Senior Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer

AION Robotics builds best in class autonomous vehicles designed for critical infrastructure monitoring, construction, mining and energy. Our vehicles operate in the toughest off-highway environments, where safety, accuracy, and efficiency are paramount. We are seeking a highly experienced GNC Engineer to design and optimize next-generation control architectures for our real-time edge autonomous systems.About AION ROBOTICS CORPORATIONAION Robotics is a rapidly growing startup manufacturing advanced, rugged autonomous ground vehicles. We are bringing Industry 4.0 to outdoor commercial jobsites through the scaled deployment of turnkey autonomous products fully automating infrastructure monitoring and inspection tasks.If our current open roles don't align with your background, we still want to connect with you. Join our Talent Network!DescriptionSenior Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) EngineerLocation: Arvada, ColoradoCompany: AION ROBOTICS CORPORATIONKey ResponsibilitiesAs a Senior GNC Engineer at AION Robotics, you will:Design and implement robust vehicle control architectures optimized for real-time edge computing in challenging 3D outdoor environments.Develop and refine multi-sensor fusion frameworks combining advanced odometry, IMU calibration/filtering, GNSS, LiDAR, and vision-based localization.Control system development including motion control, advanced PID tuning, optimization-based model-predictive control strategies.Build and integrate navigation planners and mapping solutions with accurate transform calculations and geo-referencing.Develop safety-critical embedded systems for autonomous vehicles, including HIL (Hardware-in-the-Loop) simulation and low-level safety monitoring.Integrate and optimize communication and control over CAN bus, working closely with sensor and actuator drivers.Collaborate across hardware, software, and perception teams to ensure tightly coupled system integration.Provide electrical and sensor-level insights (including MEMS IMUs and other precision sensors) to improve vehicle stability, accuracy, and robustness.Contribute to ROS2-based system architecture, ensuring modular, reliable, and scalable implementations.QualificationsWe are looking for candidates who bring:Proven expertise in GNC engineering, ideally with autonomous vehicle or robotics applications.Strong background in sensor fusion, with hands-on experience integrating multiple odometry sources, IMUs, GNSS, LiDAR, and visual SLAM.Deep understanding of control systems, including motion control, advanced PID, and nonlinear/optimal control methods.Strong ROS2 experience, including navigation stacks, transform handling, and middleware integration.Hands-on experience with HIL simulation environments for control validation and tuning.Low-level embedded systems experience, including safety-critical architectures, CAN bus, and real-time firmware.Solid electrical engineering foundation with familiarity in MEMS sensors, calibration, and sensor-level signal processing.Strong programming skills (C++, Python, or embedded C).A track record of deploying robust control systems in real-world robotics or autonomous platforms.Preferred ExperienceBackground in off-highway, aerospace, defense, or rugged autonomous systems.Familiarity with GPU-accelerated or edge compute architectures (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson).Experience with redundancy strategies and fault-tolerant control.Strong understanding of 3D outdoor mapping, localization, and terrain-adaptive navigation.Why Join AION Robotics?Work on cutting-edge autonomous vehicles tackling some of the hardest real-world environments.Direct opportunity to shape the future of autonomy in construction, mining, energy and defense sectors.Help build a world-class, efficient team of high ownership roboticists, engineers, and innovators.Competitive compensation, equity opportunities, and comprehensive benefits.COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:Robotics Engineer: $150,000.00 - $250,000.00/per yearThis position is eligible for:o Restricted Stock Optionso Aggressive Annual Bonus & Base Salary Reviewso Personalized PTOo Wellness Programo 401K Retirement Plano Medical, Vision & DentalYour actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, experience and equity compensation package.Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at AION Robotics. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of restricted stock options, or long-term cash awards, and potential discretionary bonuses. We offer our employees personalized Paid Time Off (PTO), subject to manager approval, to ensure a healthy work-life balance and flexibility in managing personal and professional responsibilities. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, short and long-term disability insurance, and life insurance.AION Robotics is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with AION Robotics is governed based on merit, competence, and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.Salary