UAV Systems Engineer - Guidance Navigation & Controls
Senior systems engineer on Leonardo DRS's UAV development team in Germantown, MD, building guidance, navigation & control software that converts live radar tracks into real-time UAV guidance toward targets. Core work: radar-track interfaces, guidance laws, simulation environments (SITL/HITL), and in-field flight testing using Python/C++ and drone autopilot hardware.
- Compensation
- $107.1K–$144.6K / yr
- Location
- Germantown, MD, US, 20876
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Not specified
- Employment
- Contract
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Category
- Software engineering
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or related technical field
- Minimum of 5 years of engineering experience
- Solid understanding of guidance and control fundamentals, including pursuit guidance, closing velocity/geometry, proportional navigation
- Hands-on experience with drone autopilot hardware and firmware
- Strong real-time software development in Python and/or C++, comfortable writing companion-computer code (e.g., Raspberry Pi, Jetson)
- Experience with SITL/HITL simulation workflows for validating flight software
- U.S. Citizenship required; active DOD security clearance or ability to obtain one
Nice to have
- Prior experience with intercept, rendezvous, or target-tracking guidance
- Experience integrating radar or other tracking-sensor data into a robotics/flight software stack
- Background in counter-UAS, missile GNC, or autonomous aerial systems
- Experience with ITAR controlled products or defense manufacturing
- Experience with design, build, and fly of small UAVs
- FAA Part 107 certified
- Active U.S. security clearance (Secret or higher); candidates without a clearance will be considered
Full description
Job ID: 115564
DRS RADA Technologies, a subsidiary of Leonardo DRS, is focused on proprietary radar solutions and legacy avionics systems supporting the defense industry globally. The company is a global pioneer of AESA tactical radars for active military protection, counter-drone applications, critical infrastructure protection, and border surveillance.
-
Business Unit:DRS RADA Technologies
Location: Germantown, MD
Schedule: 9/80
Shift: First
Job Summary
DRS RADA Technologies is seeking an onsite Senior Systems Engineer who focuses on Guidance Navigation & Controls to join our growing UAV development team in Germantown, MD. The ideal candidate will assist in developing the algorithms to convert live radar tracks into real-time guidance to control the UAV towards the target.
What You'll Do:
- Build the interface that consumes live target track data from the radar and converts it into a usable target state in the vehicle's reference frame.
- Implement a guidance law that guides the aircraft towards its target.
- Set up and run a simulation environment to test performance with simulated or replayed radar tracks.
- Support in-field flight testing
What You'll Bring:
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, or related technical field
- A minimum of 5 years of engineering experience
- Solid understanding of guidance and control fundamentals, including pursuit guidance, closing velocity/geometry, proportional navigation.
- Hands-on experience with drone autopilot hardware and firmware.
- Strong real-time software development in Python and/or C++, comfortable writing code that runs as a companion-computer process (e.g., on a Raspberry Pi, Jetson, or similar) alongside a flight controller.
- Experience with SITL/HITL simulation workflows for validating flight software before live test.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience with intercept, rendezvous, or target-tracking guidance
- Experience integrating radar or other tracking-sensor data into a robotics/flight software stack.
- Background in counter-UAS, missile GNC, or autonomous aerial systems.
- Experience with ITAR controlled products or defense manufacturing
- Experience with design, build, and fly of small UAVs
- FAA Part 107 certified