Bowhead Support Services

GNC Engineer (Aerospace Engineer)

Bowhead Support Services$90K — $120K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related discipline (Master’s preferred).
  • 4+ years experience in GNC engineering, missile guidance, flight controls, or related system modeling.
  • Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and at least one programming language (Python or C/C++).
  • Experience with a range of guidance algorithms and navigation techniques including Kalman filtering.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with E20 technical SMEs for analytical improvements.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance (current Secret preferred).

Responsibilities

  • Develop and refine GNC algorithms for various navigation and control applications.
  • Support modeling and simulation of weapon systems, focusing on 6 DOF environments.
  • Evaluate mission performance and conduct trajectory analysis for control systems.
  • Develop integrated navigation solutions using multiple sensor modalities.
  • Perform Monte Carlo analysis and uncertainty modeling for system performance.
  • Implement GNC prototypes in programming frameworks like MATLAB/Simulink and Python.
  • Document technical findings and participate in collaborative design sessions.

Benefits

  • Collaborative environment working with government and subcontractor technical experts.
  • Engagement in cutting-edge hypersonic research and defense projects.
  • Opportunities for professional growth within the defense industry.
  • Work on complex problems that have significant real-world implications.
Full Job Description
Overview

Bowhead seeks a GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control) Engineer to support hypersonic research efforts of the NSWCDD in Dahlgren, VA. This role provides technical expertise across system modeling, simulation, algorithm development, data analysis, and integration activities in support of weapon system development, performance assessment, and mission engineering. The Engineer will directly support government technical leads and collaborate with associated subsystem SMEs to deliver analytical rigor, modeling capability, and engineering insight into guidance, navigation, and control solutions used in government test and evaluation environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and refine GNC algorithms for guidance laws, control loops, navigation filters, and state estimation.• Support weapon system modeling and simulation, including 6 DOF (six degrees of freedom) simulation environments and subsystem integration.• Perform trajectory analysis, mission performance evaluations, and control system stability assessments.• Develop navigation solutions integrating IMUs, GPS, INS, seekers, and other sensor modalities.• Conduct Monte Carlo analysis, uncertainty modeling, and system performance sensitivity studies.• Implement GNC prototypes in MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C/C++, or equivalent simulation frameworks.• Analyze telemetry, flight test data, and HWIL/SIL outputs to validate system performance.• Support requirements decomposition, interface definition, and subsystem integration with E20 system engineering teams.• Document models, test results, algorithm behavior, and performance in technical reports and presentations.• Participate in technical reviews, design sessions, and engineering working groups with government and contractor personnel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related discipline (Master’s preferred).• 4+ years experience in GNC engineering, missile guidance, flight controls, or related system modeling.• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and at least one programming language (Python or C/C++).• The successful candidate shall have experience with guidance algorithms (proportional navigation, pursuit guidance, optimal guidance, intercept geometry), navigation & estimation, Kalman filtering (EKF/UKF), inertial navigation, GPS/INS integration, sensor fusion, control engineering, PID, LQR, state space control, autopilot design, stability & robustness analysis, M&S (Modeling & Simulation), MATLAB/Simulink, Python (NumPy/SciPy), C/C++ for embedded or real time simulation, and familiarity with 6 DOF modeling.• Ability to work with E20 technical SMEs to develop or refine analytical tools, performance models, or algorithmic improvements.• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance (current Secret preferred).

 

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with hardware in the loop (HWIL) or software in the loop (SIL) environments is a plus.• Experience supporting missile systems, unmanned systems, or weapons/flight dynamics programs.• Experience supporting NSWCDD, NAVSEA, or other DoD weapons engineering divisions.• Experience with aerospace flight test data analysis or guidance law verification.• Knowledge of seeker modeling, sensor suite integration, or autopilot tuning.

SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIRED: Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the Secret level.  US Citizenship is a requirement for Secret clearance at this location.

 

Physical Demands: • Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds • Must be able to stand and walk for prolonged amounts of time• Must be able to twist, bend and squat periodically

 

#LI-MN1

About Bowhead Support Services

Bowhead Support Services is a defense contractor that provides a range of services to the U.S. government and other customers. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. Bowhead Support Services provides services in the areas of engineering, logistics, information technology, and security. The company has operations in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. Bowhead Support Services is a subsidiary of Ukpea?vik Iñupiat Corporation, an Alaska Native corporation.
Learn more about Bowhead Support Services
Size
1,000 employees
Industry
Net Income
$5 million
Founded
1996
5 Year Trend
+5%
Revenue
$100 million
NASDAQ

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Bowhead Support Services

More Aerospace & Defense Jobs

Find similar GNC Engineer (Aerospace Engineer) jobs: