Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Senior Staff Guidance Navigation and Control Lead to join our Advanced GNC team in Rancho Bernardo, CA or El Segundo, CA.
This lead will oversee advanced GNC and AV‑GNC design efforts, directing two subordinate leads to deliver integrated research and development solutions. They will balance cost and technical trade‑offs to meet program requirements and support key milestone reviews, including the PDR and CDR.
Essential Functions:
- Leads multi-disciplinary teams of GNC engineers to develop and deliver solutions that meet quality, cost, and schedule objectives.
- Supports Program Management in new business opportunities to include capture, SOW shaping, technology evaluations, authoring white papers, trade studies, process improvement, and bidding & proposals.
- Manage the baseline of new GNC efforts to include labor & non-labor planning and earned value management.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 14 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a relevant STEM discipline and 12 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a relevant STEM discipline and 10 years of related engineering experience.
- Demonstrated experience with MATLAB, Simulink, and Autocoding, and integration of GNC models in OFP
- Must be knowledgeable in flight sciences, control law development, control system analysis, and post flight analysis
- Must be knowledgeable in aerodynamics as it pertains to stability and control
- Must have experience leading GNC teams with at least 5+ GNC engineers
- Active DoD Secret Clearance
- Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) access
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with NGAS Common Products Core VMS GNC modelling
- Knowledge of C/C++, Java, Python
- Active DoD Top Secret Clearance
- Experience in white paper development
- Experience in advanced GNC design implementation
- CAM experience
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant STEM discipline with 14 years related engineering experience; OR Master's with 12 years; OR PhD with 10 years
- Demonstrated experience with MATLAB, Simulink, and Autocoding and integration of GNC models in OFP
- Knowledgeable in flight sciences, control law development, control system analysis, and post flight analysis
- Knowledgeable in aerodynamics as it pertains to stability and control
- Experience leading GNC teams with at least 5+ GNC engineers
- Active DoD Secret Clearance
- Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) access
- Manage baseline of new GNC efforts including labor & non-labor planning and earned value management
- Experience with NGAS Common Products Core VMS GNC modelling
- Knowledge of C/C++, Java, Python
- Active DoD Top Secret Clearance
- Experience in white paper development
- Experience in advanced GNC design implementation
- CAM experience
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.







