GNC Engineer - Navigation

About Mach Industries

Founded in 2023, Mach Industries is a rapidly growing defense technology company focused on developing next-generation autonomous defense platforms. At the core of our mission is the commitment to delivering scalable, decentralized defense systems that enhance the strategic capabilities of the United States and its allies. With a workforce of approximately 350 employees, we operate with startup agility and ambition.

Our vision is to redefine the future of warfare through cutting-edge manufacturing, innovation at speed, and unwavering focus on national security. We are dedicated to solving the next generation of warfare with lethal systems that deter kinetic conflict and protect global security.

The Role

Mach Industries is seeking a GNC Engineer, Navigation to help develop, implement, and test navigation systems for autonomous aircraft and related defense platforms. You will contribute across state estimation, inertial navigation, sensor modeling, simulation, embedded implementation, hardware integration, and flight-test analysis.

This is a hands-on engineering role for someone building depth in navigation and estimation while delivering real vehicle capability. You will work with experienced GNC engineers to turn requirements into algorithms and analyses, characterize sensor behavior, investigate system performance, and build evidence that navigation functions operate reliably.

The ideal candidate has strong engineering fundamentals, enjoys solving problems with models and data, and is motivated to learn quickly. You approach work carefully, communicate assumptions and results clearly, seek feedback early, and take increasing ownership as your technical judgment develops.

Key Responsibilities

Navigation Algorithm Development

• Support the design, implementation, tuning, and verification of navigation functions such as strapdown inertial navigation, state estimation, Kalman filtering, sensor fusion, alignment, calibration, measurement handling, and fault detection.
• Translate defined vehicle objectives into analysis tasks, navigation performance metrics, simulation cases, and verification evidence with guidance from senior engineers.
• Develop and evaluate propagation and measurement models, coordinate-frame transformations, initialization logic, and nominal or degraded sensor behavior.
• Analyze the effects of sensor noise, bias, drift, scale factors, misalignment, lever arms, timing errors, latency, environmental conditions, and vehicle dynamics.
• Evaluate estimator convergence, consistency, numerical behavior, residuals, and recovery across representative trajectories and sensor conditions.
• Document methods, assumptions, results, limitations, and recommendations in a clear and reproducible form.

Sensor Modeling and Characterization

• Support the evaluation and integration of IMUs, GNSS receivers, magnetometers, barometers, air-data sensors, cameras, radar, and other aiding sources as applicable.
• Analyze recorded sensor data to characterize noise, bias, repeatability, drift, latency, synchronization, thermal behavior, and other relevant error sources.
• Develop sensor error models for simulation using test data and appropriate statistical methods.
• Support stationary, dynamic, thermal, vibration, and environmental tests, including test setup, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Contribute to sensor trade studies and calibration or acceptance-test activities using defined requirements and evaluation criteria.
• Work with Avionics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Embedded Software, and Test to resolve installation, timing, data-quality, and interface issues.

Simulation, Software, and Verification

• Develop and maintain navigation simulations, sensor models, trajectory cases, fault scenarios, and truth-data interfaces.
• Build and run Monte Carlo analyses, parameter sweeps, covariance analyses, sensitivity studies, and requirements-based tests.
• Implement, test, and review navigation algorithms in MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C, or modern C++ as appropriate.
• Support translation of analysis algorithms into embedded, real-time software while accounting for numerical precision, coordinate conventions, scheduling, timing, initialization, and computational constraints.
• Create unit tests, test vectors, deterministic data replays, and software-in-the-loop or hardware-in-the-loop scenarios.
• Maintain traceability between input data, model versions, sensor configurations, calibration data, software versions, test cases, and reported results.

Test and Engineering Execution

• Support ground and flight-test planning by defining objectives, instrumentation needs, maneuvers, expected behavior, and success criteria.
• Analyze test data, compare measured performance with predictions, and help determine whether discrepancies come from algorithms, sensors, timing, calibration, interfaces, truth data, or vehicle dynamics.
• Break assigned work into clear tasks, identify required inputs and dependencies, and communicate progress or blockers early.
• Ask for review when decisions exceed available evidence or experience, then incorporate feedback into the work.
• Contribute to design reviews, technical documentation, shared tools, coding standards, and team learning.
• Take increasing end-to-end ownership of navigation tasks as capability and judgment grow.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, robotics, mathematics, physics, or a related technical field.
• Foundational understanding of dynamics, linear systems, probability, statistics, estimation, coordinate frames, and numerical methods.
• Experience applying navigation, estimation, signal-processing, or sensor-fusion concepts through professional work, internships, co-ops, research, competition teams, or substantial academic projects.
• Ability to use MATLAB/Simulink or Python for modeling, simulation, data analysis, and visualization.
• Exposure to C or modern C++ and an interest in developing production-quality embedded software skills.
• Ability to interpret technical requirements, check work systematically, and communicate results with supporting evidence.
• Comfort working collaboratively, receiving technical feedback, and learning unfamiliar tools or concepts.
• Strong ownership, curiosity, attention to detail, and commitment to reliable engineering work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, controls, robotics, applied mathematics, or a related field.
• Experience with aircraft, rockets, missiles, spacecraft, UAVs, robotics, or other autonomous systems.
• Experience with Kalman filtering, inertial navigation, sensor fusion, stochastic processes, or navigation error analysis.
• Experience collecting, processing, or characterizing IMU, GNSS, or other sensor data.
• Experience with embedded systems, real-time software, hardware testing, or flight-test data.
• Familiarity with Git, code review, automated testing, continuous integration, issue tracking, or configuration management.
• Experience with PX4, ROS 2, simulation frameworks, or student flight-vehicle programs.

What Success Looks Like

Within your first year, you will have:

• Become a dependable contributor to navigation algorithms, sensor analysis, software, simulation, and test activities.
• Delivered assigned navigation functions or analyses with clear assumptions, reproducible results, and appropriate review.
• Built a working understanding of the navigation architecture, estimator states, sensors, software interfaces, timing behavior, and verification approach.
• Created useful tests, data-analysis tools, sensor models, or simulation improvements that increase team speed and confidence.
• Used ground- or flight-test data to evaluate performance and improve models, calibration, or estimator behavior.
• Communicated risks and blockers early, incorporated feedback effectively, and shown growing technical independence.
• Taken end-to-end ownership of increasingly complex navigation tasks.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

At Mach, we believe that compensation is more than just a paycheck. It's a comprehensive package designed to reward the time, skills, and expertise you bring to our team. We are committed to offering competitive compensation that is equitable, transparent, and aligned with market trends.

Key Elements of Our Compensation Philosophy:

• Competitive Salaries: We continuously research market rates to ensure our salaries are competitive with those in our industry and geographic location.
• Performance-Based Incentives: Our bonus structure is tied to both individual and company performance, creating a win-win scenario that motivates our team members to excel.
• Equity Participation: We offer stock options or equity to employees, ensuring that you share in the success and growth of the company.
• Benefit Packages: Our benefits include healthcare, dental and vision plans, retirement savings, and paid time off, because we understand that your well-being extends beyond the office.
• Professional Development: We allocate funds for continuing education, training, and career growth.
• Transparency: We are committed to openness about our compensation tiers and how decisions are made, ensuring trust and mutual respect.

By joining Mach, you’re not just accepting a job—you’re becoming a key part of a team that values your contributions and invests in your growth. Together, we aim to create a rewarding environment that sets the stage for long-term success.

Data Privacy
To view Mach Industries candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://machindustries.com/privacy-policy.

Disclosures

This position may require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).  Please note that any offer for employment may be conditioned on authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export control laws and regulations without sponsorship for an export license.

Mach participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offers may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and training, critical skills, and business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in most offers and are considered part of Mach’s total compensation package. Mach offers benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development.

Mach is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. If you’d like to defend the American way of life, please reach out!