Guidance Navigation and Controls (GNC) Engineer III Project Based

This is a project-based employee role supporting the development integration and validation of ASIs autonomous agricultural vehicle platforms. Development phases of this nature typically continue through project completion often spanning two to four years although scope and duration are determined by business and customer needs.

JOB SUMMARY

The Guidance Navigation and Controls Engineer III develops integrates and validates algorithms that enable ASIs autonomous agricultural equipment to navigate fields follow planned routes maintain stable vehicle control and complete assigned operations safely and accurately. This role works with vehicle dynamics localization state estimation trajectory planning path tracking and feedback-control systems to support reliable autonomous operation in agricultural environments.

As a Level III engineer within ASIs five-level engineering structure this position independently contributes to moderately complex GNC features and subsystem improvements while receiving guidance on broader architectural and system-level decisions. The role collaborates with perception embedded software systems test and field operations teams to improve autonomous equipment performance across changing terrain vegetation field conditions weather payloads and agricultural workflows.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop implement integrate and validate guidance navigation and control algorithms for autonomous agricultural equipment
• Contribute to vehicle motion-control capabilities involving steering propulsion braking speed control path tracking and trajectory following
• Develop and tune feedback-control algorithms to improve vehicle stability accuracy responsiveness and operational performance
• Support navigation capabilities that allow autonomous equipment to move safely and efficiently through fields headlands access roads and defined work areas
• Develop and improve localization and state-estimation solutions using GPS/GNSS RTK positioning inertial sensors encoders odometry and vehicle feedback
• Contribute to trajectory-generation route-planning and path-planning solutions for agricultural operations
• Support capabilities involving field coverage row following headland turns pass planning overlap management and work-area completion
• Support coordination between vehicle motion attached implements perception outputs and task-planning software
• Own defined GNC features and moderately complex assignments from development through integration testing and field validation
• Develop and refine vehicle-dynamics and system-behavior models to support controller design simulation and performance analysis
• Tune control parameters on physical equipment across varying terrain speed payload soil traction and operating conditions
• Evaluate GNC performance using simulation recorded-data replay software-in-the-loop testing hardware-in-the-loop testing and full-vehicle field testing
• Develop measurable performance criteria for assigned features including path accuracy tracking error localization accuracy stability response time and task completion
• Analyze vehicle logs and field data to identify control limitations localization errors unstable behavior and operational edge cases
• Develop tools and scripts for simulation data processing visualization automated testing controller tuning and performance analysis
• Troubleshoot issues involving vehicle control localization sensor timing coordinate transformations communication interfaces and system integration
• Collaborate with perception engineers to ensure terrain obstacle vegetation and boundary information supports safe navigation and control decisions
• Work with embedded software engineers to integrate GNC algorithms into real-time vehicle-control and computing systems
• Partner with test engineers and field testers to develop procedures reproduce issues and validate corrective actions
• Participate in design reviews code reviews sprint planning and technical investigations
• Document algorithms mathematical models software interfaces assumptions test results technical decisions and known system limitations
• Support field deployments customer demonstrations and troubleshooting activities as required

ESSENTIAL EDUCATION WORK EXPERIENCE JOB SKILLS

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering Aerospace Engineering Robotics Computer Engineering Computer Science or a related technical field
• Typically five or more years of experience developing controls navigation robotics vehicle-dynamics state-estimation or autonomous-system software
• Strong understanding of classical and modern control theory including feedback control PID control system dynamics and stability
• Experience developing and tuning control algorithms on physical robotic automotive agricultural aerospace industrial or heavy-equipment systems
• Experience with localization navigation trajectory generation path tracking route planning or state estimation
• Proficiency in C Python MATLAB/Simulink or comparable engineering and software-development tools
• Experience developing software in Linux-based environments
• Familiarity with ROS ROS2 or comparable robotics middleware
• Understanding of coordinate systems transformations vehicle kinematics and vehicle dynamics
• Experience using simulation recorded data and physical testing to evaluate algorithm and system performance
• Experience developing production-quality software using version control peer review automated testing and continuous integration practices
• Ability to analyze complex system behavior and troubleshoot software sensor vehicle and system-integration issues
• Strong mathematical analytical debugging and technical problem-solving skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional engineering and field teams

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering Aerospace Engineering Robotics Controls or a related discipline
• Experience developing GNC systems for autonomous agricultural equipment off-road vehicles heavy machinery or mobile robots
• Familiarity with agricultural operations such as planting spraying tillage harvesting mowing material application or field preparation
• Experience with field coverage planning row following headland-turn planning route optimization or coordinated vehicle-and-implement control
• Experience with model-based design system identification controller tuning or vehicle-dynamics modeling
• Experience with Kalman filters extended Kalman filters particle filters or other state-estimation methods
• Experience with GNSS RTK positioning IMUs encoders odometry and multi-sensor localization
• Familiarity with model predictive control optimization-based control trajectory optimization or motion planning
• Experience integrating algorithms with vehicle-control units embedded controllers CAN networks drive-by-wire systems or agricultural equipment interfaces
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink C Python Gazebo or similar simulation and development tools
• Experience with software-in-the-loop hardware-in-the-loop and recorded-data replay testing
• Familiarity with functional safety concepts and validation practices for autonomous or safety-critical systems
• Experience validating control systems in dusty high-vibration uneven outdoor agricultural or industrial environments

BENEFITS

ASI offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• 401k with employer match
• Generous HSA contribution
• PTO paid holidays and flextime
• ASI covers 90% of employee medical plan costs

At Autonomous Solutions Inc. (ASI) we are committed to fostering a diverse inclusive and equitable workplace where all employees and applicants have equal opportunities. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race color religion sex national origin age disability genetic information veteran status sexual orientation gender identity or any other legally protected characteristic. ASI complies with all applicable federal state and local laws regarding nondiscrimination in employment and is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process.

This is a full-time project-based employment opportunity. Your employment with ASI will be at will meaning that either you or ASI may terminate your employment at any time for any lawful reason with or without cause or advance notice.

Required Experience:

IC