Lead Guidance, Navigation, And Control Engineer (UAV)

TL;DR

Lead Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer (UAV): Leading the design, tuning, and validation of GNC architecture for UAV systems with an accent on hierarchical control, sensor fusion, and autopilot configuration. Focus on driving systems from development through flight testing, mentoring engineering teams, and ensuring operational readiness for flight-critical hardware.

Location: Must be based in Salt Lake City, UT

Company

hirify.global is a drone technology company specializing in advanced UAV systems for defense and industrial applications.

What you will do

• Lead the design, implementation, and validation of UAV guidance, navigation, and control systems.
• Own cascade and hierarchical control system architecture for drone platforms.
• Develop and maintain autopilot workflows, including PX4 update and release SOPs.
• Lead flight test planning, execution, log analysis, and performance improvement.
• Guide technical decisions across controls, embedded software, and aircraft behavior.
• Mentor engineers and establish best practices for GNC development.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (ITAR/EAR compliance).
• Degree in robotics, mechanical, aerospace, electrical, or software engineering.
• Significant experience with GNC systems for UAVs or robotics.
• Strong programming skills in C/C++ and Python.
• Hands-on experience with drones, embedded systems, or mechatronic systems.
• Ability to obtain and use FAA Part 107 certification.

Nice to have

• Experience with PX4 or ArduPilot.
• Existing FAA Part 107 certification.
• Strong drone piloting or field testing experience.
• Experience with state estimation, Kalman filters, EKFs, or sensor fusion.
• Rust experience.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive base pay with annual equity package and potential bonuses.
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge UAV technology in a hands-on environment.
• Collaborative engineering culture spanning mechanical, electrical, and software teams.
• Involvement in the full lifecycle of flight-critical systems.