Senior Staff Guidance Navigation and Control Lead Engineer

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the Time

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman’s Aeronautics Systems – Research & Advanced Design (R&AD) transforms breakthrough ideas into mission-ready capabilities through intelligent anticipation. We’re the front-end design engine, defining what comes next. From developing cutting-edge next-generation future aircraft to trailblazing collaborative autonomous platforms, we push the boundaries of technology and forge industry-leading partnerships that set new standards for what’s possible.

Our team owns the full lifecycle of advanced concept creation, from visionary early-stage designs and rapid prototyping to high-impact demonstrations and solving the toughest technical challenges in survivability, autonomy, and battle management. We seek curious, adaptable people who thrive on turning intuition into breakthrough solutions. If you’re driven to invent the future, build what’s next, and shape the landscape of national security, this is where you belong.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Senior Staff Guidance Navigation and Control Lead to join our Advanced GNC team in Rancho Bernardo, CA or El Segundo, CA.

This lead will oversee advanced GNC and AV‑GNC design efforts, directing two subordinate leads to deliver integrated research and development solutions. They will balance cost and technical trade‑offs to meet program requirements and support key milestone reviews, including the PDR and CDR.

Essential Functions:

• Leads multi-disciplinary teams of GNC engineers to develop and deliver solutions that meet quality, cost, and schedule objectives.
• Supports Program Management in new business opportunities to include capture, SOW shaping, technology evaluations, authoring white papers, trade studies, process improvement, and bidding & proposals.
• Manage the baseline of new GNC efforts to include labor & non-labor planning and earned value management.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 14 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a relevant STEM discipline and 12 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a relevant STEM discipline and 10 years of related engineering experience.
• Demonstrated experience with MATLAB, Simulink, and Autocoding, and integration of GNC models in OFP
• Must be knowledgeable in flight sciences, control law development, control system analysis, and post flight analysis
• Must be knowledgeable in aerodynamics as it pertains to stability and control
• Must have experience leading GNC teams with at least 5+ GNC engineers
• Active DoD Secret Clearance
• Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) access

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with NGAS Common Products Core VMS GNC modelling
• Knowledge of C/C++, Java, Python
• Active DoD Top Secret Clearance
• Experience in white paper development
• Experience in advanced GNC design implementation
• CAM experience

Primary Level Salary Range: $192,800.00 - $289,200.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.