Senior GNC Engineer

As a Senior GNC Engineer, you will work within Auterion’s GNC team, primarily developing and maintaining Skynode’s core guidance, navigation and control software, centered around the open source PX4 Autopilot software. You will be maintaining the core GNC stack that is used in our flying, driving and swimming mobile robotic solutions and will be in close contact with the product teams that drive these different applications. With your experience and organized working style you push for a high standard in controller robustness, code cleanliness and scalability of the implementations. You are happy to take up project responsibility and provide guidance to our more junior engineers.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Collaborate with teammates in the development of new features, improvements, and rigorous automated tests for PX4’s GNC modules as well as the Control API in AuterionSDK
• Define, analyze and review software requirements for customer needs, system quality and performance standards
• Design and develop flight and mission-critical onboard software for unmanned systems 
• Respond to incident reports from Auterion flight operations, customers, or partners on the topic of GNC (troubleshooting from flight log analysis). Provide first order feedback quickly and scope resolution timelines for deeper investigations / potential bug fixes
• Availability for travel (1 to 2 weeks at a time) to customers for platform integrations which may require advanced GNC tuning
• Participate in the community maintainer calls with the open source PX4 development team

Qualifications and Skills:

• Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years of experience in GNC engineering
• Strong grasp of flight dynamics and fundamentals of aerodynamics
• Experience (hands-on) in drone flight control software design, implementation, testing and log analysis
• Understanding of Kalman filtering and other state estimation algorithms
• Strong mathematical background in linear algebra, calculus, and statistical methods
• Proficient in C/C++ (particularly on Linux based systems and memory-constrained embedded processors) and Python
• Working knowledge of PX4 or comparable autopilot technology
• Experience programming robotic applications in ROS/ROS2
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to keep a global team fully informed
• Hands-on fixed-wing drone experience, including piloting, is a plus
• CH or EU citizenship required

Benefits

• Flexible working hours & hybrid workplace
• Stock Options
• Generous holiday allowance
• Pension plan 
• Car parking  
• Company car for private use (Switzerland only)
• Enhanced maternity & paternity leave
• Mental health and wellbeing support
• Learning and development opportunities
• Flyday Friday - Fly a drone (1/x month)
• Regular team social
• Snacks & Drinks 

About Auterion

We are building the leading software platform for AI-powered autonomous systems for enterprise and government customers. Our team is supporting the most important missions and solving the most challenging problems.

At Auterion, we bring together the sharpest minds who love to solve the hardest problems. Join a vibrant team built on innovation, openness, and excellence, where you’ll be empowered to develop ideas, collaborate across all levels, and make an impact that matters.