Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a Sr Staff Engineer Guidance Navigation Control . This position is located in Roy, Utah or Manhattan Beach, California and supports the Sentinel program.
What You Will Get To Do:
The GNC Technical Execution Deputy will help own and drive the most critical GNC program issues for the Sentinel program. The role combines deep technical expertise in guidance, navigation, and control hardware/software with strong leadership, stakeholder coordination, and issue resolution authority to keep the program on schedule, within performance budgets, and on a clear technical path forward.
- Own GNC issues, from issue identification through resolution and flight test acceleration.
- Lead root cause investigations, develop and execute detailed resolution plans, and ensure timely closure of open actions.
- Work daily with multiple Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) inside GNC.
- Liaise with the Office of the Chief Engineer (OCE) to secure approvals for schedule acceleration and risk reduction actions.
- Secondary technical POC for NIXAG (customer technical leadership interface)
- Provide technical insight, influence NIXAG decisions, and shape inputs to Flight Systems (e.g., JCCB packages, Alternate PIGA, trade studies, Measure of Capability (MOC)).
- Co-chair design reviews; adjudicate CRMs with USG, coordinate RFAs and responses.
- Lead GNC level Material Review Boards (MRBs) and Failure Review Boards (FRBs).
- Determine and communicate the technical path forward for GNC issues, direct troubleshooting, and investigation effort.
- Deliver technical recommendations to IPT/Element/Segment leads that shape schedule, cost, and performance outcomes.
- Ensure the team’s work products meet program quality standards and are delivered on schedule.
- Partner with IPTs early in the development cycle to anticipate and prevent critical GNC issues.
- Drive schedule acceleration and risk mitigation measures, securing cross organizational stakeholder approval.
- Communicate complex technical status, risks, and decisions to senior leadership and customer representatives.
- Own all Measure of Capability (MOC) items and flight test acceleration activities linked to GNC.
- Coordinate test plan development, data collection, and analysis to validate GNC performance against Level 1 WSS requirements and Program KPPs.
This positions standard work schedule is a 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 relocation assistance package.
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, Control Engineering or related STEM discipline
- 14 years of related experience
- Must be a US Citizen
- Active Top Secret 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 Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs
- Minimum of 14 years of experience in Guidance, Navigation & Controls or comparable control systems engineering
- Strong background in hardware and/or software flight systems design, manufacturing, and test
- Expertise in HW/SW troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and failure review processes
- Experience leading detailed issue resolution plans from detection through closure.
- Extensive knowledge of GNC hardware, algorithms, accuracy trade studies, and embedded electronics
- Ability to integrate HW and SW perspectives for system level solutions
- Familiarity with MRB/FRB processes, JCCB packages, and MOC procedures
- Excellent written and oral communication
- Proficient in Microsoft Office suite
- JIRA/Confluence or equivalent issue tracking tools
- Willingness to travel to customer sites and test ranges as needed
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Science in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, Controls, or a related engineering discipline.
- Advanced Education-Master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline or certification in Systems Engineering, Project Management, or Six Sigma.
- Self starter with a record of leading senior technical staff
- Strong influence and negotiation skills with senior customer and internal stakeholders.
- Ability to convey complex technical concepts clearly to senior leadership and non technical audiences.
- Understanding of GNC Systems Engineering lifecycle and associated phases of development
- Experience in inertial sensor performance analysis
- Deep knowledge of GNC algorithm development, linear covariance analysis, modeling and simulation, control systems
- Experience in full software lifecycle: architecture, development, peer review, verification, performance analysis, implementation, integration, debug, and maintenance
- Experience with real time operating systems
- Experience in Design / Analysis of processor architecture, digital electronics architecture, actuator electronic design, analog sensor electronics design, power electronics design
- Proficiency in C/C++ for embedded code (preferably MISRA C compliant)
- Experience with MATLAB/Simulink for modeling, simulation, and code generation
- Use of version control (Git) and CI/CD pipelines
- Experience working in Model-Based Systems Engineering tools such as Cameo
- Understanding of requirements development/management using DOORS or similar tool(s)
- Experience working in Teamcenter PLM
- Experience working in Jira / Confluence
- Program Delivery-Prior experience delivering avionics or GNC units/systems to operational status.
- Technology Maturation-Background in technology readiness level (TRL) advancement, technology insertion, or developmental maturation activities.
- Systems Integration-Exposure to full system integration, especially within large scale defense programs.
Roy UT salary range: $166,500-$249,700
Manhattan Beach CA salary range: $192,800-$289,200
Primary Level Salary Range: $166,500.00 - $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.Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, Control Engineering, or a related STEM discipline
- 14 years of related experience
- U.S. citizenship
- Active Top Secret clearance at application, current and within scope, with an investigation date within the last six years
- Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program approval
- At least 14 years of experience in Guidance, Navigation and Controls or comparable control systems engineering
- Strong background in hardware and/or software flight systems design, manufacturing, and test
- Expertise in hardware/software troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and failure review processes
- Experience leading detailed issue resolution plans from detection through closure
- Extensive knowledge of GNC hardware, algorithms, accuracy trade studies, and embedded electronics
- Ability to integrate hardware and software perspectives for system-level solutions
- Familiarity with MRB, FRB, JCCB package, and MOC procedures
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
- Experience with Jira, Confluence, or equivalent issue-tracking tools
- Willingness to travel to customer sites and test ranges as needed
- Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline
- Certification in Systems Engineering, Project Management, or Six Sigma
- Record of leading senior technical staff
- Strong influence and negotiation skills with senior customers and internal stakeholders
- Understanding of the GNC systems engineering lifecycle
- Experience in inertial sensor performance analysis
- Knowledge of GNC algorithm development, linear covariance analysis, modeling and simulation, and control systems
- Experience across the full software lifecycle
- Experience with real-time operating systems
- Experience designing or analyzing processor, digital electronics, actuator electronics, analog sensor electronics, and power electronics architectures
- Proficiency in C/C++ for embedded code, preferably MISRA C compliant
- Experience with MATLAB/Simulink for modeling, simulation, and code generation
- Experience using Git and CI/CD pipelines
- Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering tools such as Cameo
- Experience with requirements development and management using DOORS or similar tools
- Experience with Teamcenter PLM
- Prior delivery of avionics or GNC units/systems to operational status
- Background in technology readiness level advancement, technology insertion, or developmental maturation
- Exposure to full system integration within large-scale defense programs
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
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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.







