Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineer
Swarm Aero
Seattle, WA · $145k–$240k a year · Posted September 22, 2026
Just laid off? Start here: a plan for the first weeks
See every open role at Swarm Aero
More in Washington job market · Technology & Software · Engineering jobs
More roles at Swarm Aero
- Forward Deployed Engineer - Embedded · Oxnard, CA
- Senior Accountant · Oxnard, CA
- Senior Manufacturing Engineer · Oxnard, CA
- Systems Safety Engineer · Oxnard, CA
- Senior Facility Security Officer · Oxnard, CA
- Staff Software Engineer, Real-Time Systems · San Francisco, CA
Similar jobs
- Associate Engineer- Absolute Aviation · Heico · Cheney, WA
- Engineer II-Absolute Aviation · Heico · Cheney, WA
- Senior In-Space Propulsion Engineer · Cowboy Space · Kent, WA
- Senior Structures Engineer · Cowboy Space · Kent, WA
- Senior Associate, Guidance Navigation and Control Engineer · L3HARRIS Technologies · Orlando, FL
- Lead, Flight Test Field Engineer · L3HARRIS Technologies · Ashburn, VA
Where Seattle, WA ranks
Where Seattle, WA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #1Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Pacific Northwest316 jobs · of 8
- #1Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Pacific Northwest1,776 openings · of 14
- #2Best cities for energy and utilities pay after cost of living$180k · of 18
- #2Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Pacific Northwest17% · of 12
- #2Best cities for AI-skill jobs in the Pacific Northwest26% · of 17
- #2Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the West Coast1,776 openings · of 60
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
How AI is used in this kind of work
AI use among aerospace engineers is little observed so far. Measured exposure for aerospace engineers: 8% (little observed).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
Skills this job asks for
Say which you have and which you want to build. We use it to match you to jobs like this one.
About the job
Swarm Aero is redefining air power, building the largest swarming UAV and the most versatile swarming aircraft network in the world. The company is moving quickly to launch the first aircraft designed specifically for swarming, as well as the Command & Control software to mobilize swarms of thousands of heterogeneous autonomous assets and empower human operators to achieve superhuman results.
The team has created and exited multiple startups, negotiated defense deals worth billions of dollars, and designed and built 30+ novel aircraft, with aerospace experience from Scaled Composites, Airbus, Archer Aviation, Blue Origin, and Boom Supersonic.
Job Description
Swarm Aero is redefining air power, building the largest swarming UAV and the most versatile swarming aircraft network in the world. The company is moving quickly to launch the first aircraft designed specifically for swarming as well as the Command & Control software to mobilize swarms of thousands of heterogeneous autonomous assets and empower human operators to achieve superhuman results.
The team has created and exited multiple startups, negotiated defense deals worth billions of dollars, and designed and built 30+ novel aircraft, with aerospace experience from Scaled Composites, Airbus, Archer Aviation, Blue Origin, and Boom Supersonic.
Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer
As a member of the GNC team at Swarm aero you will lead the creation of the control systems for our aircraft. You will establish the processes and tools for vehicle modeling, GNC algorithm development and be a critical component of testing and validating the aircraft.
What You'll Do:
- Algorithm Design: Developing and refining algorithms for flight control, payload management, and autonomy.
- Tools & Process Development: Enhance the design and analysis tools to improve workflow efficiency and promote quality.
- Modeling: Improve Simulation models with higher fidelity definitions to support development and testing of GNC development.
- Test and Validate GNC system in simulation, subscale, ground, and full-scale flight test.
What You've Done:
- 5+ years of relevant experience.
- Experience developing control systems for an aircraft.
- Experience using MATLAB/Simulink to develop algorithms, model dynamic systems and analyze system performance.
What Sets you Apart:
- 7+ years of experience in aircraft development.
- Worked as part of a small team and supported rapid development.
- Experience in a full aircraft development cycle ( Design - Build - Test).
Salary Range: $145,000 - $240,000+ Equity
As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and trustworthy work environment, Swarm Aero conducts a thorough screening of prospective employees. Candidates will be subject to a comprehensive background verification process as a prerequisite for employment.
To conform to U.S. Government controlled technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
ITAR requirement
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Swarm Aero is an equal opportunity employer. We value diverse backgrounds and experiences and make employment decisions without regard to race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or disability.
What We Offer
- Meaningful equity in a high-growth defense technology company
- Competitive base salary commensurate with experience
- Medical, dental, vision, and 401k
- PTO and paid sick leave
- Monthly wellness stipend
- Daily catered lunch (office)
- Paid parental leave
- Direct impact on a critical national security mission
- A world-class team of engineers and operators solving genuinely hard problems