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Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineer information

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$44.5K

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How much do associate guidance navigation control engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate guidance navigation control engineer in Irvine, CA is $88,701.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,300.00 and $102,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an associate guidance navigation control engineer?

Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineers are early-career professionals who support the design, development, testing, and implementation of guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) systems for aerospace vehicles such as rockets, satellites, or aircraft. Their responsibilities typically include assisting with the modeling and simulation of flight dynamics, developing control algorithms, and analyzing sensor data to ensure accurate guidance and stability. They often work as part of a multidisciplinary engineering team and use specialized software tools to solve complex technical challenges. This role is ideal for those with a background in aerospace, electrical, or mechanical engineering and a strong interest in flight systems.

What are some common challenges faced by associate guidance navigation control engineers during multidisciplinary project collaboration?

Associate Guidance Navigation Control (GNC) Engineers often work closely with teams in software, hardware, and systems engineering. A common challenge is ensuring that the guidance and navigation algorithms are compatible with various hardware platforms and meet system-level requirements. Balancing the needs and feedback from different disciplines, while adhering to project timelines, can require strong communication and adaptability. Proactively engaging in design reviews and cross-team meetings helps minimize misunderstandings and leads to more integrated solutions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate guidance navigation control engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineer, you need a solid background in aerospace engineering, control systems, and mathematics, usually supported by a relevant bachelor’s degree. Proficiency in simulation tools like MATLAB/Simulink, programming languages such as C/C++, and experience with navigation sensors or real-time embedded systems is essential. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication abilities set outstanding candidates apart. These skills are crucial for developing reliable guidance and navigation solutions that ensure the safety and performance of aerospace systems.

What is the difference between Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineer vs Guidance Navigation Control Engineer?

AspectAssociate Guidance Navigation Control EngineerGuidance Navigation Control Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering or related field; some roles may require internship experienceBachelor's or master's degree; more experience may be preferred
Work EnvironmentEntry-level position, often in aerospace or defense companies, working under supervisionMid-level role with increased responsibilities, often leading projects
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in aerospace, defense, and space industriesUsed in similar industries, with more complex project involvement

The main difference lies in experience and responsibility level. Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineers are typically entry-level, focusing on supporting tasks, while Guidance Navigation Control Engineers have more experience and handle complex projects independently.

What are popular job titles related to Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs in Irvine, CA?

For Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs in Irvine, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs in Irvine, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs in Irvine, CA are:

What cities near Irvine, CA are hiring for Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs?

Cities near Irvine, CA with the most Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineer job openings:

Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineer job openings in Irvine, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 91% In-person, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $88,701 per year, or $42.6 per hour.

Staff Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer - Rotorcraft/VTOL

Anduril Industries

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

New

Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Manufacturers average

Based on 76,674 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

The Maneuver Dominance team, along with the Flight Engineering Team at Anduril develops operationally relevant, multi-asset autonomy. We are focused on making large groups of autonomous systems work effectively together. We leverage existing Anduril platforms like Ghost or Altius, in addition to bringing 3rd party platforms into Anduril's Lattice ecosystem. 

We are currently looking for highly skilled GNC Engineers with expertise in autonomous safety-critical systems. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in developing, testing, and implementing GNC systems and architectures for air vehicle platforms developed by Anduril or a 3rd party.
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 vehicle, sensors, actuators, and algorithms.
  • 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, mission autonomy 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.

You will work on vehicles like:
Omen
Thunder
And several others behind the scenes.


REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • BS in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Aerospace Engineering or related field with focus on dynamics and control
  • 12 or more years of experience in Guidance, Navigation & Control engineering or related technical experience
  • A strong theoretical knowledge of classical and modern control theory, estimation, and filtering techniques.
  • Exceptional understanding of flight dynamics (Vertical Take-off and Landing - VTOL and Conventional Take-off and Landing - CTOL)
  • Experience with developing GNC solutions for flight systems
  • Experience with developing, integrating, and troubleshooting tools for linear analysis of dynamic systems
  • Proficiency with GNC simulation tools like MATLAB, Simulink, and related toolboxes
  • Familiarization with 6-DOF simulations
  • Ability to travel up to 25%

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • A Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field is a plus
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Eligible to obtain an active U.S. Secret security clearance

Per Anduril's expansion plans, we anticipate this job will be based out of Long Beach, CA beginning late 2027.

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.

What Anduril employees say

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Hours and flexibility

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About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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