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Senior GNC Engineer

El Segundo, California

Company Description

 

At Icarus, we build solar-powered birds that fly at the edge of space for a very long time. Our mission is to dominate the stratosphere with autonomous platforms that deliver real-time intelligence and connectivity. This is not a place for spectators. We move fast, we test in Mojave at 4 in the morning, and we hold ourselves to an obsession with quality and speed. If you want to work on hardware that actually flies and flies where few machines can survive, this is the place.

 

Role Description

As a Senior GNC Engineer, you will own the algorithms, software, and hardware integration that keep our stratospheric platforms stable, autonomous, and precise. From trajectory planning and flight controls to sensor fusion and fault tolerance, you will take full responsibility for guidance, navigation, and control. Your code and math won’t stay on paper, they will fly.

This role is hands-on and flight-critical. You will:

  • Develop and implement GNC algorithms for autonomous aircraft operating in the stratosphere.
  • Design flight control laws and trajectory planning systems for launch, flight, and recovery.
  • Fuse data from IMUs, GPS, magnetometers, star trackers, and other sensors for robust navigation.
  • Build and validate high-fidelity simulations and hardware-in-the-loop testbeds.
  • Tune controllers in the field, iterating between simulation, lab bench, and Mojave flight tests.
  • Debug anomalies, perform post-flight analysis, and feed results back into rapid design cycles.
  • Collaborate closely with avionics, power, aero, and mechanical teams to deliver integrated flight systems.
  • Mentor junior engineers while setting the standard for precision, robustness, and speed.

No hand-holding. No fluff. No fake projects. Just raw engineering with flight on the line. You must thrive under pressure, figure things out without being told how, and push hardware and algorithms to the limits. We expect results. We expect ownership.

If you want real responsibility, real hardware, and real flight milestones, this is it.

 

Key Characteristics We’re Looking For:

  • First Principles: Truth seeking from fundamentals
  • Mission Driven: Win or be forgotten
  • Relentless Iteration: Radical transparency & idea meritocracy

 

Compensation and Benefits:

  • $120,000 to $160,000 salary
  • Large equity in the company
  • Best-in-class healthcare, dental and vision plan, and HSA plan
  • PTO of 2 weeks to reset and recharge
  • World class office located in El Segundo, filled with the best talent in the industry
  • Your dream desk setup, including tools and whatever else you need to be your most productive self
  • Daily lunch and unlimited Celcius

 

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