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The Engineering & Sciences organization supporting the Advanced Navigation business area at Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (NGMS) is looking for you to join our team as a Navigation Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead (Sr. Principal Engineer Systems) based out of Woodland Hills, CA.
The Navigation IPT Lead is responsible for planning, budgeting, executing, and progress reporting for a team of navigation, software, systems, and test engineers. The primary goal is the development, enhancement, and sustainment of navigation functions for the latest M‑code capable embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation System within a safety‑critical software development framework. The Navigation IPT Lead ensures the integrity of navigation algorithms and functions, adherence to safety‑critical development standards, and the timely delivery of engineering work products necessary to support airworthiness certification. The Navigation IPT Lead interfaces with the Program Manager, Product Line Chief Engineer, System Architect, other engineering team leads, as well as the customer.
This position is contingent upon the successful completion of an active DoD Secret Clearance.
What You’ll Get to Do:
- Lead the development of new navigation functions and the update of existing functions within a safety‑critical software development framework (e.g., DO‑178C)
- Oversee the planning and execution of navigation algorithm and software functionality
- Work closely with the Product Line Chief Engineer to develop navigation product roadmaps and lead implementation of those roadmaps within the Navigation IPT
- Ensure the IPT’s scope is executed within cost and schedule targets
- Setup and conduct Scrum/Agile ceremonies (PI planning, sprint planning, sprint reviews, sprint retrospectives, PI reviews)
- Identify and mitigate execution risks to navigation and navigation‑software development on the program
- Determine the staffing needed and work with functional managers to adjust staffing within multiple scrum teams
- Present portions of the execution plan, technical approach, and progress to the customer community and senior leadership
- Collect, manage, and report program metrics and Technical Performance Measures (TPMs) related to navigation performance and software milestones
- Expect a minimum of 10% travel (to customer, supplier, and other Northrop Grumman locations)
Basic Qualifications for Engineer Systems 4:
- Bachelor’s degree with 8 years of experience in Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical fields; or a Master’s degree with 6 years of experience; or PhD with 4 years of experience
- Experience in navigation, avionics, guidance, or related embedded systems development
- Knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM)
- Experience measuring development progress against baseline estimates
- Experience directing multidisciplinary engineering teams (e.g., navigation, software, systems, test)
- Experience in software or algorithm development, integration, and test
- Experience developing unit level tests for software verification
- Experience developing system level tests for on-target functional verification
- Demonstrated exceptional communication skills
- US Citizenship
- Ability to obtain/maintain a U.S Government Secret Clearance
- Ability to work onsite full-time in Woodland Hills, CA
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with Jira or similar Agile lifecycle management tools
- Experience utilizing Simulink (and related model‑based design tools) for the development of embedded software
- Experience developing avionics navigation systems, specifically tightly coupled GPS/INS navigation solutions utilizing extended Kalman filters
- Experience defining requirements and testing performance for high precision timing systems
- Experience with DO‑178C safety‑critical software development processes
- Experience with DO‑331 model‑based software development processes
- Experience with DO‑229 civil avionics standards for GNSS, including integrity validation of GPS receivers in safety‑critical aircraft applications
- Active U.S. Government Secret Clearance
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree with 8 years experience, Master's with 6 years, or PhD with 4 years in relevant engineering field
- Experience in navigation, avionics, guidance, or related embedded systems development
- Knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM)
- Experience measuring development progress against baseline estimates
- Experience directing multidisciplinary engineering teams (navigation, software, systems, test)
- Experience in software or algorithm development, integration, and test
- Experience developing unit level tests for software verification
- Experience developing system level tests for on-target functional verification
- Demonstrated exceptional communication skills
- U.S. Citizenship
- Ability to obtain/maintain a U.S. Government Secret Clearance
- Ability to work onsite full-time in Woodland Hills, CA
- Experience with Jira or similar Agile lifecycle management tools
- Experience utilizing Simulink and related model-based design tools
- Experience developing avionics navigation systems, tightly coupled GPS/INS solutions using extended Kalman filters
- Experience defining requirements and testing performance for high precision timing systems
- Experience with DO-178C safety-critical software development processes
- Experience with DO-331 model-based software development processes
- Experience with DO-229 civil avionics standards for GNSS
- Active U.S. Government Secret Clearance
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.





