.g. MISSILE DATCOM MIL-STD-1553 MIL-STD-1760)
• Active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph

COMPENSATION

• Colorado Base Salary: $130000 - $210000
• California Base Salary: $135000 - $220000
• Equity + Benefits including Health Dental Vision HRA/HSA options PTO and paid holidays 401K Parental Leave 

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills education location and experience. 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work Location—This is an onsite position Successful candidates will be located near Denver CO or Long Beach CA 
• Work environment—the work environment; temperature noise level inside or outside or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
• Physical demands—the physical demands of the job including bending sitting lifting and driving.

This position will be open until it is successfully filled. To submit your application please follow the directions below.
#LI-Onsite

What We Do

Space was once the quietest place in the universe. Now it's crowded contested and confrontational.  We are True Anomaly: the only defense company focused exclusively on space defense. Founded in 2022 by ex-U.S. Space Force members True Anomaly designs and builds advanced systems for space superiority: agile and powerful spacecraft platforms mission software engineered for unmatched command and control and payloads tailored for precision sensing and effects.    True Anomaly is headquartered in Centennial CO with regional offices in Colorado Springs CO Long Beach CA and Washington D.C.  We are hiring and seeking exceptional talent to join True Anomaly from any technical industry or background to bring unique talents perspective and solutions. If you embrace complexity lead instead of follow showcase integrity over ego take ownership for outcomes and measure success by impact we want to hear from you.

Why Work With Us

True Anomaly exists to enable a secure stable and sustainable space environment for the US its allies and partners. We design and build spacecraft and software solutions for space superiority. If you are ready to contribute to the future of space defense we’d love to hear from you.

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