Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) Engineering Intern

Job Description

Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) Engineering Intern | Redwire Defense Tech

The Tone:
This is a full-time internship at Redwire Defense Tech, located in San Luis Obispo, CA, expected for a minimum of 8 weeks during the summer. Redwire Defense Tech specializes in defense technology, and this particular role focuses on supporting the critical Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) systems for the Stalker aircraft. The internship provides an opportunity to apply academic knowledge directly to real-world projects, contributing to a fielded system and bridging the gap between theoretical concepts and practical aerospace and defense applications.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Full-time
• Location: San Luis Obispo, CA (In-person)
• Pay: $26 hourly
• Mission: Support senior engineers in executing specific GNC projects for the Stalker aircraft, providing hands-on experience aligned with academic focus and strategic objectives.
• Tech Stack: MATLAB, C/C++, gitlab/bitbucket

What You’ll Actually Do
• Support: Assist senior GNC engineers by gaining insight into their daily responsibilities and contributing to project execution.
• Analyze: Perform comprehensive data analysis on vehicle autopilot and sensor logs.
• Develop: Create and implement algorithms and software solutions to support GNC systems.
• Test: Support flight testing activities, acquiring practical experience with unmanned aircraft systems.
• Collaborate: Participate in an engineering project from problem statement conception through to the delivery of design and documentation, working with multidisciplinary team members.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Early Career, actively pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Mechanical, Software, Electrical, or Aerospace Engineering.
• Experience: Possess demonstrated coursework and/or practical projects specifically in the areas of dynamics, control systems, and estimation theory. Interns are expected to commit to a full-time schedule for at least 8 weeks over the summer.
• Skills: Exhibit strong analytical capabilities and problem-solving aptitude, coupled with excellent communication skills and a readiness for collaborative teamwork in a professional engineering environment. Candidates should also be capable of troubleshooting electrical and design-related issues effectively.
• Bonus: Proficiency in programming languages such as MATLAB and C/C++, experience with version control systems like gitlab or bitbucket, skilled in analyzing aircraft flight data and tuning control laws. Additional valuable qualifications include knowledge of aircraft aerodynamics, hands-on experience with estimation techniques (e.g., Kalman filters, complementary filters, factor graphs), and familiarity with computer vision systems and algorithms.