Apollyon Dynamics is developing autonomous fixed-wing UAVs, VTOL platforms, and defence-grade flight systems. We are looking for a GNC Engineer with a strong hands-on background to own flight control, navigation, and guidance across our vehicle programs.
This is a technical role with real ownership from architecture through to flight test. Experience with autopilot development and a demonstrated contribution to open-source flight stacks is expected.
Responsibilities
- Define and own GNC architecture across vehicle programs, driving requirements into avionics, embedded, and mechanical teams
- Develop 6-DOF flight dynamic models and tune PID, LQR, MPC, and adaptive controllers across the full flight envelope
- Implement guidance algorithms for waypoint navigation, autonomous takeoff and landing, terrain following, and mission autonomy
- Develop and customise autopilot firmware, covering hardware bring-up, integration, and flight-ready software delivery
- Actively contribute to PX4 and/or ArduPilot open-source projects — merged PRs and module development are valued
- Design and maintain sensor fusion pipelines and state estimators (EKF / UKF / Particle Filter) integrating IMU, GNSS, vision, LiDAR, and radar
- Plan and execute SIL / PIL / HIL validation campaigns through to flight clearance
Requirements
- 5–10 years of experience in GNC, flight controls, or autonomous systems on real platforms
- Strong foundation in flight mechanics, stability, and control theory
- Proficient in MATLAB / Simulink, Python, and C++
- Practical experience with PX4 and/or ArduPilot, ROS2, Gazebo, and JSBSim
- Demonstrated EKF / UKF implementation experience on fielded flight systems
- Hands-on autopilot development experience, from hardware bring-up to firmware
- Proven track record contributing to PX4 or ArduPilot — open-source contributions are a requirement, not a preference
- Experience planning and executing HIL / SIL campaigns and analysing flight test telemetry
- B.Tech / M.Tech in Aerospace, Control Systems, Robotics, Avionics, or a related discipline
Preferred Background
- High-speed UAVs or defence platform experience
- GPS-denied or EW-resilient navigation
- Vision-based autonomy and onboard perception
- Redundant avionics architecture
- Working knowledge of DO-178C
