Alternative Navigation (Alt-Nav) Development: Drive the R&D of GPS-denied navigation solutions, including Vision-Based Navigation (VBN) , Terrain Referenced Navigation (TRN), and Signals of ...
Alternative Navigation (Alt-Nav) Development: Drive the R&D of GPS-denied navigation solutions, including Vision-Based Navigation (VBN) , Terrain Referenced Navigation (TRN), and Signals of ...
Alt Terrain information
See salary details
$23.5K - $27.8K
2% of jobs
$27.8K - $32K
0% of jobs
$32K - $36.3K
1% of jobs
$36.3K - $40.6K
5% of jobs
$40.6K - $44.9K
13% of jobs
$45.9K is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$44.9K - $49.1K
15% of jobs
The median wage is $52.2K / yr.
$49.1K - $53.4K
19% of jobs
$53.4K - $57.7K
16% of jobs
$58.6K is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$57.7K - $62K
17% of jobs
$62K - $66.2K
7% of jobs
$66.2K - $70.5K
4% of jobs
$23.5K
$53.7K
$70.5K
How much do alt terrain jobs pay per year?
How does working in an Alt Terrain experiential marketing role typically involve collaboration with clients and creative teams?
What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Alt Terrain driver, and why are they important?
What is the difference between Alt Terrain vs Land Surveyor?
| Aspect | Alt Terrain | Land Surveyor |
|---|---|---|
| Required Credentials | High school diploma, specialized training or certification in terrain assessment | High school diploma, bachelor's degree in surveying or geomatics, licensure |
| Work Environment | Outdoor, varied terrains, often remote | Outdoor, fieldwork combined with office drafting and planning |
| Industry Usage | Construction, environmental assessment, outdoor recreation | Construction, land development, civil engineering projects |
Alt Terrain specialists focus on assessing and analyzing outdoor terrains, often requiring specialized training. Land Surveyors perform precise measurements and mapping for land development, typically needing formal education and licensure. While both work outdoors and support construction and development projects, Alt Terrain roles emphasize terrain evaluation, whereas Land Surveyors focus on land measurement and mapping.
What are Alt Terrain jobs?

Senior Principal GNC Engineer (Guidance & Alternative Navigation)
Integration SystemsFort Walton Beach, FL • On-site
Full-time
Posted 27 days ago
Job description
Senior Principal GNC Engineer (Guidance & Alternative Navigation)
Position Overview IS4S is seeking an expert Senior Principal GNC Engineer to lead the development of advanced navigation and guidance laws for precision-guided munitions and autonomous systems. This role is critical for platforms operating in contested environments where GPS is unavailable or degraded. You will be the technical authority for state estimation and trajectory optimization, specifically focusing on Alternative Navigation (Alt-Nav) technologies.
The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in Kalman filtering and sensor fusion, with a proven ability to implement robust navigation solutions that do not rely solely on GNSS.
Key Responsibilities
- Navigation Architecture: Lead the design and implementation of multi-sensor navigation suites. Architect state estimation filters (EKF, UKF, Particle Filters) that fuse data from IMUs, star trackers, and altimeters.
- Alternative Navigation (Alt-Nav) Development: Drive the R&D of GPS-denied navigation solutions, including Vision-Based Navigation (VBN), Terrain Referenced Navigation (TRN), and Signals of Opportunity (SoOP).
- Guidance Law Design: Develop and mature advanced guidance laws (e.g., Proportional Navigation, Optimal Control, Sliding Mode Control) for terminal precision and trajectory shaping.
- Contested Environment Modeling: Create high-fidelity simulations to model GPS interference, multipath, and jamming scenarios to validate system resilience.
- Algorithm-to-Hardware Implementation: Oversee the transition of GNC algorithms from MATLAB/Simulink models into flight-ready C/C++ code, ensuring real-time performance on embedded flight processors.
- Modeling & Simulation (M&S): Lead the development of 6-Degree-of-Freedom (6-DoF) digital twins for missile and drone platforms to support Monte Carlo analysis and performance predictions.
- Technical Milestone Leadership: Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) during DoD technical reviews (PDR, CDR) and interface with government customers regarding navigation accuracy and drift requirements.
Technical Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Aerospace, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Estimation Theory or Control Systems.
- Experience: 12-15+ years of experience in GNC development, specifically for DoD missiles, projectiles, or UAS.
- Estimation Expert: Mastery of Extended Kalman Filters (EKF) and error-state formulations for inertial navigation.
- GPS-Denied Expertise: Demonstrated experience in at least one Alt-Nav discipline:
- Vision/Optical: Image processing for feature tracking or scene matching.
- Terrain/Magnetic: Map-matching algorithms using digital elevation models.
- Inertial: Deep understanding of IMU error modeling and bias compensation.
- Tools: Expert proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and C++. Experience with specialized tools like GNC toolboxes or flight simulation environments.
- Security: Active DoD Secret Security Clearance required.