GNC Engineer

About Applied Intuition Defence

Applied Intuition UK is a software and infrastructure supplier that accelerates the deployment of next-generation autonomous capabilities to the warfighter across air, land, sea, and space. A subsidiary of Applied Intuition, we deliver dual-use solutions to national security customers that build upon several years of product development and experience from commercial autonomy programs. Based in London, our seasoned defence team hails from Palantir, Anduril, SpaceX, Google, Lockheed Martin, and the UK and US Armed Services. Learn more at appliedintuitiondefense.com.

About the role

As a Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer at Applied, you'll be at the forefront of defense aerial autonomy. You'll design, integrate, and rigorously test core flight autonomy capabilities across the full range of aerial UAS platforms, from agile quadrotors to long-range fixed wings. Partnering with teams across the company, you'll create and adapt GNC algorithms to the unique requirements of each program, contributing directly to our core software stack so your work becomes a reusable capability that powers every program, not just one. The mission is bold and the stakes are real: you'll be engineering the systems that give our military an unmatched edge in the skies.

At Applied, you will:

• Write software that operates real autonomous aircraft systems including group 1-5 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as simulated models to accomplish tactical military missions

• Build, leverage, and improve aerial autonomy software architectures that are ultimately tested and deployed on real systems to accomplish military missions

• Collaborate with 3rd party UAS vehicle vendors to develop and integrate aerial autonomy software onto OEM hardware

   

We're looking for someone who has:

• Master's degree in Aerospace, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science or similar field

• 6+ years of hands-on experience developing GNC software for autonomous systems

• Experience developing autonomy algorithms in C++

• Experience developing or implementing outer-loop control systems or path planning algorithms

• Strong foundation in control theory, dynamics, and optimization, with experience applying them to real-world autonomous systems

• Experience developing and simulating 3DoF or 6DoF models of air vehicles to support GNC algorithm development

• Experience with flight testing and performing data analysis

• Experience with UAS GNC/navigation systems such as PX4 and Ardupilot

• Strong functional, procedural, data-oriented, and object-oriented programming experience

   

Travel Requirements:

• General willingness to travel for company business between our offices, as well as to customer sites

Security Requirements:

• Must have ability to hold UK Security Clearance (current or previous preferred)

   

Nice to have:

• Ability to use data visualization and debugging tools to support autonomy control development

• Experience developing in Docker and containerized development environments, using Linux-based operating systems (e.g., RHEL, Ubuntu), source control systems, and artifact registries

• Understanding of key technologies: C++, Python, DevOps, Containers, Linux

• Familiarity with software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) development and testing

• Experience with Bazel

• Experience working projects related to national security for one or more government agencies

• References who will describe them as low-ego, highly motivated, thoughtfully opinionated, strong communicators and curious listeners