Imagine this, you own the guidance, navigation, and control behind an exo-atmospheric interceptor, including the final seconds where precision determines whether the engagement succeeds.Bliksem Exo is a four-nation European consortium developing an anti-ballistic missile system at operational pace. Destinus is the programme prime and responsible for the exo-atmospheric interceptor, engineered for affordability and production at scale.In this role, you will own the flight simulation, navigation, guidance, and control algorithms that take the interceptor from flight to terminal engagement. You will work hands-on with the models and analysis, translating performance results directly into vehicle requirements and engineering decisions.At Destinus, we are revolutionizing the defense industry with cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Our innovative technologies are designed to meet the unique demands of modern defense operations, delivering unparalleled speed, precision, and cost effectiveness. Destinus partners with government agencies and defense organizations worldwide to provide advanced solutions for mission-critical operations, enabling a new era of efficiency and technological superiority. Join us in shaping the future of defense with groundbreaking aerospace innovations.What You'll DoBuild and own the six-degree-of-freedom flight simulation used as the reference model for vehicle performance and analysisDevelop navigation and estimation throughout the flight, manage the error budget through handover, and develop terminal guidance for the final engagementOwn the terminal miss budget, quantifying how sensing noise, timing, disturbances, and other uncertainties affect end-to-end accuracyDesign and tune control algorithms across the phases of flight, assessing stability and robustness throughout the operating envelopeRun analysis and simulation campaigns across nominal and stressing conditions, translating findings into vehicle and subsystem requirementsWork closely with the wider engineering team to integrate GNC performance into the overall interceptor designWho You AreYou are comfortable owning complex GNC problems from mathematical models through implementation and validationYou think in terms of complete system performance rather than isolated algorithmsYou challenge models, assumptions, and results until you understand what drives performanceYou thrive in a small technical team where ownership, speed, and engineering judgement matterRequirementsBSc, MSc, or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Control Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related field10+ years of GNC experience on missiles, interceptors, spacecraft, launch vehicles, or comparable high-performance systemsStrong expertise in at least two areas across guidance, navigation and estimation, and control, with solid understanding across the complete GNC loopExperience developing and implementing flight-proven systems for hypersonic and/or space applications, including qualified hardware and softwareStrong MATLAB, Simulink and/or Python skillsNice to have: Experience taking GNC systems through hardware-in-the-loop testing and/or flight testing
Imagine this, you own the guidance, navigation, and control behind an exo-atmospheric interceptor, including the final seconds where precision determines whether the engagement succeeds.
Bliksem Exo is a four-nation European consortium developing an anti-ballistic missile system at operational pace. Destinus is the programme prime and responsible for the exo-atmospheric interceptor, engineered for affordability and production at scale.
In this role, you will own the flight simulation, navigation, guidance, and control algorithms that take the interceptor from flight to terminal engagement. You will work hands-on with the models and analysis, translating performance results directly into vehicle requirements and engineering decisions.
At Destinus, we are revolutionizing the defense industry with cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Our innovative technologies are designed to meet the unique demands of modern defense operations, delivering unparalleled speed, precision, and cost effectiveness. Destinus partners with government agencies and defense organizations worldwide to provide advanced solutions for mission-critical operations, enabling a new era of efficiency and technological superiority. Join us in shaping the future of defense with groundbreaking aerospace innovations.
What You'll Do
- Build and own the six-degree-of-freedom flight simulation used as the reference model for vehicle performance and analysis
- Develop navigation and estimation throughout the flight, manage the error budget through handover, and develop terminal guidance for the final engagement
- Own the terminal miss budget, quantifying how sensing noise, timing, disturbances, and other uncertainties affect end-to-end accuracy
- Design and tune control algorithms across the phases of flight, assessing stability and robustness throughout the operating envelope
- Run analysis and simulation campaigns across nominal and stressing conditions, translating findings into vehicle and subsystem requirements
- Work closely with the wider engineering team to integrate GNC performance into the overall interceptor design
Who You Are
- You are comfortable owning complex GNC problems from mathematical models through implementation and validation
- You think in terms of complete system performance rather than isolated algorithms
- You challenge models, assumptions, and results until you understand what drives performance
- You thrive in a small technical team where ownership, speed, and engineering judgement matter
Requirements
- BSc, MSc, or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Control Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related field
- 10+ years of GNC experience on missiles, interceptors, spacecraft, launch vehicles, or comparable high-performance systems
- Strong expertise in at least two areas across guidance, navigation and estimation, and control, with solid understanding across the complete GNC loop
- Experience developing and implementing flight-proven systems for hypersonic and/or space applications, including qualified hardware and software
- Strong MATLAB, Simulink and/or Python skills
- Nice to have: Experience taking GNC systems through hardware-in-the-loop testing and/or flight testing
Destinus is a European defence manufacturer built for the age of mass-produced threats. We design and produce modern strike and air defence systems in Europe for European and allied forces. We develop and manufacture cruise missiles, loitering munitions, and kinetic interceptors engineered for scalable, cost-asymmetric high-intensity warfare. Our edge is the combination of a unified autonomy stack, deep vertical integration, and industrial-scale manufacturing that enables fast iteration to become a fielded capability. At industrial tempo. Our mission is straightforward: strengthen Europe's security and strategic autonomy by delivering advanced, affordable systems that protect people and critical infrastructure.Our vision is for a secure Europe built on autonomy, scale, and industrial strength.
Destinus is a European defence manufacturer built for the age of mass-produced threats. We design and produce modern strike and air defence systems in Europe for European and allied forces. We develop and manufacture cruise missiles, loitering munitions, and kinetic interceptors engineered for scalable, cost-asymmetric high-intensity warfare. Our edge is the combination of a unified autonomy stack, deep vertical integration, and industrial-scale manufacturing that enables fast iteration to become a fielded capability. At industrial tempo.
Our mission is straightforward: strengthen Europe's security and strategic autonomy by delivering advanced, affordable systems that protect people and critical infrastructure.
Our vision is for a secure Europe built on autonomy, scale, and industrial strength.
