GNC Engineer

This is a senior individual contributor role owning the guidance, navigation, and control stack on an autonomous VTOL aircraft. You will design and implement control laws, conduct flight test campaigns, debug flight anomalies, build and maintain flight dynamics models, and work closely with the Chief Engineer and cross-functional team. The role spans from simulation to real-life flight operations and customer demonstrations.

Responsibilities

• Own the full GNC stack on our drone: PX4 code, VTOL transition logic, fixed-wing control laws (TECS, NPFG, attitude/rate loops), multicopter controller
• Design, implement, and iterate on control laws; translate theoretical controller designs into flight-validated parameters, and test them in the field to tune the aircraft
• Conduct structured flight test campaigns — define test cards, instrument logging, execute in-field, and close the loop with data-driven analysis
• Debug flight anomalies from logs: identify root cause across sensor, estimator, controller, and actuator layers
• Build and maintain the flight dynamics model; extract and validate aerodynamic coefficients from flight data and CFD outputs
• Write technically precise scopes of work for CFD contractors; review and integrate their outputs into the aero model
• Develop and maintain a Simulink-based 6DOF simulation environment for control law prototyping, linearization, and stability margin analysis — de-risking parameter changes before they go to hardware
• Work with the software team on autopilot integration, sensor fusion, and estimator configuration (EKF tuning, IMU/GPS/baro)
• Support customer demonstrations — ensure the vehicle performs reliably and gracefully under operational conditions

Requirements

• 4+ years of hands-on flight controls or GNC engineering experience on real flying hardware
• Deep familiarity with PX4 (or comparable open-source autopilot) — you've tuned it, debugged it, and modified it
• Experience with fixed-wing or VTOL platforms
• Ability to read and interpret flight logs to diagnose control system issues (PX4 log analysis, PlotJuggler)
• Familiarity with aerodynamic modeling pipelines (CFD output → stability derivatives → flight dynamics model)
• Scripting ability in Python for log analysis, simulation, and tooling; MATLAB/Simulink experience for control design and 6DOF modeling is equally valued
• Strong fundamentals: classical and modern control theory, rigid body dynamics, state estimation
• Comfortable in the field, you've executed flight tests, not just designed them on paper

Nice to have

• Experience with TECS, NPFG, or L1 guidance implementations
• Exposure to EKF-based state estimators (GPS/IMU/baro fusion)
• Experience with MAVLink or similar UAV communication protocols
• Scripting ability in Python for log analysis, simulation, and tooling; MATLAB/Simulink experience for control design and 6DOF modeling is equally valued
• Familiarity with NDAA compliance requirements for UAS hardware
• Experience supporting operational customer demonstrations or field deployments

Benefits

• Competitive salary, equity packages, and benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance - fully covered for employees, 401K, development stipends, among others.
• Unlimited PTO and two-week company holiday at the end of every calendar year.
• We are a pro-mental health and pro-family company - we actually encourage employees to spend time with themselves and their families. Valinor also provides fertility benefits to those just beginning that journey.
• Fun work environment - we like to laugh and take care of each other, but we also deeply respect the mission in front of us.