Senior Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer, Air Dominance & Strike

Company: Anduril Industries
Location: Costa Mesa
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

Anduril’s Flight Engineering department is part of the Air Dominance and Strike organization. We are seeking Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) Engineers to join our team. The Anduril Flight Engineering team is integral to development of flight system solutions in all domains for our warfighters. As a critical member of our team, the role of a Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer is pivotal in driving the design, development, testing, and implementation of cutting-edge flight system technologies for our aerospace systems. Anduril fosters a dynamic learning culture, characterized by accelerated knowledge acquisition through modeling, simulation, analysis, and rigorous and frequent ground and flight test experimentation. At Anduril, you will be involved in flight testing the systems you develop. We are currently looking for highly skilled GNC Engineers with expertise in autonomous safety-critical systems to join our team. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in developing, testing, and implementing GNC systems and architectures for our aerospace programs. This includes missiles, unmanned air vehicles, and related technology. ANDURIL PRODUCTS Anduril has been selected as one of two vendors to move forward on the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program for the Air Force's flagship autonomous aircraft program. During the next phase, Anduril will design, manufacture, and test production -representative CCAs. We are honored to be part of the program as a non-traditional defense company and are seeking highly motivated candidates to join us in the rapid development of a new, revolutionary aircraft. For more information on the latest with Anduril , visit our Newsroom . Watch this short video showcasing our products at Anduril . Products these teams work on: Fury Barracuda Roadrunner Omen WHAT YOU'LL DO Develop, implement, and test algorithms for guidance, navigation, and control systems in line with project requirements. Design, implement, and assess the GNC architectures considering all elements, including spacecraft, sensors, actuators, and algorithms. Use MDAO techniques for the design and optimization of GNC systems, balancing performance, cost, and risk factors. Participate in all phases of system development, from concept to design, prototyping, testing, and operation. Collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team including systems engineers, flight software engineers, and test engineers to ensure system-wide integration and performance. Contribute to design reviews, safety assessments, and system documentation. Use simulation and analysis tools to verify GNC models and system performance under different operating conditions. Provide system engineering expertise in the development of GNC systems, ensuring a cohesive and efficient approach to the design and implementation process. Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to GNC systems during design, testing, and operational phases. Keep updated with the latest technologies and trends in GNC engineering and system architecture design. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS BS in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Aerospace Engineering or related field with focus on dynamics and control. 7 or more years of experience working on complex air vehicles. A strong theoretical knowledge of classical and modern control theory, estimation, and filtering techniques. Experience with developing GNC solutions for flight systems. Proficiency with GNC simulation tools like MATLAB, Simulink and related toolboxes. Familiarization with 6-DOF simulations. Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret clearance PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS A Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field is a plus. Strong understanding of flight mechanics and related physics. Practical experience developing GNC designs for flight systems. Extensive experience in GNC system and architecture development and testing, preferably in the aerospace industry. Experience generating in C or C++ code from Simulink models. Proven experience in applying MDAO methods and tools in the design of complex systems. Experience with direct and indirect trajectory optimization methods and familiarity with trajectory optimization libraries (e.g., GPOPS-ii, DIDO, Dymos, CasADi, or IPOPT). Experience writing code in C/C++ or Rust. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to work independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment. Familiarity with agile and Lean product development methodologies such as Scrum. Experience using Jira, Git, GitHub, or GitLab. Understanding of and compliance with industry, safety, and quality standards appropriate for the application. Passion for defending the United States and its allies. Current Active U.S. Top Secret clearance preferred. ANDURIL PRODUCTS Anduril has been selected as one of two vendors to move forward on the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program for the Air Force's flagship autonomous aircraft program. During the next phase, Anduril will design, manufacture, and test production -representative CCAs. We are honored to be part of the program as a non-traditional defense company and are seeking highly motivated candidates to join us in the rapid development of a new, revolutionary aircraft. For more information on the latest with Anduril , visit our Newsroom . Watch this short video showcasing our products at Anduril . US Salary Range $191,000 - $253,000 USD The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including: Healthcare Benefits US Roles: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you. UK & AUS Roles: We cover full cost of medical insurance premiums for you and your dependents. IE Roles: We offer an annual contribution toward your private health insurance for you and your dependents. Additional Benefits Income Protection : Anduril covers life and disability insurance for all employees. Generous time off : Highly competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver & Wellness Leave is available to care for family members, bond with a new baby, or address your own medical needs. Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carriers, along with resources to support you and your partner from planning to parenting. Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional work-life services, such as legal and financial support, are also available. Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development Commuter Benefits: Company-funded commuter benefits based on your region. Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility. Retirement Savings Plan US Roles: Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after-tax (mega backdoor Roth) options. UK & IE Roles: Pension plan with employer match. AUS Roles: Superannuation plan. The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process. Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information. To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind: No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates. Please always verify communications: Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address. Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to contact@anduril.com . Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links. What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to contact@anduril.com . Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts. Data Privacy To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/ .

Keywords: Anduril Industries, South Gate , Senior Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer, Air Dominance & Strike, Engineering , Costa Mesa, California