GNSS Engineer

About the role

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

GNSS Engineer

Overview

Daily life is underpinned by satellite navigation infrastructure, the global economy relies on GNSS and in the UK it is worth an estimated £13,622m per year, supporting everything from consumer applications, to transportation, to time sync for critical infrastructure. As these industries progress towards autonomy, the performance and security demands of their Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) systems are increasing beyond what GNSS can support, leaving a need for a cost-effective global solution.

Xona is seeking a GNSS Engineer to join our growing UK team. As a member of this team, you will collaborate with our navigation and software engineers in the support of the development and certification of next generation LEO GNSS downstream applications. You will plan and conduct GNSS testing across lab and field environments, working closely with partners and early customers to shape hardware selection and test design, and to rigorously evaluate and characterize performance across varying operational conditions.

Key Responsibilities include:

- Lab Testing & Simulation: You will test and verify GNSS receivers and simulators to ensure performance across both controlled setups and representative operational scenarios. You will be responsible for designing simulation activities and analyzing results from simulations and testing across commercial programs.

- Software Development: You will be supporting software development and engineering activities which may include algorithm development, test automation or Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for GNSS and Pulsar signals.

- Customer Testing & Trials: You will design, plan, and execute GNSS testing activities across lab and real-world environments. This includes selecting appropriate receiver hardware, defining robust test methodologies, and developing test cases that assess performance under varying conditions.

Requirements

- Minimum of BS / BEng in Electrical, Computer Science, Geomatics, Aerospace, or related field, and relevant experience in a Position, Navigation and Timing Industry.

- Familiarity with GNSS receivers and GNSS Interface Control Documents (ICD) and data/file formats such as RINEX navigation and observation files, sp3, NMEA and others.

- Experience with Python or C++ (OOP is a plus), familiarity with Git version control and the Git workflow, some familiarity with CICD and Docker is advantageous.

- Familiarity with hardware simulation, RF lab testing, system level verification testing, hardware-in-the-loop testing, data processing, and field testing.

- Must have right to work in the UK.

- Must be willing to travel for customer engagement and environment-specific field testing.

Desirable but not essential:

- Basic knowledge of GNSS signal processing chain and positioning algorithms or experience in LEO satellite signals in navigation.

- Experience with novel GNSS simulator and receiver testing.

- Experience in GNSS RF recording tools and workflows, including the generation, processing and replay of IQ data files.

- Experience in Cryptography or Secure Communications is advantageous.

- Experience with Software Defined Radios (SDR) GNU Radio and Software Defined Receivers.

Benefits

- Flexible working and PTO/time off policy, Xona measures progress by results not time on the clock

- Hybrid working - three days per week in office in London

- Supportive parental leave

- Health insurance

For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.