Expand your horizons, advance your career, and contribute to a secure future for generations. Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector invites you to bring your pioneering spirit to our collaborative teams. As a GNC Engineer – Level 3 or Level 4 located in Chandler, AZ, you’ll be a linchpin in missions of paramount importance, defining the art of the possible from day one. This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.
In this role, you will contribute to the success of vital defense systems that protect the nation by supporting cutting-edge development of upcoming long-range missile defense interceptors, targets, space launch, and strike vehicles.
This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.
Your Role and Impact:
- Develop and assess navigation models and simulations for advanced weapons, tactical strike, and missile defense interceptor applications
- Support analysis of inertial, GPS/GNSS, and integrated navigation systems
- Evaluate navigation performance across diverse mission environments, including low-altitude flight, high-speed and high-dynamic engagements, glide phase intercept scenarios, space and exo-atmospheric missions, and degraded or denied GPS conditions
- Evaluate sensor performance, including IMUs, GPS receivers, radar altimeters, and other aiding sources as applicable
- Support Kalman filter analysis, navigation algorithm evaluation, and performance studies
- Translate program and customer requirements into navigation performance assessments and verification approaches
- Support integration with flight software and simulation environments
- Communicate technical results to engineering teams, leadership, and customers
- Other duties as assigned
If this job description reads like it was written specifically for you, consider joining our team!
This position is contingent upon the candidate obtaining final clearances and program access(es) within a reasonable period of time as determined by the company.
This position can be filled at either a Level 3 or Level 4.
Basic Qualifications for Level 3:
Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 3 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 1 year of professional experience. Will consider an additional 4+ years of experience in lieu of degree.
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance
Experience with Inertial, Satellite-Based, or Integrated Navigation Systems
Basic Qualifications for Level 4:
Bachelor’s degree with 8 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 6 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 4 years of professional experience. Will consider an additional 4+ years of experience in lieu of degree.
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance
Experience with Inertial, Satellite-Based, or Integrated Navigation System, IMU modeling, GPS sensor familiarity
Preferred Qualifications:
- Active DoD Secret Security Clearance or higher
- Experience with C++, MATLAB, Simulink, and Python
- Experience with Linux
- Experience with IMUs, GPS receivers, radar altimeters, and related navigation sensors
- Experience with Kalman filters, navigation algorithms, and simulation-based performance analysis
- Experience supporting advanced weapons, tactical strike systems, interceptor programs, missile defense applications, or space-based flight systems
- Experience with navigation in high-dynamic, exo-atmospheric, or GPS-contested environments
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:
https://www.northropgrumman.com/space
Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.
Northrop Grumman Total Rewards
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of professional experience for Level 3, or 8 years for Level 4
- Master’s degree and 3 years of professional experience for Level 3, or 6 years for Level 4
- PhD and 1 year of professional experience for Level 3, or 4 years for Level 4
- An additional 4+ years of experience may substitute for the degree requirement
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance
- Experience with inertial, satellite-based, or integrated navigation systems
- Experience with IMU modeling and familiarity with GPS sensors
- Active DoD Secret security clearance or higher
- Experience with C++, MATLAB, Simulink, and Python
- Experience with Linux
- Experience with IMUs, GPS receivers, radar altimeters, and related navigation sensors
- Experience with Kalman filters, navigation algorithms, and simulation-based performance analysis
- Experience supporting advanced weapons, tactical strike systems, interceptor programs, missile defense applications, or space-based flight systems
- Experience with navigation in high-dynamic, exo-atmospheric, or GPS-contested environments
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Northrop Grumman Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Northrop Grumman and has not been reviewed or approved by Northrop Grumman.
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Retirement Support — 401(k) matching is considered strong, with additional defined-benefit coverage for certain cohorts and options like catch-up contributions. Retirement programs are repeatedly highlighted as a core strength of the total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — PTO, company-paid holidays, and compressed work schedules (such as 9/80) provide meaningful time away and flexibility. These scheduling options are cited as a major quality-of-life benefit across many locations.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave alongside caregiver leave, adoption assistance, and back-up care supports a range of family needs. These programs have been expanded recently, signaling continued investment in family support.
Northrop Grumman Insights
What We Do
We are a close-knit community of big thinkers collaborating to keep the world safe. Our passion, creativity and expertise bring next-level technology solutions to life in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, space, and logistics and modernization for our customers around the globe. On the Northrop Grumman team, you’ll join our pursuit of excellence immersed in a dynamic culture of innovation and respect. Your unique perspective will help achieve our shared vision for the future of global security. Every step of the way, you'll be supported by world-class training, employee resource groups and a comprehensive benefits package that enables greater health and happiness for you and your family. Worldwide and across disciplines, we’re challenging what’s possible for technology to protect people and places from undersea to outer space and into cyberspace. And we see the impact of our performance every day. We are Northrop Grumman, and we work on what matters—now, you too can make a difference. Explore opportunities in engineering, IT, manufacturing, business management, cybersecurity and more with us. Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
