Principal Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer

Description

The company builds technology for space, defense and national security, and this role supports its lunar systems work.

The role is a senior technical authority for guidance, navigation and control (GNC) in the Software & Controls Department, reporting to the Software & Controls Manager.

The position is onsite in Pittsburgh, PA.

You will modernize existing GNC algorithms and analysis to industry standards and push the team's approaches toward state-of-the-art performance.

The company is looking for people who like solving hard problems, building, adapting and leading, and who want their work to matter.

Responsibilities

• Raise the fidelity of existing GNC analysis, modeling and algorithms to industry best practices and mission-critical standards.
• Introduce modern methods in state estimation, sensor fusion, trajectory generation, optical navigation and terrain-based navigation.
• Modernize and extend high-fidelity simulation environments used for algorithm verification, Monte Carlo testing, mission analysis and performance evaluation.
• Develop and validate improved navigation and control strategies for descent, landing, attitude control and autonomous operations.
• Run in-depth trade studies on sensors, estimation approaches, trajectory strategies and control architectures, and give clear, well-supported recommendations.
• Lead technical direction across Lunar Systems, shaping mission concepts, technology roadmaps and long-term GNC capability.
• Work with systems engineering, avionics, software, mission analysis and mechanical teams so GNC solutions meet mission requirements and fit the spacecraft as a whole.
• Write clear, high-quality technical documents, analysis reports, proposals and review materials for internal and external audiences.
• Mentor GNC engineers and raise team standards for analysis quality, algorithm development, modeling practice and simulation rigor.
• Spot GNC-related mission risks early and propose mitigations, algorithm changes or analysis campaigns to address them.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree or higher in aerospace, mechanical or electrical engineering, robotics, applied mathematics or a related field, plus 15+ years of relevant experience. An advanced degree can replace some of that experience.
• Extensive experience developing, analyzing and validating GNC algorithms for spacecraft, planetary landers, launch vehicles or autonomous systems.
• Deep knowledge of nonlinear dynamics, state estimation, sensor fusion, modern filters such as EKF and UKF, guidance algorithms and control theory.
• A proven record of improving existing GNC algorithms, modeling methods and analysis frameworks to industry standards.
• A demonstrated ability to bring advanced or state-of-the-art approaches into navigation, estimation, control or simulation work.
• A solid grasp of lunar and cislunar mission environments and how they affect GNC design and performance.
• Experience producing strong technical content for proposals, customer presentations and major reviews.
• Experience developing, breaking down and validating mission-level and system-level GNC requirements.
• Preferred: experience with precision landing methods, such as terrain-relative navigation, lidar-based sensing, optical navigation or autonomous hazard evaluation.
• Preferred: experience moving improved or advanced algorithms into embedded or flight software.
• Preferred: knowledge of rover autonomy, surface mobility GNC or planetary navigation techniques.
• Preferred: expertise with analysis tools such as MATLAB, Python, Simulink, Basilisk or similar frameworks.
• Preferred: familiarity with NASA and industry standards for GNC verification and validation.
• Preferred: experience using agile tools such as Confluence and Jira.
• Preferred: eligibility to obtain and hold a U.S. security clearance.
• Applicants must be U.S. Persons under ITAR and EAR: a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or a protected individual under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3). They must also be eligible to obtain any required export authorization from the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Conditions

Onsite work in Pittsburgh, PA, within the Software & Controls Department.

Equal opportunity employer: all qualified applicants are considered regardless of protected characteristics.

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off to recharge and keep a healthy work-life balance.
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage for employees and families, with a large share of premiums paid by the company and many benefits covered at 100% for employees.
• Gym memberships at 12,700+ locations nationwide, including 24 Hour Fitness, EoS Fitness, Crunch Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Blink Fitness and Chuze Fitness, with no long-term contracts and free on-demand workout videos before enrolling.
• 401(k) plan with a 50% company match on contributions up to 8%.
• Company wellness programs for physical and mental well-being.
• Additional voluntary benefits and employee support resources.
• Total compensation described as highly competitive.
• Work alongside a highly talented team in an innovative, mission-driven environment.