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Navigation Estimation Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Albedo

GNSS Navigation and Estimation Engineer

Broomfield, CO · On-site

$92K - $113K/yr

Design and implement a high-accuracy, real-time onboard orbit estimator for a VLEO spacecraft using ... Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related ...

GCR Professional Services

Navigation Analyst

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$90 - $120/hr

D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or equivalent. Client is looking for contractors familiar with inertial sensors, navigation, estimation, and system accuracy analysis who have used ...

GuideTech LLC

Senior Navigation Engineer

$107K - $146K/yr

Remote, USA As a Senior Navigation Engineer, you'll develop advanced navigation and state estimation solutions that enable autonomous systems to operate in complex, mission-critical environments. You ...

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Navigation Estimation Engineer information

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$57.5K

$103.7K

$154.5K

How much do navigation estimation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for navigation estimation engineer in the United States is $103,684.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $91,500.00 and $112,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a navigation estimation engineer do?

A Navigation Estimation Engineer develops algorithms and systems that enable vehicles or devices to accurately determine their position, orientation, and velocity. This often involves working with sensors such as GPS, inertial measurement units (IMUs), and cameras, and applying techniques like sensor fusion and Kalman filtering. These engineers are vital in fields like aerospace, autonomous vehicles, robotics, and maritime navigation. Their work ensures that machines can navigate safely and efficiently in complex environments.

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

To thrive as a Navigation Estimation Engineer, you need a strong background in mathematics, control theory, sensor fusion, and estimation algorithms, typically with a degree in aerospace, electrical, or mechanical engineering. Familiarity with simulation tools like MATLAB/Simulink, Kalman filtering techniques, and experience with GNSS/INS systems are commonly required. Analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are vital soft skills for this role. These skills ensure accurate navigation solutions, robust system performance, and effective collaboration in high-stakes engineering projects.

What are some common challenges faced by navigation estimation engineers in multi-sensor fusion environments?

Navigation Estimation Engineers often encounter challenges when integrating data from multiple sensors, such as GPS, IMUs, and LiDAR, due to differences in data rates, noise characteristics, and potential signal loss. Ensuring reliable and accurate state estimation requires developing robust algorithms that can handle sensor discrepancies and environmental uncertainties. Collaboration with software, hardware, and testing teams is crucial to validate solutions in both simulated and real-world scenarios. Adapting to rapidly evolving technologies and maintaining system reliability under varying operational conditions are also key aspects of the role.

What are popular job titles related to Navigation Estimation Engineer jobs?

For Navigation Estimation Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Navigation Estimation Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $103,684 per year, or $49.8 per hour.

Senior GNC Engineer - Navigation & Estimation

Denver, CO • On-site

Approach Venture LLC
See more jobs at Approach Venture LLCexternal

$120K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Re-posted 20 days ago

Job description

Senior GNC Engineer - Develop Autonomous Navigation & Sensor Fusion for Next-Generation Spacecraft
Denver, Colorado | On-site
Opportunity Summary
Join a venture-backed aerospace company developing advanced spacecraft platforms designed to enable the next generation of autonomous in-space operations. As the company progresses from prototype development toward flight-qualified systems, this role will lead the design and implementation of the navigation algorithms that allow spacecraft to accurately determine their position, orientation, and motion while operating in dynamic orbital environments. As a Senior GNC Engineer, you will own the development of flight-critical navigation and state estimation software supporting autonomous rendezvous, proximity operations, docking, and long-term orbital navigation. Working alongside controls, perception, avionics, embedded software, and systems engineering teams, you'll transform complex sensor data into reliable vehicle state information while helping define the navigation architecture for future spacecraft. This is a highly technical role with significant ownership, offering the opportunity to influence both flight software and overall vehicle performance from concept through on-orbit operations.
About Us
We are an early-stage aerospace company building advanced spacecraft technologies for future commercial and government space missions. Our multidisciplinary engineering team develops tightly integrated hardware, software, and autonomous systems that solve complex challenges in spacecraft mobility, guidance, and in-space operations. Engineers work across disciplines, take ownership of critical systems, and play a direct role in moving products from early design through flight.
Job Duties
  • Lead the development of spacecraft navigation and state estimation algorithms for autonomous flight operations.
  • Design, implement, tune, and validate Extended Kalman Filters, Unscented Kalman Filters, and other probabilistic estimation techniques.
  • Develop relative navigation algorithms supporting rendezvous, docking, proximity operations, and formation flight.
  • Design onboard sensor fusion architectures integrating multiple navigation sensors into robust state estimates.
  • Develop measurement models and estimation techniques for optical, inertial, and ranging sensors.
  • Define navigation system accuracy requirements and allocate error budgets across sensing and estimation systems.
  • Develop orbit determination, orbital propagation, and absolute navigation algorithms supporting spacecraft operations.
  • Analyze navigation performance using simulation, hardware testing, and flight data.
  • Support hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop testing campaigns.
  • Develop analysis tools, visualization utilities, and validation software using C++ and Python.
  • Investigate navigation anomalies and improve estimator robustness throughout system development and flight operations.
  • Collaborate closely with controls, perception, avionics, embedded software, and systems engineering teams to integrate navigation capabilities into the overall flight system.
  • Participate in design reviews, technical trade studies, and system architecture decisions.

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
  • 5+ years of professional experience developing guidance, navigation, or state estimation systems.
  • Strong software development experience using modern C++ and Python.
  • Experience designing and implementing Kalman Filters or similar sequential estimation techniques.
  • Experience developing sensor fusion algorithms for autonomous systems.
  • Strong understanding of orbital mechanics, rigid-body dynamics, coordinate transformations, and feedback control systems.
  • Experience developing algorithms that have been validated through simulation, hardware testing, or operational deployment.
  • Familiarity with software development best practices, version control, and collaborative engineering workflows.

Preferred Experience
  • Master's or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a related discipline.
  • Experience with spacecraft rendezvous, proximity operations, docking, or formation flying.
  • Computer vision, optical navigation, or image-based state estimation.
  • Orbit determination and high-fidelity orbital propagation.
  • Sensor modeling, calibration, and measurement processing.
  • IMUs, cameras, LiDAR, radar, magnetometers, star trackers, or other navigation sensors.
  • Statistical analysis, covariance analysis, estimator tuning, and navigation performance validation.
  • Embedded flight software development.
  • Autonomous robotics, UAVs, spacecraft, or other mission-critical autonomous systems.
  • Experience supporting flight operations or post-launch system performance analysis.

Why Join Us
  • Own the navigation architecture for a next-generation spacecraft platform.
  • Develop flight-critical autonomy from concept through operational deployment.
  • Work alongside a highly collaborative multidisciplinary engineering team.
  • Significant technical ownership with direct influence on product direction.
  • Competitive salary and meaningful early-stage equity opportunity.
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Life and disability insurance.
  • Paid parental leave.
  • Three weeks of paid vacation plus company holidays.

Compensation Details
$120,000 - $180,000
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