About Mach Industries

Founded in 2022, Mach Industries is a rapidly growing defense technology company focused on developing next-generation autonomous defense platforms. At the core of our mission is the commitment to delivering scalable, decentralized defense systems that enhance the strategic capabilities of the United States and its allies. With a workforce of approximately 120 employees, we operate with startup agility and ambition.

Our vision is to redefine the future of warfare through cutting-edge manufacturing, innovation at speed, and unwavering focus on national security. We are dedicated to solving the next generation of warfare with lethal systems that deter kinetic conflict and protect global security.

Mach Industries is seeking a GNC Engineer with a focus on visual and optical navigation to advance autonomous navigation for next-generation unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). You will design and implement cutting-edge visual/optical navigation systems to ensure precise, resilient positioning in GPS-denied and contested environments. Your expertise in vision-based navigation, sensor fusion, and real-time software will enhance the autonomy and reliability of our UAVs in dynamic defense scenarios.

At Mach Industries, we develop decentralized autonomous platforms to maintain an allied American edge. As a GNC Engineer, you will collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to pioneer visual and optical navigation technologies, driving mission success in modern battlespaces.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of visual and optical navigation algorithms for UAVs, emphasizing robust positioning in GPS-denied environments using vision-based techniques.

• Design and optimize sensor fusion frameworks integrating cameras, LiDAR, IMUs, and other optical sensors for precise state estimation.

• Develop and refine visual odometry, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), and optical flow techniques to enhance navigation accuracy.

• Collaborate with guidance and control teams to integrate navigation systems into the broader GNC framework.

• Implement real-time navigation software for embedded systems, validated through software-in-the-loop (SITL), hardware-in-the-loop (HITL), and flight tests.

• Optimize visual/optical navigation algorithms to mitigate errors from sensor noise, lighting variations, and environmental disturbances.

• Create testing and validation frameworks using high-fidelity simulations and real-world flight testing.

• Explore emerging technologies, such as AI-enhanced visual navigation and alternative PNT solutions, to stay at the forefront of innovation.

• Ensure navigation systems meet defense standards for resilience against jamming, spoofing, and optical interference.

Basic Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in visual or optical navigation system development for aerospace or defense applications.

• Expertise in vision-based navigation techniques, including visual odometry, SLAM, and optical flow.

• Proficiency in sensor fusion and state estimation using cameras, LiDAR, and IMUs.

• Experience developing navigation algorithms in MATLAB, Python, or C++ for real-time embedded systems.

• Strong understanding of inertial navigation systems (INS) and vision-aided navigation methods.

• Hands-on experience with optical sensors, including monocular/stereo cameras and LiDAR.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field. PhD is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with visual navigation in GPS-denied environments, including terrain-relative navigation and feature-based localization.

• Familiarity with defense standards for resilient PNT and optical navigation systems.

• Expertise in AI/ML for enhancing visual sensor fusion and state estimation.

• Hands-on flight testing experience for validating visual navigation systems.

• Knowledge of navigation error modeling and mitigation for optical systems.

• Proficiency with simulation tools like ROS, Gazebo, or OpenCV for navigation development.

Benefits at Mach Industries

Mach Industries supports the well-being and success of our team with a comprehensive benefits package:

• Competitive Compensation: Competitive salary and equity grants based on experience and skills.

• Healthcare & Wellness: Platinum-level medical, dental, and vision coverage at no cost to U.S. employees, with 90% coverage for dependents.