GNC Engineer/Technical Lead: Nav Modeling Analysis & Sim - Level 5

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Expand your horizons, advance your career, and contribute to a secure future for generations. Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector invites you to bring your pioneering spirit to our collaborative teams. As a GNC Staff Engineer/Technical Lead focused on Navigation Modeling, Analysis and Simulation located in Chandler, Arizona, you will provide technical leadership for mission-critical flight-system navigation work. This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.

In this role, you will serve as the technical lead for navigation modeling, analysis, simulation, and algorithm development across space-launch, target, interceptor, advanced-weapons, tactical-strike, and missile-defense applications.

You will provide technical direction for inertial, satellite-based, and integrated navigation solutions; lead performance assessment in demanding environments including low-altitude flight, high-dynamic engagements, exo-atmospheric regimes, and GPS-degraded or denied conditions; and mentor engineers across the team while partnering closely with functional management, systems, software, and program leadership.

This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.

In this job, you will

• Perform hands-on navigation modeling, simulation, analysis, and algorithm-development work while providing informal technical leadership, mentoring, technical reviews, and input to team capability and staffing planning.
• Lead navigation architecture, modeling, simulation, analysis, and verification across launch vehicle, target, interceptor, advanced-weapons, tactical-strike, and missile-defense applications.
• Develop and execute a technical roadmap to expand the team’s strategic-navigation capability, including identifying knowledge gaps, prioritizing modeling and analysis investments, and aligning work across programs.
• Lead modeling, simulation, performance assessment, and technical planning activities supporting Strike, GPI, and other matrixed programs.
• Own navigation performance assessment across demanding mission environments, including low-altitude flight, high-speed and high-dynamic engagements, glide-phase intercept scenarios, space and exo-atmospheric missions, and GPS-degraded or denied conditions.
• Direct development and evaluation of inertial, GPS/GNSS, and integrated multi-sensor navigation solutions, including Kalman-filter-based estimation, sensor fusion, IMU modeling, covariance analysis, and aiding-source trade studies.
• Conduct sensor performance assessments involving IMUs, GPS receivers, radar altimeters, and other navigation aiding sources, as applicable.
• Translate program and customer requirements into navigation architectures, error budgets, analysis products, verification approaches, and technical trade studies.
• Drive navigation performance, robustness, and implementation risk assessments, mitigation strategies, and verification and validation activities.
• Partner with software, systems engineering, mission analysis, integration, and test teams to integrate navigation capabilities into flight software and simulation environments.
• Independently develop and deliver navigation models and analyses; coordinate directly with customers and multidisciplinary partners to define technical approaches, resolve issues, and communicate results.
• Review, mentor, and guide navigation and GNC engineers; partner with functional leadership to assess team capabilities, identify development needs, and inform technical staffing allocations.
• Communicate technical approaches, risks, decisions, and results to engineering teams, chief engineers, program leadership, and customers.
• Support proposal, capture, and IRAD activities through technical planning, basis-of-estimate input, and customer engagement, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

If this job description reads like it was written specifically for you, consider joining our team!

This position is contingent upon the candidate obtaining final clearances and program access(es) within a reasonable period of time as determined by the company.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 12 years of related experience, or Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with 10 years of related experience, or PhD with 8 years of related experience. Will consider an additional 4+ years of experience in lieu of degree.
• Significant experience with inertial, satellite-based, and integrated navigation systems.
• Experience in navigation modeling, simulation, analysis, and/or algorithm development for flight systems.
• Demonstrated technical leadership across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience defining technical approaches, decomposing requirements, conducting trade studies, and driving verification and validation activities.
• Ability to operate independently, lead complex technical efforts, and mentor other engineers.
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active DoD Secret Security Clearance or higher.
• Experience with Linux and with C++, MATLAB, Simulink, and Python.
• Experience with IMUs, GPS receivers, radar altimeters, and related navigation sensors.
• Experience with Kalman filters, navigation algorithms, sensor fusion, and simulation-based performance analysis.
• Experience supporting advanced weapons, tactical strike systems, interceptor programs, missile defense applications, or space-based flight systems.
• Experience with navigation in high-dynamic, exo-atmospheric, GPS-degraded, or GPS-denied environments.
• Experience serving as a technical lead or subject matter expert for navigation or GNC efforts.
• Experience supporting design reviews, verification planning, HWIL/SIL environments, and flight test integration.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including direct interaction with customers and senior technical leadership.

About Northrop Grumman Space Sector

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Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.

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Primary Level Salary Range: $152,900.00 - $229,300.00

The 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 U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.