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Guidance Navigation Control Engineer Jobs in Iowa

S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their ... Provide practical guidance that empowers clients to independently navigate service systems and ...

The Automation Engineer maintains and supports Level 1 and Level 1.5 control systems, ensuring the ... Provide advanced troubleshooting, technical guidance, and hands‑on support to Operations ...

The Automation Engineer maintains and supports Level 1 and Level 1.5 control systems, ensuring the ... Technical Support & Troubleshooting Provide advanced troubleshooting, technical guidance, and hands ...

Senior DevOps Engineer

Nevada, IA · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

Manage source control systems (BitBucket, Git) and enforce best practices in branching, merging ... Provide mentorship and technical guidance to engineers on DevOps tools, processes, and best ...

The Fleet Specialist works based on the guidance of the Pool Fleet Manager. There chief ... Must have the ability to navigate GPS mapping application and follow guided directions Skills:

Eng Prin - Elec

Cedar Rapids, IA · On-site

$107K - $182K/yr

... navigation and guidance solutions for a diverse range of applications - from airborne systems and precision guided munitions to handheld receivers and embedded. This Test Engineering team is ...

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Guidance Navigation Control Engineer information

See Iowa salary details

$51.7K

$90.7K

$123K

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

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for guidance navigation control engineer in Iowa is $90,708.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,400.00 and $101,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a guidance navigation control engineer?

Guidance Navigation Control (GNC) Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and test systems that guide and control the movement of vehicles such as aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and autonomous vehicles. Their work involves creating algorithms and integrating sensors and actuators to ensure precise navigation and stability. GNC Engineers play a critical role in mission planning, real-time control, and safety, making sure vehicles follow their intended paths accurately. They often collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to solve complex problems related to flight dynamics, navigation, and control systems.

What does a guidance navigation control engineer do?

A guidance, navigation, and control engineer designs, manufactures, and tests aircraft and other vehicles. Your duties span research and development, analysis, design, and manufacturing. As a GNC engineer, you are an aerospace engineer with responsibilities that include examining design proposals for financial and structural feasibility, overseeing the design and manufacturing system operations, and running tests to determine safety and performance. You manage quality control, look for issues with designs and final products, and determine what solutions are safe and effective. You must understand and apply concepts like propulsion and flight mechanics, aerodynamics, and thermodynamics when designing and building vehicles.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a guidance navigation control engineer?

To thrive as a Guidance Navigation Control Engineer, you need a strong background in aerospace engineering, control theory, and mathematics, usually supported by a relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree. Familiarity with simulation tools like MATLAB/Simulink, programming languages such as C/C++, and experience with sensor integration and embedded systems are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork and communication skills help you excel in this role. These skills and qualities are vital to ensure the safe, precise, and reliable operation of complex aerospace or autonomous systems.

How does a guidance navigation control engineer typically collaborate with multidisciplinary teams during a project?

Guidance Navigation Control Engineers work closely with professionals from various disciplines, such as mechanical engineers, software developers, and systems engineers, to ensure that navigation and control systems are seamlessly integrated into larger aerospace or robotics projects. Regular meetings, design reviews, and simulation sessions are common, where GNC engineers both contribute their expertise and adapt solutions based on feedback from other teams. This collaborative environment helps resolve integration challenges early and ensures that final products meet safety, performance, and reliability standards.

What job categories do people searching Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs in Iowa look for?

The top searched job categories for Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs in Iowa are:

Infographic showing various Guidance Navigation Control Engineer job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $90,708 per year, or $43.6 per hour.

Protection & Control Engineer

ECNS Global Consultants PLLC

Cedar Rapids, IA • On-site

$65K - $185K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 23 days ago


Job description

Benefits:
  • 401(k)
  • 401(k) matching
  • Competitive salary
  • Dental insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Opportunity for advancement
  • Paid time off
  • Training & development
  • Vision insurance
  • Wellness resources

Job Title: Protection & Control Engineer I, II, III
Employment Type: Full-Time, Salary-Exempt (40 hours/week) 
Location: AZ, MO, IA, TX, NV, OK, NE, TN 
Travel: Remote with project travel between 5-30%   
Department: Engineering 
Reports To: V.P. of Engineering 
Compensation: $65,000-185,000/year, Exempt supplemental pay for additional hours 

About Us
 
ECNS Global Consultants, PLLC is a specialized engineering and consulting firm serving the energy and utilities industry. The company provides electrical engineering, controls, cybersecurity, commissioning, testing, quality inspections, and construction management services, supporting projects from concept through completion. With a focus on safety, quality, compliance, and innovation, ECNS delivers reliable solutions for complex infrastructure projects. 
Position Summary 
As a Protection & Control Engineer, you will design, implement, test, and maintain protection and control systems that ensure the safe and reliable operation of electrical power systems. Using expertise in relay protection, coordination, and power system analysis, you will develop solutions that improve system reliability, enhance performance, and protect critical power infrastructure. 

Key Responsibilities
 
  • Perform and support protection and control engineering activities, including relay settings, coordination studies, fault analysis, and power system studies. 
  • Develop, review, and maintain engineering calculations, drawings, reports, relay settings files, and technical documentation. 
  • Design, configure, test, and troubleshoot protective relays, SCADA systems, RTUs, communications networks, and automation systems. 
  • Support or lead commissioning, startup, FAT, SAT, outage support, and field implementation activities. 
  • Apply industry and utility standards, including IEEE, ANSI, NERC, and applicable protection and control practices. 
  • Support the design, operation, and maintenance of transmission, distribution, and substation protection systems. 
  • Perform relay event analysis, system investigations, and technical problem-solving to ensure reliable system performance. 
  • Coordinate with project teams, operations, contractors, vendors, and clients to deliver engineering solutions and project objectives. 
  • Support or lead technical reviews, QA/QC activities, project planning, and engineering deliverables. 
  • Protection & Control Engineer III: Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and technicians, commensurate with experience level. 
Qualifications 
Education 
  • Bachelor's Degree (B.S.) or Master's Degree (M.S.) in electrical engineering from a college/university accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET)   
Experience 
Protection & Control Engineer I 
  • 1–3 years of related experience preferred. 
Protection & Control Engineer II 
  • 3+ years of engineering experience. 
  • FE certification preferred. 
Protection & Control Engineer III 
  • 7+ years of engineering experience. 
  • PE license preferred. 
Additional Requirements 
  • Experience with protection and control systems for utility or industrial power systems. 
  • Knowledge of IEEE, IEC, ANSI, NESC, and related industry standards. 
  • Valid driver's license and willingness to travel as needed. 
  • Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred but not required.  
Physical Requirements 
  • Ability to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods. 
  • Ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally. 
  • Ability to bend, crouch, climb, and work at various heights. 
  • Required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as needed. 
  • 5-30% annual travel for team meetings and business needs.  
  • Ability to work effectively in a fully remote environment. 
Benefits 
As a full-time employee, you are eligible to participate in ECNS’s benefits program. Subject to plan terms and eligibility requirements. 
  • Competitive compensation 
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage 
  • 401(k) with company match 
  • Generous PTO and paid holidays 
  • Professional development opportunities 
  • Employee wellness programs 
Core Values 
Mission and Vision: ECNS aims to deliver engineering excellence and innovate for a sustainable future using advanced technologies and eco-friendly practices.  
Integrity and Trust: Integrity fosters transparency and ethical standards, building trust among clients and team members in all dealings.  
Collaboration Across Teams: Effective collaboration across diverse teams ensures projects benefit from collective expertise and shared goals.  
Innovation for Future Readiness: Innovation drives the development of future-ready solutions and keeps ECNS ahead of industry trends 

Disclaimers
 
This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, and responsibilities associated with this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice. 
Equal Opportunity Employer: We do not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, marital/familial status, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or other protected class. 

Flexible work from home options available.