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Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a Principal or Sr. Principal Guidance Navigation & Control Systems Engineer to join our team. This position will be located at Huntsville, AL to support the Strategic Deterrent Systems (SDS) Division. This position may be filled at a higher level based on qualifications below.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Architect, design, and verify guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) solutions and 6 DOF flight dynamics models for cruise missiles and flight vehicles supporting the Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) phase of the SLCM N program.
- Develop autopilot, targeting, and guidance algorithms for assess stability, performance, and robustness using advanced control theory and high fidelity simulations.
- Define GNC requirements and interfaces to control effectors, navigation sensors, and propulsion systems, and evaluate the impact of latency, bandwidth, and sensor characteristics on system performance.
- Integrate GNC algorithms into real time embedded flight software, including support to requirements decomposition, interface control documents, and verification.
- Conduct Monte Carlo, robustness, and performance analyses in MATLAB/Simulink and Python to identify technical risks, quantify margins, and support risk reduction trade studies.
- Support flight test programs, including contribution to test planning, instrumentation and telemetry definition, and post flight reconstruction and diagnostics of GNC performance.
- Work closely with aerodynamics, structures, thermal, software, and systems engineering to ensure GNC designs are integrated, feasible, and aligned with overall vehicle and mission requirements.
- Implement GNC software using modern software practices such as Git, CI/CD pipelines, and adherence to real time operating system constraints.
- Develop clear technical documentation and presentations that communicate GNC concepts, assumptions, analysis results, and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.
Basic Qualifications
This position may be filled at a Principal level or Sr. Principal level
- Requires a Bachelors degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university with 5 years of relevant experience; or a Masters degree with 3 years (Sr Principal level requires a Bachelors with 8 years; a Masters with 6 years; or a PhD with 4 years).
- Must be a US Citizen with an active US Government Secret Security Clearance, at time of application, current and within scope, with an investigation date within the last 6 years.
- Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Top Secret Clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
- Requires 3 years of experience in guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) for cruise missiles, or other complex flight systems, including development of 6 DOF vehicle models and autopilot/guidance algorithms.
- Requires experience in C/C++ for embedded code (preferably MISRA C compliant), MATLAB/Simulink for modeling, simulation, and code generation, and Python for data analysis and rapid prototyping, with experience using Git and CI/CD pipelines.
Preferred Qualifications
- Active DoD Top Secret Clearance.
- Experience supporting technical GNC teams or workstreams in support of technology maturation and risk reduction or similar early lifecycle acquisition phases.
- Experience deploying GNC algorithms to real time embedded systems, including familiarity with real time operating systems and support.
- Experience with cruise missile flight dynamics, navigation and sensor fusion (e.g., INS/GPS/star tracker/lidar)..
- Proven track record of troubleshooting complex real time GNC systems and effectively communicating technical concepts and risks to non specialists and external customers.
- Demonstrated experience integrating Simulink algorithms onto hardware using the Simulink Real-Time and Speedgoat Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing platform.
- Independent contributor with strong leadership skills, demonstrated problem-solving skills, excellent communication skills, as well as interpersonal and organizational skills and a proactive, detail-oriented approach.
Position Benefits
As a full-time employee of Northrop Grumman Defense Systems, you are eligible for our robust benefits package including:
- Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
- 401k
- Educational Assistance
- Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions
- Paid Time Off
- Health & Wellness Resources
- Employee Discounts
This position’s standard work schedule is 9/80. The 9/80 schedule allows employees who work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday to take every other Friday off. This role may offer a competitive relocation assistance package.
Primary Level Salary Range: $108,800.00 - $163,200.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $135,800.00 - $203,600.00The 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.Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline and 5 years of relevant experience, or a master’s degree and 3 years of relevant experience for the Principal level
- For the Senior Principal level, a bachelor’s degree with 8 years, master’s degree with 6 years, or PhD with 4 years of relevant experience
- U.S. citizenship
- Active U.S. Government Secret security clearance at application, current and within scope, with an investigation date within the last 6 years
- Ability to obtain and maintain Top Secret clearance and Special Access Program approval
- At least 3 years of GNC experience for cruise missiles or other complex flight systems, including six-degree-of-freedom vehicle models and autopilot or guidance algorithms
- Experience with C or C++ for embedded code, preferably MISRA C compliant
- Experience with MATLAB/Simulink for modeling, simulation, and code generation
- Experience with Python for data analysis and rapid prototyping
- Experience using Git and CI/CD pipelines
- Experience supporting GNC teams or workstreams in technology maturation, risk reduction, or similar early lifecycle acquisition phases
- Experience deploying GNC algorithms to real-time embedded systems and familiarity with real-time operating systems
- Experience with cruise missile flight dynamics, navigation, and sensor fusion
- Experience troubleshooting complex real-time GNC systems and communicating technical concepts and risks
- Experience integrating Simulink algorithms onto hardware using Simulink Real-Time and Speedgoat Hardware-in-the-Loop testing
- Strong leadership, problem-solving, communication, interpersonal, organizational, proactive, and detail-oriented 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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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage offers multiple medical plan options by region alongside dental, vision, mental‑health resources, and wellness programs. Recent materials also highlight added family‑building support, including a dedicated fertility benefit.
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Retirement Support — The 401(k) savings plan is positioned as competitive with a company match, auto‑escalation features, and access to an employee stock fund/ESPP. Official filings and benefits guides emphasize retirement as a core element of the Total Rewards package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Many sites offer a 9/80 schedule, generous PTO, paid holidays, and flexible/telework options where program needs allow. Paid parental and caregiver leave are prominently featured, with recent enhancements for the delivering parent.
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.
