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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) / Autonomy Engineer - **Company:** THE JUDGE GROUP, INC. - **Location:** Scottsdale, AZ, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $124,800.0 - $187,200.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Systems Engineering, C Sharp (Programming Language), C++ (Programming Language), Computer Engineering, Embedded Software, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Hardware Interface Design, Python (Programming Language), Open Source Technology, Performance Tuning, Software Engineering, Software Requirements Analysis, Systems Architecture, Systems Integration, Enterprise Integration - **Published:** September 3, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.dice.com/job-detail/554f0d10-a6b3-49a3-8cdd-5dc4c0ce4f11 ## About the Role * Bachelor's degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Engineering, or a related field * Minimum of 5 years of experience developing GNC software for embedded systems * Proven experience leading the complete development lifecycle of embedded systems, from architecture through deployment * Hands-on, cross-functional experience spanning embedded software, electronics, and system integration * 5+ years of engineering experience in a related industry * Experience working in robotics, UAV, aerospace, or autonomous systems environments preferred, * Innovative, practical, and hands-on * A strong analytical problem solver with a multidisciplinary engineering mindset * Results-oriented and committed to continuous improvement * Capable of balancing technical scope, schedule, and resource constraints * Effective in both verbal and written communication * Collaborative and able to work effectively across engineering disciplines * Self-motivated, adaptable, and driven by technical excellence, * Strong understanding of state estimation techniques and tuning methodologies * Experience with control system design, analysis, and performance optimization * Embedded software development, particularly in C/C++, for robotics, aerospace, or UAV applications * Experience developing physics-based vehicle and actuator models * Basic understanding of avionics systems and low-level hardware interfaces * Ability to troubleshoot embedded hardware and avionics issues using schematics, wiring diagrams, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers * Strong systems engineering and integration skills Preferred * Experience with Python and/or C# * Experience with ArduPilot, PX4, or related open-source flight control platforms * Familiarity with autonomous navigation technologies, including VIO and GPS-denied operations * Experience with UAV flight testing and validation activities Work Environment & Requirements * Full-time, on-site position in a highly collaborative engineering environment * Ability to work closely with multidisciplinary teams throughout the aircraft development lifecycle, * Bachelor's Degree in a relevant engineering discipline * 5+ years of engineering experience * 5+ years of embedded systems development experience ## Description We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) / Autonomy Engineer to lead the development of advanced flight control and autonomy systems for a next-generation small unmanned electric aircraft. Our team operates in a fast-paced, hands-on environment that values innovation, technical excellence, practicality, and reliability. In this role, you will collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team of engineers and subject matter experts, contributing to every stage of aircraft development, from concept and system architecture through testing and flight validation., * Lead the adaptation, development, and optimization of onboard flight control systems for a small unmanned aircraft system (UAS) * Collaborate with Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, and Software Engineering teams to translate system-level objectives into software requirements * Partner with aircraft designers to define actuator sizing, placement, and control authority requirements through analysis and testing * Design, implement, tune, and validate vehicle control architectures, component control loops, and state estimation algorithms * Work with software engineers to develop and integrate 6-DOF Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) simulation environments * Collaborate with aerospace engineers to develop and refine high-fidelity vehicle dynamic models * Support project planning activities by estimating engineering effort, defining technical tasks, and aligning development activities with project schedules Core Technical Responsibilities * Develop, implement, and tune state estimation algorithms * Design, modify, and optimize vehicle-level and subsystem control loops * Validate control system performance through simulation, testing, and flight evaluation * Develop physics-based models for aircraft dynamics and onboard systems * Evaluate, select, and integrate sensors, avionics, and computational hardware * Contribute to the roadmap and implementation strategy for GPS-denied navigation and Visual-Inertial Odometry (VIO) capabilities ## Related Videos - [How to develop an autonomous car end-to-end: Robotic Drive and the mobility revolution](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/22-how-to-develop-an-autonomous-car-end-to-end-robotic-drive-and-the-mobility-revolution) - [Building a hypercar from scratch](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/607-building-a-hypercar-from-scratch) - [Practical performance tuning for Serverless Java on AWS](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2075-practical-performance-tuning-for-serverless-java-on-aws) - [Model Based Systems Engineering in an Agile Product Development Process](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/68-model-based-systems-engineering-in-an-agile-product-development-process) - [Automated Driving - Why is it so hard to introduce](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/628-automated-driving-why-is-it-so-hard-to-introduce) - [Breaking the Hardware Mindset: Overcoming Barriers to System-Level Innovation](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1635-breaking-the-hardware-mindset-overcoming-barriers-to-system-level-innovation) ## Related Articles - [How software is steering vehicle technology](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/515-how-software-is-steering-vehicle-technology) - [The Prompt Engineer ✍️](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/216-the-prompt-engineer) - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [Best US AI Conferences for CTOs in 2026: Build vs. Buy, Vendor Evaluation, and Peer Intelligence](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/736-best-us-ai-conferences-for-ctos-in-2026-build-vs-buy-vendor-evaluation-and-peer-intelligence) - [How to Become an AI Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/331-how-to-become-an-ai-engineer) - [Where To Find Software Engineering Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/396-where-to-find-software-engineering-jobs)