GN&C Engineer

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking an experienced Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) Engineer to support the development of advanced aerospace and defense systems. This individual will contribute to the design, analysis, testing, and implementation of GN&C algorithms for next-generation space, hypersonic, and autonomous vehicle programs.

The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in flight dynamics, control systems, modeling and simulation, and software development. This position offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies in a fast-paced, highly collaborative engineering environment. This is a fully onsite position in Seal Beach, CA. Candidates must hold an active TS/SCI security clearance.

Responsibilities Include:

• Design, implement, and validate guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for aerospace and defense platforms.
• Develop and maintain high-fidelity six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) simulations and modeling environments.
• Build and validate flight software utilizing MATLAB, Simulink, C/C++, and related development tools.
• Apply astrodynamics and flight mechanics principles to mission planning, trajectory design, and performance analysis.
• Support development of atmospheric flight control, re-entry guidance, navigation, and autonomy algorithms.
• Develop powered and unpowered guidance laws for advanced vehicle applications.
• Perform system analysis, troubleshooting, testing, and anomaly resolution.
• Create technical documentation, simulation products, concepts of operations, and test procedures.
• Collaborate with systems, software, avionics, integration, and test engineering teams.
• Identify opportunities for automation, process improvement, and reusable engineering solutions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or a related STEM field.
• 5+ years of experience supporting aerospace, spacecraft, missile, aircraft, autonomous systems, or similar vehicle programs.
• Experience developing GN&C algorithms, simulations, and analysis tools.
• Proficiency with MATLAB and Simulink.
• Experience programming in C/C++, Python, and/or C#.
• Strong understanding of control systems, flight dynamics, and system modeling.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Aerospace Engineering or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of relevant engineering experience.
• Experience supporting spacecraft operations, orbital mechanics, re-entry systems, or hypersonic flight vehicles.
• Familiarity with state estimation and sensor fusion techniques, including Kalman filtering.
• Experience with GPS/INS navigation systems and flight instrumentation.
• Knowledge of classical, modern, and nonlinear control theory.
• Model-based development and verification experience.
• Flight test support experience.
• Experience working in rapid prototyping or advanced research and development environments.

Desired Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and within multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience working in fast-paced environments with evolving requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Salary and Benefits Include:

• Salary Range: $120,000-160,000+ **depending on experience**
• Full Benefits: Cigna Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, PTO, Sick Leave if required by law, and Holidays

Keywords: GN&C, Guidance Navigation & Control, Aerospace Engineering, Flight Dynamics, MATLAB, Simulink, C++, Python, Space Systems, Hypersonics, Control Systems, Astrodynamics, TS/SCI Clearance.