Principal/Sr. Principal Systems Engineer - GNC (20154)

Northrop Grumman; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 109,000 - 204,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision coverage

401k

Educational Assistance

Life Insurance

PTO & Holidays

Health & Wellness Resources

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Corp. in Huntsville, AL, is seeking a Principal or Sr. Principal Guidance, Navigation & Control Systems Engineer to join our SDS division. You will design, verify, and integrate GNC solutions for strategic deterrent systems and work with cross‑functional teams.

The role requires a STEM bachelor’s with 5+ years and US citizenship with an active Secret clearance; DoD Top Secret clearance preferred. Proficiency in C/C++, MATLAB/Simulink, Python, and Git/CI/CD is expected.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline from an accredited university with 5 years of relevant experience; or a Master's with 3 years (Sr Principal level: Bachelor's with 8 years; or a Master's with 6 years; or a PhD with 4 years).
• Must be a US Citizen with an active US Government Secret Security Clearance, current within last 6 years, and able to obtain Top Secret clearance if required.
• Requires 3 years of experience in GNC for cruise missiles or similar complex flight systems, including 6 DOF models, autopilot/guidance algorithms.
• Experience in embedded C/C++ (MISRA C preferred), MATLAB/Simulink for modeling and code generation, and Python for data analysis and rapid prototyping; Git and CI/CD pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Architect, design, verify GNC solutions and 6 DOF models for missiles and flight vehicles.
• Develop autopilot, targeting, and guidance algorithms with high-fidelity simulations.
• Define GNC interfaces and evaluate latency, bandwidth, and sensor characteristics.
• Integrate GNC algorithms into real-time embedded flight software and documentation.
• Conduct Monte Carlo and performance analyses to assess risks and margins.
• Support flight test planning, instrumentation, and post-flight diagnostics.
• Collaborate with aerodynamics, structures, software, and systems engineering to ensure feasible designs.
• Implement GNC software with modern practices like Git and CI/CD.
• Produce technical docs and presentations for stakeholders.

Skills

GNC design

Flight dynamics

Autopilot algorithms

Real-time embedded

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

Git

CI/CD

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 a Principal or Sr. Principal Guidance Navigation & Control Systems Engineer to join our team. This position will be located at Huntsville, AL to support the Strategic Deterrent Systems (SDS) Division. This position may be filled at a higher level based on qualifications below.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Architect, design, and verify guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) solutions and 6 DOF flight dynamics models for cruise missiles and flight vehicles supporting the Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) phase of the SLCM N program.
• Develop autopilot, targeting, and guidance algorithms for assess stability, performance, and robustness using advanced control theory and high fidelity simulations.
• Define GNC requirements and interfaces to control effectors, navigation sensors, and propulsion systems, and evaluate the impact of latency, bandwidth, and sensor characteristics on system performance.
• Integrate GNC algorithms into real time embedded flight software, including support to requirements decomposition, interface control documents, and verification.
• Conduct Monte Carlo, robustness, and performance analyses in MATLAB/Simulink and Python to identify technical risks, quantify margins, and support risk reduction trade studies.
• Support flight test programs, including contribution to test planning, instrumentation and telemetry definition, and post flight reconstruction and diagnostics of GNC performance.
• Work closely with aerodynamics, structures, thermal, software, and systems engineering to ensure GNC designs are integrated, feasible, and aligned with overall vehicle and mission requirements.
• Implement GNC software using modern software practices such as Git, CI/CD pipelines, and adherence to real time operating system constraints.
• Develop clear technical documentation and presentations that communicate GNC concepts, assumptions, analysis results, and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.

Basic Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelors degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university with 5 years of relevant experience; or a Masters degree with 3 years (Sr Principal level requires a Bachelors with 8 years; a Masters with 6 years; or a PhD with 4 years).
• Must be a US Citizen with an active US Government 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 and maintain Top Secret Clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
• Requires 3 years of experience in guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) for cruise missiles, or other complex flight systems, including development of 6 DOF vehicle models and autopilot/guidance algorithms.
• Requires experience in C/C++ for embedded code (preferably MISRA C compliant), MATLAB/Simulink for modeling, simulation, and code generation, and Python for data analysis and rapid prototyping, with experience using Git and CI/CD pipelines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active DoD Top Secret Clearance.
• Experience supporting technical GNC teams or workstreams in support of technology maturation and risk reduction or similar early lifecycle acquisition phases.
• Experience deploying GNC algorithms to real time embedded systems, including familiarity with real time operating systems and support.
• Experience with cruise missile flight dynamics, navigation and sensor fusion (e.g., INS/GPS/star tracker/lidar)..
• Proven track record of troubleshooting complex real time GNC systems and effectively communicating technical concepts and risks to non specialists and external customers.
• Demonstrated experience integrating Simulink algorithms onto hardware using the Simulink Real-Time and Speedgoat Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing platform.
• Independent contributor with strong leadership skills, demonstrated problem-solving skills, excellent communication skills, as well as interpersonal and organizational skills and a proactive, detail-oriented approach.

Position Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
• 401k
• Educational Assistance
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions
• Paid Time Off
• Health & Wellness Resources
• Employee Discounts

This position’s standard work schedule is 9/80. The 9/80 schedule allows employees who work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday to take every other Friday off. This role may offer a competitive relocation assistance package.

Primary Level Salary Range: $108,800.00 - $163,200.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $135,800.00 - $203,600.00

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.