DARPA TTO Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Architecture Development Lead

Amentum is a leading provider of engineering, scientific, and program management support services to some of the top agencies in the U.S. government, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the intelligence community. The mission of DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office (TTO) is to reimagine every aspect of military hardware design, development, test, manufacture, and sustainment – with a focus on rapid, affordable, and scalable deployment – to create and prevent technological surprise. TTO’s goal is to demonstrate compelling hardware at the smallest scale that traces to disruptive capability, with designs that reduce risk and cost by managing complexity and can be manufactured responsively and affordably. Additional information on TTO is available here: Amentum is seeking a mid- to senior-level engineer / scientist with experience in Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) architecture development. The ability to work on-site at the client location (Ballston neighborhood of Arlington VA) is preferred, though arrangements for some degree of hybrid work may be possible. Some travel (~25%), local as well as domestic, will be required. Job Duties and Responsibilities: Provide technical support and independent assessments to Government Program Managers (PMs) Assist in the identification, development, and evaluation of new program concepts and technology initiatives Lead technical interchange meetings (TIMs), integrated product teams (IPTs), and design reviews Support program experimentation and test activities, including development of test plans and coordination with performers, government stakeholders, test ranges, and test facilities Evaluate technical progress, risks, and program execution across multiple performers and development efforts Author technical reports, program briefings, memoranda, and decision-support materials Support transition planning and engagement with military Services, Combatant Commands, and other transition partners Provide day-to-day program support, including participation in performer calls, major reviews, internal DARPA meetings, and stakeholder engagements Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in mechanical / aerospace / electrical / computer engineering or related field At least 12 years’ professional experience Must have an Active US Government Secret security clearance. Please note US citizenship is required to obtain and maintain a security clearance 5+ years of experience developing GNC, flight control, navigation, autopilot, and/or power electronics systems of aerospace vehicles as an individual contributor, project lead, or chief engineer Experience in a Department of War (DoW) research and development (R&D) organization (DARPA, SCO, AFRL, JHTO, etc.) or Acquisition organization (PAE Fires, SSP, AFLMC, etc.), and/or as a performer (industry, FFRDC, or UARC) to those kinds of organizations Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional engineering teams and technical development efforts Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences The demonstrated professionalism, maturity, sound judgement, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills necessary for daily interactions with a Government Program Manager, other technical support personnel, and executive-level audiences in a dynamic, fast-paced environment Highly Desired Attributes: Doctorate in mechanical/aerospace/electrical/computer engineering or related field Active Top Secret security clearance, with ability to obtain SCI access 5+ years of experience supporting the development of hypersonic vehicles, re-entry systems, tactical missile systems, or other high-speed aerospace platforms Familiarity with high-level DoW programming, requirements, science & technology, and acquisition processes Experience conducting system architecture trades, modeling and simulation activities, verification and validation efforts, or flight test campaigns Compensation Details: $150-200K annual salary depending on qualifications Compensation Details: $150K-$200K The compensation range or hourly rate listed for this position is provided as a good-faith estimate of what the company intends to offer for this role at the time this posting was issued. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as job responsibilities, education, experience, skills, internal equity, market data, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and relevant laws. Benefits Overview: Our health and welfare benefits are designed to support you and your priorities. Offerings include: Health, dental, and vision insurance Paid time off and holidays Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching) Educational reimbursement Parental leave Employee stock purchase plan Tax-saving options Disability and life insurance Pet insurance Note: Benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and applicable agreements. Positions governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), or other employment contracts may include different provisions/benefits. Original Posting: 06/12/2026 - Until Filled Amentum anticipates this job requisition will remain open for at least three days, with a closing date no earlier than three days after the original posting. This timeline may change based on business needs. Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, ancestry, United States military or veteran status, color, religion, creed, marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, low-income status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law. Learn more about your rights under Federal laws and supplemental language at Labor Laws Posters. Welcome back! We encourage you to check on the status of your current job applications with us. You can also search for a list of our current job openings and see if there are any new positions that might be a good fit for you. Thank you for continued interest in employment with Amentum. For more than 100 years, Amentum has tackled the world’s toughest challenges to deliver agile and steadfast solutions to the U.S. government and its allies. With more than 50,000 employees on all seven continents and in more than 60 countries, Amentum delivers a broad range of operational support services to meet the critical needs of our clients. Our headquarters are in Chantilly, VA. Find us online at If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at View email address on click.appcast.io and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you need assistance, please reach out to View email address on click.appcast.io EEO including Disability/Protected Veterans Labor Laws Posters Amentum has become aware of unauthorized individuals who are falsely using the Amentum name and /or logo in an attempt to solicit fees from potential job seekers. These deceptive and unauthorized individuals are soliciting money, promising placement in a position with Amentum. Please note any communication requesting any amount of money in exchange for employment with Amentum is fraudulent. These communications do not originate from Amentum and are not associated with the recruitment process. Amentum and its affiliates never charge candidates fees or payments of any kind in order to secure employment. As a precaution, we recommend you do not disclose personal or financial details to anyone as a response to an unsolicited email, social media, or dating website request. Amentum will never as ask for a placement fee or any other fee to expedite the hiring process. If you are contacted by anyone offering employment with Amentum, you should never be asked to pay a fee for recruiting. Amentum personnel will always send email from an identifiable corporate account (ending in @amentum.com) and never from a public email account like Yahoo!, Google, Gmail, or Hotmail. If you are contacted regarding a fraudulent employment proposal, we encourage you to alert your local law enforcement agency/police authority. To read more about Amentum’s commitment to ethics, please click here.