Robotics Navigation Engineer

The Contested Autonomy & Navigation Branch, part of Leidos' Non-Kinetic Effects Business Area, provides cutting-edge navigation technology for customers who can't rely on GPS alone, and we need your help! We're looking for a Robotics Navigation Engineer to join our team in the Rocket City, Huntsville, AL!

This position offers both analytic and hands-on tasks, including development, simulation, analysis, and field testing of navigation algorithms. We perform research, development, and advanced prototyping for DARPA, NASA, Air Force Research Laboratory, Office of Naval Research, and Army Combat Capabilities Development Command engineering centers. These customers need to get our advanced technology into the field! You'll work with other engineers in small teams using spiral or agile development to meet aggressive schedules aimed at near-term field demonstrations.

Are you excited about making advanced technologies work in the real world? Then we want you on our team! For more information about the work we do, please visit: https://www.leidos.com/products/assured-positioning-navigation-and-timing

Please note: This role is located in Huntsville, AL. There may be opportunity to telework up to 1 day/week.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop algorithms for real-time GPS-denied navigation of robotic platforms.
• Navigate a variety of platforms, including aircraft, ships, ground vehicles, and pedestrians.
• Use multiple sensor fusion algorithms, including extended Kalman filters, unscented Kalman filters, particle filters, and factor graphs.
• Fuse simulated and real-world sensor inputs from inertial sensors, GPS, altimeters, cameras, lidar, odometers, and ranging radios.
• Use computer vision techniques like feature matching, SLAM, and visual odometry to extract navigation measurements from imagery.
• Work within a team of 3-5 engineers to test algorithms on demonstration hardware.
• Travel with the team to demonstrate systems in real-world conditions; typically lasts 1-2 weeks and occurs 3-4 times a year.
• Present techniques, solutions, and results to the team and to customers.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in advanced technical field (electrical engineering, software engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or equivalent) and 4+ years of prior relevant experience or master's degree with 2+ years of prior relevant experience.
• 2+ years of relevant experience with one or more sensor fusion algorithms: extended Kalman filters, unscented Kalman filters, particle filters, or factor graphs.
• Programming & analysis experience in MATLAB.
• Must be a US Citizen
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance after hiring.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or PhD Degree in one of the majors listed above.
• Experience with one or more of the sensors listed above, especially inertial sensors.
• Experience deploying navigation algorithms to real-time applications.
• Experience with computer vision techniques.
• Experience with machine learning, particularly convolutional neural networks.
• Experience with Linux, C++, and/or Python.
• Experience with version control tools, especially Git or Subversion.
• Experience with autonomous system development through robotics competitions.
• Existing US security clearance (Secret or above).

NKE

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

August 19, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:

Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.