Flight Systems Futures - GN&C Engineer 3/4

Northrop Grumman; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance may be available

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems in Roy, Utah seeks a Principal/Sr. Principal GN&C Engineer to develop guidance and control algorithms and high-fidelity flight simulations for complex aerospace systems.

You will design laws for trajectory shaping and tune control algorithms while integrating them into simulation and flight software environments. The ideal candidate will have strong problem solving, written and verbal communication skills, and demonstrate ownership with a proactive mindset.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in STEM and 5+ years of related experience.
• Active U.S. DoD Secret clearance at time of application.
• Ability to obtain Top Secret/SAP clearance as required.
• Experience developing autopilot algorithms for flight vehicles.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with GN&C engineers in an Agile environment to meet milestones.
• Develop and validate guidance and control algorithms and 6-DOF flight simulations.
• Perform trajectory analyses, covariance analyses, and CEP evaluations.
• Maintain GN&C analysis tools and support new mission requirements.
• Apply trajectory optimization and nonlinear control techniques.
• Work with flight software teams to transition algorithms to flight-worthy implementations.
• Model subsystems such as IMUs and actuators for G&C design.
• Use C++ and MATLAB in an OO design to implement software.

Skills

GN&C algorithms

C++

MATLAB

6-DOF flight simulations

Trajectory optimization

PID control

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

MATLAB

C++

Job description

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.

Join Northrop Grumman on our continued mission to push the boundaries of possible across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. Enjoy a culture where your voice is valued and start contributing to our team of passionate professionals providing real-life solutions to our world's biggest challenges. We take pride in creating purposeful work and allowing our employees to grow and achieve their goals every day by Defining Possible. With our competitive pay and comprehensive benefits, we have the right opportunities to fit your life and launch your career today.

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking Principal / Sr. Principal GN&C Engineer to support activities including flight simulator development, GN&C algorithm development and implementation, and "test as you fly" with rigorous model and requirements verification and validation. This position will be in Roy, Utah supporting Flight Systems Futures.

What you will get to do:

The selected engineer in this role will develop and mature guidance and control (G&C) algorithms, guidance laws for trajectory shaping, and high-fidelity 6-DOF flight simulations for complex aerospace systems. This includes designing guidance laws to meet mission-specific trajectory and end-game performance objectives, and tuning control laws using classical and modern control techniques (PID, gain scheduling, optimal and robust control) while integrating these algorithms into simulation and flight software environments. The engineer will enhance existing G&C analysis tools, perform covariance and circular-error-probable (CEP) accuracy assessments, and contribute to emerging mission capabilities across advanced programs.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative team player and strong independent contributor who demonstrates ownership of tasks, initiative, and sound technical judgment. They show advanced problem-solving skills and excellent written and verbal communication, coupled with strong interpersonal and organizational capabilities, a proactive mindset, and a meticulous, detail-oriented approach to their work.

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Collaborate with a team of GN&C engineers in an Agile environment to meet critical milestones
• Develop, verify, and validate guidance and control algorithms, including guidance laws for trajectory shaping, and 6-DOF flight simulations in a multi-disciplinary team environment
• Perform trajectory assessment, flight analyses, covariance analysis, and CEP/accuracy evaluations
• Enhance and maintain G&C analysis tools to support new mission requirements and performance tuning
• Apply trajectory optimization and nonlinear control techniques to improve missile trajectory performance.
• Participate in engineering review boards, technical interchange meetings, and critical milestone reviews
• Work with the GN&C Flight Software Team to automatically generate code from high-level specifications or models, ensuring consistency and reducing manual errors
• Model key subsystems such as IMUs, control actuators, and propulsion / thrust-vector control for use in G&C design and simulation
• Use C++ and MATLAB with object-oriented design principles to implement and analyze G&C software
• Collaborate closely with GN&C flight software teams to transition guidance and control algorithms into flight-worthy implementations

This position may be filled as a Principal (level 3) or Sr. Principal (level 4) Systems Engineer.

Basic Qualifications:

Principal GN&C Engineer:

• Bachelor's degree in STEM and 5 years of experience, 3 years of experience with master's degree, 0 years of experience with PhD.
• Must have an active U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with an investigation date within the last 6 years
• Must have the ability to obtain Top Secret Clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) within a reasonable period as determined by the business needs of the company.
• 1 year of experience developing autopilot algorithms for flight vehicles
• 1 year of experience with