GNC Lead

Help Build Europe's Hypersonic Capability   At Hypersonica, we’re redefining what’s possible in European defence technology. We exist to deliver speed, resilience, and technological independence at a pace that sets a new standard. We are a small, elite team working on problems that matter, and solving them fast.   By joining Hypersonica, you’re not stepping into a predefined role. You’re joining a talent dense environment where every individual shapes the direction of the company. Our philosophy is to hire a small number of exceptional people with broad, deep technical capability, strong judgement, and the ability to operate autonomously.   We hire for talent, not rigid boxes. This role represents a business need, but the way it evolves will be shaped by the individual. If you’ve achieved what others said was impossible, or you bring a unique combination of skills that doesn’t fit a traditional mould, we want to hear from you. The work you do here directly contributes to Europe’s technological independence.

What you'll do

• Own and lead Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) as a core vehicle capability, taking responsibility from early concept through flight‑ready performance.  

• Define the GNC architecture and strategy for hypersonic vehicles, ensuring guidance  laws, navigation approaches, and control systems work as a coherent whole.  

• Develop and  validate  closed‑loop GNC solutions suitable for high‑speed, high‑dynamic, and contested flight environments.  

• Lead the creation and maturation of high‑fidelity GNC models, including 3‑DoF and 6‑DoF simulations, and ensure alignment with flight physics and vehicle dynamics.  

• Work tightly with Systems Engineering to ensure requirements, verification plans, and performance margins are clear, owned, and defensible.  

• Collaborate closely with avionics, software, mechanical, and HIL teams to ensure GNC algorithms are implementable, testable, and robust in real hardware.  

• Own GNC performance through HIL, ground test, and flight test,  analysing  results, closing gaps, and iterating designs at pace.  

• Set technical direction and standards for GNC development, balancing  rigour  with speed in a fast‑moving, prototype‑driven environment.  

• Act as the technical authority for GNC decisions, trade‑offs, and risk acceptance.  

• Build and lead a small, highly capable GNC team, setting expectations for quality, ownership, and delivery.  

Who you are

• A senior GNC engineer or technical leader with deep experience in guidance, navigation, and control for aerospace or missile systems.  

• Strong grounding in control theory, estimation, and flight dynamics, with practical experience applying these to real, closed‑loop systems.  

• Experienced developing and  validating  6‑DoF GNC models, and comfortable reasoning about vehicle‑level  behaviour , not just algorithms in isolation.  

• Comfortable operating across software, avionics, and systems boundaries, with an instinct for integration and testability.  

• Experienced taking GNC systems beyond simulation, through HIL, integration, and flight test, and learning quickly from real data.  

• Able to  operate  as both a hands‑on technical contributor and a leader, setting direction while still engaging deeply with the work.  

• Calm, decisive, and technically credible under pressure, with the judgement to make irreversible decisions when  required .  

• Comfortable working in  defence , high‑consequence, or safety‑critical environments where performance margins matter.  

• Motivated by building sovereign, world‑class flight capability, not incremental  optimisation  or academic exercises.  

What we offer

• A mission driven environment with the opportunity to work on one of Europe’s most consequential  defence  challenges, with direct impact on sovereign capability and security.  

• Daily collaboration with top experts across engineering, operations, and  defence , with real opportunity to learn from the best, contribute, and grow.  

• High ownership and autonomy; no time tracking, no micromanagement , just  clear  objectives  and accountability for outcomes.  

• A  fast paced  environment where  good ideas  are implemented quickly, and feedback from test and flight drives real decisions.  

• A culture that values clarity, integrity, and excellence, and supports people who take initiative and push boundaries responsibly.  

• Competitive compensation and real share options aligned to responsibility and impact, not tenure or hierarchy.  

At Hypersonica, every hire raises the bar. We are deliberately small, intensely capable, and deeply mission-driven. If this role feels like a strong fit, or if you believe you bring something exceptional that goes beyond the description, we encourage you to apply.   Hypersonica is an equal-opportunity employer and assesses candidates solely on merit, capability, and potential.   You can apply directly to this role or reach out to Nathan Sweeney, Head of Talent. We review every application and aim to respond to all candidates within two weeks, whether the answer is yes or no.