2026 Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineer - Dulles VA (AHT)

Northrop Grumman; Gilbert (AZ); On-site; USD 76,000 - 114,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Savings plan

Company paid holidays and PTO

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a 2026 Associate Guidance Navigation and Control Engineer in Reston/VA area to help design and validate spacecraft GNC subsystems. You will analyze control loops, implement Kalman filters, and develop flight algorithms for ground- and flight-testing in a challenging aerospace environment.

Required qualifications include a Bachelor's (Associate level) or Master’s in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, ability to obtain a security clearance, and strong MATLAB/Simulink

Qualifications

• Be completing or has completed Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution
• Majoring in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or related field
• Ability to obtain/maintain U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship required)
• GPA 3.4 or higher (preferred)

Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, and tune spacecraft attitude and position control loops
• Design, analyze, and tune sequential filters for attitude determination
• Develop flight algorithms for GNC and support flight software qualification testing
• Analyze GNC subsystem performance using simulations and analytic tools
• Support early design phase concept development including actuator sizing and sensor placement
• Develop simulation models for sensors, actuators, dynamics, and space environment
• Document designs and present results to stakeholders
• Collaborate within small- to mid-sized teams

Skills

GNC system design

Kalman filtering

Spacecraft dynamics

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace/Mechanical Eng

Master's Degree in Aerospace/Mechanical Eng

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

C/C++

Model Based Systems Eng

Git/SVN

Job description

2026 Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineer - Dulles VA (AHT)

Aug 31, 2026

$76,200 - $137,600/year

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: None

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.

We are looking for motivated GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control) engineers who want to solve interesting, complex problems, which protect our nation. Our GNC team is designing, building, testing spacecraft subsystems for a mix of DoD, NASA, and commercial customers. We are leaders in innovative solutions to the rapidly growing/evolving fields of space based autonomous rendezvous and docking and rapid design/production of small satellites. Spacecraft GNC analysis engineers will work within the GNC subsystem team and are expected to:

• Design, analyze, and tune spacecraft attitude and position control loops using time and frequency domain techniques
• Design, analyze, and tune sequential filters (e.g. Kalman filters) for attitude determination and relative navigation
• Design, develop, test and verify flight algorithms for the GNC subsystem and support flight software qualification testing
• Analyze and test the spacecraft GNC subsystem performance using simulations and other analytic tools
• Perform analysis to support early design phase concept development including actuator sizing and placement, sensor selection and placement, attitude and position guidance, rendezvous, proximity operations and docking analyses, and predicted performance assessments
• Develop simulation models for sensors (e.g. star tracker, rate gyro, accelerometer, GPS, magnetometer, sun sensors, visible and IR spectrum cameras, LIDAR), actuators (e.g. reaction wheel, torque bar, thruster, CMG), system dynamics (e.g. rigid body, multi-body, orbit mechanics, flexible models, propellant slosh), and the space environment (e.g. atmospheric, solar radiation pressure, third-body gravity, geopotential)

Communication is a key element of your role and all GNC engineers are expected to:

• Apply engineering principles, industry standards, company process, and knowledge of vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics, propulsion, classical/modern control, and estimation theory to perform tasks to advanced program/project goals
• Document designs, analysis, and test results and create presentation materials
• Present designs, analysis, and test results to internal and external customers
• Work well within small- to medium-sized groups

The Northrop Grumman Space Division is a strategic partner specializing in commercial and classified partnerships with the design, delivery, operation and sustainment of satellites and human spacecraft. We support science and space exploration through our various partnerships, including NASA's Artemis program with the goal to return humans to the Moon in 2024 and the TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) program that has discovered more than twenty confirmed plants. Recognized as an industry leader, we also develop highly specialized space and satellite components.

Basic Qualifications for Associate GNC Engineer:

A candidate, regardless of age and hiring source, must meet ALL of the below criteria. The candidate must:

• Be completing or has completed their Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution.
• Be majoring in or having majored in an Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related field
• Be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite)

Basic Qualifications for GNC Engineer:

A candidate, regardless of age and hiring source, must meet ALL of the below criteria. The candidate must:

• Be completing or has completed their Master's Degree from an accredited institution.
• Be majoring in or having majored in an Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related field
• Be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite)

Preferred Qualifications for both levels:

• Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.4 out of 4.0 or higher
• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and C/C++
• Experience in spacecraft GNC subsystem design, analysis, and testing
• Experience implementing GNC algorithms on embedded systems
• Prior work experience in related field
• Proficiency in Microsoft office suite, version control tools such as SVN or Git
• Experience with Model Based Systems engineering, digital transformation tools such as the Atlassian suite.
• Previous/current membership or leadership roles in professional groups, clubs, or extracurricular activities is desired
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities

Pay Range for Associate Engineer: 76,200.00 - 114,400.00

Pay Range for Engineer: 91,800.00 - 137,600.00

Primary Level Salary Range: $76,200.00 - $114,400.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $0.00 - $0.00

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 http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, Inc. specializes in delivering advanced technologies and solutions in defense and aerospace, enhancing mission capabilities for customers worldwide.

Company size 2-10 employees

Where they work

Headquarters Reston, Virginia

12011 Sunset Hills Rd, Reston, Virginia 20190, US