Staff GNC Engineer

Our Culture

DZYNE Technologies is leading the future of autonomous defense. Based in Irvine, California, we develop and manufacture advanced airborne and ground-based defense solutions deployed in over 50 countries. Backed by U.S. Government Programs of Record, our technologies are field-proven, scalable, and production-ready. We’re growing fast and looking for innovators ready to make an impact. At DZYNE, you’ll join a culture built on collaboration, integrity, and purpose. We celebrate wins, value diverse perspectives, and support every team member’s success.

Ready to do work that matters? Join us.

Position: Staff Guidance, Navigation and Controls (GNC) Engineer

Location: Irvine, CA

Position Description

The UAS Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer will be responsible for refining and validating autopilot algorithms, responsible for analyzing flight test data, and supporting end-to-end system integration for advanced unmanned aerial systems. The position involves both analytical and hands-on engineering work, spanning flight dynamics, embedded software, and system-level architecture.

In addition to direct GNC and flight software development, the engineer will:

• Perform systems architecture trades, analyses and definition, and definition to balance performance, cost, and reliability across the vehicles’ flight control and navigation subsystems.
• Conduct flight data analysis, root-cause investigations, and control law tuning to enhance flight stability and mission performance.
• Lead or support the development and execution of test procedures for bench testing, system checkout, and flight validation.
• Drive requirements management activities, including development, decomposition, verification, and validation of GNC and navigation subsystems.
• Collaborate across multiple engineering disciplines – such as avionics, propulsion, software, and systems engineering – throughout the entire product lifecycle.
• Contribute to the integration of new navigation and sensing technologies, including alternative PNT solutions such as visual navigation, as part of broader autonomy and redundancy efforts.
  
  

Required Skills/Qualifications

• 8 years engineering experience in aerospace field in a product development setting.
• Strong understanding of Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) theory and its application to aerospace vehicles.
• Proficiency in C/C , Python, MATLAB for embedded systems and data analysis.
• Hands-on experience with autopilot frameworks.
• Proven ability to analyze flight data, identify anomalies, and tune control systems.
• Familiarity with sensor fusion and state estimation techniques (e.g. Kalman filters)
• Experience in system verification and validation, including writing and executing test procedures.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Proficient with software version control (i.e. git, bitbucket, GitHub)
  
  

Preferred Skills/Qualifications

• Knowledge of hardware integration and avionics communication protocols (CAN, UART, SPI, I2C)
• Familiarity with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) or Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) environments.
• Background in system architecture trades and requirements decomposition.
• Exposure to Alt-PNT technologies
• Understanding of model-based design and control system simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink)
• Experience with a variety of aircraft types (e.g. fixed wing, multi-rotor, helicopter, missile)
• Experience developing and integrating new capabilities into existing military aircraft systems.
• Familiarity and/or experience with the following standards:
• MIL-STD-810 or DO-160 requirements and associated testing.
• MIL-STD-882, MIL-STD-516
• SAE AS50881 aircraft wiring standards.
• MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-704 for aircraft systems design.
• Experience with Pixhawk/Ardupilot
  

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or related field required.
• Master’s degree is preferred, particularly in Autonomous Systems, Control Systems, or Systems Engineering.
  
  

Clearance Level Required: Must be able to obtain Secret Clearance

Travel: Less than 5%

Working Conditions: The diversity of work conditions may range from an environment where there is little or no physical discomfort, such as general office environment or warehouse, to field testing environments.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Ability to work in a standard office environment, using computer and other office equipment.
• Capability to travel to field sites, including manufacturing facilities, test sites, or operational environments.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs. occasionally for handling technical equipment or documentation.
  
  

Salary: $160,000 – $200,000 annually

Salary depends on relevant work experience, education, training, essential skills, and/or other factors such as specialized or high-demand professions. In addition to the annual salary, the position will be eligible for an annual bonus. The pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of salary or annual bonus.

Benefits

Our benefits are DZYNE’ed for your overall health and financial wellness. DZYNE provides comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, employee life and accidental death, and disability.

DZYNE Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, DZYNE Technologies complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which our company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.

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