Director Hardware Engineering Jobs in Washington

Helsing develops artificial intelligence-enabled capabilities to protect and defend democracies. We are growing our US operations, cultivating an ambitious and committed team of mission-driven professionals to apply their skills to solve challenging problems.

Autonomous UAS depend on precise, resilient Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) to execute their missions. In the modern battlefield, GNSS is one of the most heavily contested signals in the electromagnetic spectrum, subject to sophisticated jamming and spoofing threats. As a GNSS and Navigation Engineer, you will own one of the most mission-critical capabilities for our long-range uncrewed platforms: their ability to know where they are and where they are going, even when the adversary is doing everything possible to deny that knowledge.

You will design, develop, and integrate assured PNT solutions for UAS, with a focus on anti-jam and anti-spoof architectures. You will own GNSS performance end-to-end, from antenna selection (including CRPAs) through receiver integration (SAASM, M-Code) to sensor fusion with inertial and vision-based navigation systems. You make pragmatic decisions on when to integrate available solutions and when to develop new capabilities that ensure our platforms remain effective in GNSS-degraded and denied environments.

Working closely with avionics, flight controls, RF, and systems engineering teams, you will be the key to ensuring our long-range UAS can navigate reliably, accurately, and securely through the most contested environments.

• Design and develop resilient GNSS and navigation architectures for UAS, including multi-constellation, multi-frequency receivers and anti-jam/anti-spoof solutions
• Integrate Controlled Reception Pattern Antennas (CRPAs) with adaptive null-steering and beamforming techniques to mitigate jamming threats
• Integrate and operate SAASM GPS modules and M-Code receivers, managing the associated key handling, certification, and security accreditation processes
• Design tightly- and loosely-coupled GNSS/INS sensor fusion algorithms to maintain navigation performance during GNSS outages
• Develop and validate alternative navigation techniques (vision-aided, terrain-relative, celestial, signals-of-opportunity) to ensure mission continuity in GNSS-denied environments
• Conduct PNT performance analysis, including error budgets, jamming/spoofing vulnerability assessments, and operational range modeling
• Test, validate, and integrate GNSS hardware and navigation software into newly developed and existing UAS products, working against customer and internal requirements
• Manage relationships with US government agencies responsible for SAASM/M-Code key distribution and certification (e.g., GPS Directorate, relevant COMSEC authorities)
• Stay on top of the rapidly evolving threat landscape, identifying emerging jamming/spoofing techniques and matching countermeasures
• Collaborate with external partners and access specialized test ranges and equipment (anechoic chambers, GNSS simulators, live-sky jamming environments)
• Shape discussions inside the company as the go-to expert on assured PNT and serve as a technical authority for US customer engagements

• Hold a degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Navigation, Geomatics, or a related field
• Have several years of experience designing, integrating, or deploying GNSS and inertial navigation systems for airborne platforms
• Have hands‑on experience with Controlled Reception Pattern Antennas (CRPAs) and adaptive antenna processing for anti-jam applications
• Have direct experience integrating SAASM GPS modules and/or M-Code receivers, including the associated key management, certification, and security processes
• Possess deep knowledge of GNSS signal structures (GPS, Galileo, others), receiver architectures, and the threats facing them in contested environments
• Understand inertial sensors (IMUs) and have experience with GNSS/INS sensor fusion, Kalman filtering, and related estimation techniques
• Demonstrate strong understanding of how navigation systems perform under real‑world conditions and where their limitations lie
• Have experience conducting jamming and spoofing assessments, ideally using GNSS simulators and live-sky test environments
• Have strong communication skills and enjoy working with internal stakeholders and external partners, including US government agencies and defense contractors
• Are pragmatic and validate calculated expectations in the real world to be satisfied
• Are able to obtain a US security clearance (Secret or above) and prior experience with COMSEC handling

Note: We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarized in a few bullet points.

• Experience with specific CRPA implementations and adaptive antenna electronics (AAE) from vendors such as Mayflower, BAE, Raytheon, or Collins
• Familiarity with M-Code receiver platforms and the MGUE (Military GPS User Equipment) program
• Hands‑on experience developing or tuning Kalman filters for tightly‑coupled GNSS/INS systems
• Knowledge of alternative PNT sources, including vision-based navigation, terrain-relative navigation, magnetic navigation, or signals‑of‑opportunity
• Experience with GNSS simulators (Spirent, Skydel, CAST) and RF record‑and‑playback systems
• Familiarity with Electronic Warfare (EW) techniques as they apply to PNT, including detection and characterization of jamming/spoofing
• Experience with NATO STANAG navigation standards and interoperability requirements
• Active US security clearance (Secret or above) and prior experience with COMSEC handling
• Familiarity with ITAR/EAR export control regulations as they apply to GNSS and navigation equipment
• Experience working on long‑endurance or long‑range UAS programs in the defense industry

A focus on outcomes, not time‑tracking

A generous compensation and benefits package (in addition to base salary) that includes, but may not be limited to, insurance coverage (medical and travel), flexible paid time off, paid holidays, and remote and/or hybrid work available depending on position. All compensation and benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the underlying plans or programs, as applicable and as may be amended, terminated or superseded from time to time.

• Growth toward global roles in our Finance organization

The base salary offered to the successful candidate will be determined by a variety of factors including relevant experience, qualifications, education, skill level, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.

Helsing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetics, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation.

Helsing's Candidate Privacy and Confidentiality Regime can be found here.