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What you will own Serve as the responsible engineer and technical lead for all GNC matters. Establish the GNC architecture, technical roadmap, development processes and verification strategy. Develop six-degree-of-freedom vehicle simulations and dynamics models. Develop flight trajectories, guidance algorithms, state-estimation systems and control laws. Model vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics, propulsion, actuators, sensors and environmental disturbances. Define GNC requirements for sensors, flight computers, actuators and propulsion systems. Develop Monte Carlo analysis and vehicle-robustness processes. Lead software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testing. Integrate GNC algorithms with flight software and avionics. Support flight-test planning, execution and anomaly resolution. Lead post-flight reconstruction and model correlation. Own GNC risks through design reviews and flight-readiness reviews. Help recruit, mentor and lead future members of the GNC team. Requirements Demonstrated ability to lead and execute in a similar role. 5-10 years of relevant experience developing GNC for rockets, spacecraft, aircraft, missiles, drones or other autonomous vehicles. Flight sciences experience, including building aero databases, analyzing aerodynamic performance, and validating models through simulation and flight-test data. Strong understanding of rigid-body dynamics, state estimation, control theory and numerical simulation. Experience owning GNC architecture and making technical decisions across an integrated vehicle program. Experience implementing GNC algorithms in flight software. Experience with Monte Carlo analysis, software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testing. Demonstrated experience testing or flying an autonomous vehicle. Ability to lead technical work across avionics, propulsion, aerodynamics, systems and test teams. Willingness to be highly hands-on in a small, fast-moving hardware organization. Nice-to-have Experience building or leading a small GNC team. Experience with vertical-takeoff and vertical-landing vehicles. Experience with thrust-vector control, powered descent or engine relight. Experience with hypersonic, ballistic or atmospheric-entry trajectories. Experience with multi-engine vehicles. Experience with flight-safety systems and range operations. Prior work at a fast-moving startup. Hop Aero will only consider U.S. persons as defined by ITAR for this role. Hop Aero will not sponsor visas for this role.