Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. Our Emerging Capabilities Development organization pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered by providing an innovative technological capabilities across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter. Come be a part of our mission!
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems sector is seeking a Principal Navigation Systems Engineer or Senior Principal Navigation Systems Engineer to join our diverse and talented team in the design and implementation of model-based navigation software. This role will be filled at our Woodland Hills, CA site. As a Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman you will have a challenging and rewarding opportunity to be a part of our Enterprise-wide digital transformation. Through the use of Model-based Engineering and Agile practices we continue to evolve how we deliver critical national defense products and capabilities for the warfighter. Our success is grounded in our ability to embrace change, move quickly and continuously drive innovation. The successful candidate will be collaborative, open, transparent, and team-oriented with a focus on team empowerment & shared responsibility, flexibility, continuous learning, and a culture of innovation.
What You’ll Get To Do:
Analysis of navigation performance in laboratory and flight test scenarios
Communication of status, issues, and results with program management and customers.
Work in close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to develop advanced navigation and timing technologies.
Work with a team of navigation and timing experts in a team-based collaborative environment dedicated to advancing the state of the art
Work with leading-edge navigation systems, techniques, algorithms, and software to enhance mission success.
Present your ideas to internal and external groups and represent Northrop Grumman at technical conferences and working groups.
This requisition may be filled as a Principal Navigation Systems Engineer or Senior Principal Navigation Systems Engineer.
This position is contingent upon Funding/Contract Award.
Basic Qualifications for a Principal Navigation Systems Engineer:
Bachelor’s Degree in STEM discipline with 5 years of Engineering experience; Masters in STEM discipline with 3 years of Engineering experience; PhD in STEM discipline with 1 years of Engineering experience
Experience implementing Sensor Fusion for Navigation Systems using IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), GPS, barometers, and other sensors.
Experience implementing advanced state-estimation algorithms such as Extended Kalman Filtering, Unscented Kalman Filtering, Particle Filtering for position, velocity, and attitude determination.
Experience with noise modeling and covariance tuning.
Experience analyzing data from Inertial Navigation Systems.
Hands on experience working with sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and barometers for navigation.
Experience implementing multi-sensor synchronization and calibration.
U.S. Citizenship is required.
The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance is required.
Ability to work full-time onsite in Woodland Hills, CA.
Basic Qualifications for a Senior Principal Navigation Systems Engineer:
Bachelor’s Degree in STEM discipline with 8 years of Engineering experience; Masters in STEM discipline with 6 years of Engineering experience; PhD in STEM discipline with 4 years of Engineering experience
Experience implementing Sensor Fusion for Navigation Systems using IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), GPS, barometers, and other sensors.
Experience implementing advanced state-estimation algorithms such as Extended Kalman Filtering, Unscented Kalman Filtering, Particle Filtering for position, velocity, and attitude determination.
Experience with noise modeling and covariance tuning.
Experience analyzing data from Inertial Navigation Systems.
Hands on experience working with sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and barometers for navigation.
Experience implementing multi-sensor synchronization and calibration.
U.S. Citizenship is required.
The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance is required.
Ability to work full-time onsite in Woodland Hills, CA.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with algorithm development for satellite acquisition, tracking, and receiver measurement formation
Familiarity with military navigation modernization, particularly M-code signal processing and capabilities.
Familiarity with Timing and Distributed Clock Algorithms.
Familiarity with inertial navigation systems (INS) mechanizations.
Combining data from IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), GPS, barometers, and other sensors
Understanding multi-sensor synchronization and calibration.
Familiarity with design of tracking loops, including characterization of platform dynamics, environmental/interference effects
Understanding accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, and their role in navigation.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's Degree in STEM with 5 years engineering experience; Master's with 3 years; PhD with 1 year (Principal qualification)
- Bachelor's Degree in STEM with 8 years engineering experience; Master's with 6 years; PhD with 4 years (Senior Principal qualification)
- Experience implementing Sensor Fusion for Navigation Systems using IMU, GPS, barometers, and other sensors
- Experience implementing advanced state-estimation algorithms such as Extended Kalman Filter, Unscented Kalman Filter, Particle Filtering
- Experience with noise modeling and covariance tuning
- Experience analyzing data from Inertial Navigation Systems
- Hands-on experience with sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and barometers
- Experience implementing multi-sensor synchronization and calibration
- U.S. Citizenship
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance
- Ability to work full-time onsite in Woodland Hills, CA
- Experience with algorithm development for satellite acquisition, tracking, and receiver measurement formation
- Familiarity with military navigation modernization, particularly M-code signal processing and capabilities
- Familiarity with Timing and Distributed Clock Algorithms
- Familiarity with inertial navigation systems (INS) mechanizations
- Familiarity with design of tracking loops and characterization of platform dynamics and environmental/interference effects
- Understanding of magnetometers and their role in navigation
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.






