GNC Analysis Engineer

Job Title: GNC Analysis Engineer Job Description The GNC Analysis Engineer supports an autonomous aerial refueling aircraft program by performing detailed aircraft flight dynamics and vehicle performance analysis. The role focuses on reviewing and validating mission flight data and simulation outputs to ensure that mission plans are safe, stable, and operationally viable. The engineer analyzes post-flight and simulation results, identifies anomalies, evaluates flying qualities, and provides clear recommendations for mission plan validation. This is a data analysis and flight performance evaluation position, distinct from mission planning, control law development, or simulation development roles. Responsibilities

- Analyze aircraft flight dynamics and flying qualities data generated from mission plan executions for an autonomous aerial refueling aircraft program.
- Review flight model outputs, including line-over-line plots and other performance data, to determine mission safety and overall vehicle performance.
- Evaluate 6 Degree of Freedom (6DOF) simulation and flight results across all phases of the mission.
- Assess aircraft behavior during waypoint transitions, turns and maneuvering, contingency and divert routes, and takeoff and landing operations.
- Monitor and evaluate critical flight parameters such as load factors (Nz), angle of attack (AoA), sideslip/beta, control surface positions and rates, and stability and oscillatory behavior.
- Identify undesirable flight characteristics, anomalies, oscillations, or performance concerns and determine their impact on mission safety and effectiveness.
- Validate multiple mission paths and flight profiles provided by the customer to confirm safe and stable operation.
- Document analysis findings in a clear, organized manner and communicate results to engineering teams and program stakeholders.
- Provide recommendations for mission plan validation based on data-driven assessment of flight dynamics and performance.
- Contribute ideas and recommendations for process improvements and potential test and analysis automation opportunities.
- Collaborate with program personnel to ensure that mission validation efforts align with operational requirements and performance objectives.

Essential Skills

- Strong understanding of aircraft flight dynamics, including the ability to evaluate vehicle behavior across different mission phases.
- Solid knowledge of stability and control principles and their application to fixed-wing aircraft.
- Proficiency in aircraft performance analysis and flying qualities assessment.
- Experience analyzing 6DOF aircraft simulation or flight test results.
- Ability to interpret vehicle dynamics data and assess safe aircraft operation across mission phases such as waypoint transitions, maneuvering, contingency routes, and takeoff and landing.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify trends, anomalies, and performance issues in complex flight datasets.
- Effective technical writing skills to produce clear documentation of analysis methods, findings, and recommendations.
- Strong verbal communication skills to present results and collaborate with engineering and program stakeholders.
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- Ability to work with Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in accordance with applicable guidelines.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

- Experience conducting or supporting flight test data analysis.
- Experience with autonomous aircraft, UAVs, drones, or other unmanned systems.
- Experience supporting military aircraft programs.
- Familiarity with MATLAB, Simulink, MatrixX, or similar aerospace analysis and modeling tools.
- Experience with flying wing or low-observable aircraft platforms such as B-21, X-47, MQ-25, or similar aircraft.
- Experience identifying opportunities for analysis automation and process improvement within flight dynamics and performance evaluation workflows.
- Background in structural analysis is beneficial.
- U.S. citizenship is required for this role.
- No security clearance is required to perform the responsibilities of this position.

Work Environment Work is performed onsite at an engineering center in the Fort Worth, Texas area. Engineers collaborate closely with program teams and will work with mission plan validation datasets and flight performance outputs provided by the Navy. The environment supports high-volume mission validation efforts for autonomous aircraft operations, with regular access to simulation tools, flight data, and aerospace analysis software such as MATLAB, Simulink, MatrixX, or similar platforms. The setting is a professional office and lab environment focused on aerospace engineering, data analysis, and performance evaluation.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Fort Worth, TX.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $75.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Fort Worth, TX.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 26, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Fort Worth,TX. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,
please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
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shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,
including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications
and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you
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