GNC Engineer/Technical Lead: Nav Modeling Analysis & Sim - Level 5
- Secret clearance
About the job
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 Leadfocused onNavigation 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 Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector?
Visit https://www.northropgrumman.com/space. 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. #AZSpace #SpaceGNCJobs #SpaceEngJobs 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 Presid
From Northrop Grumman's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
Selected agencies hiring now
Contract Professionals Inc (CPI)Engineering and technical staffing agency
Aerospace and defense staffing firm in Waterford, Michigan, placing engineers, maintenance technicians, mechanics, welders and CNC machinists.
Places: Propulsion, Mechanical, Avionics, RF & Payloads
Moseley Technical ServicesEngineering and technical staffing agency
Engineering and technical staffing firm in Huntsville, Alabama, placing engineers and A&P, sheet metal, CNC and quality technicians.
Places: Propulsion, Mechanical, Avionics, RF & Payloads
These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.
Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.
Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.
New flight software and GNC jobs in Arizona, by email
One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.
About Northrop Grumman
Satellites, space telescopes, cargo spacecraft and rocket boosters, inside a defense prime.
Pay on its listings: 98% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
How it pays: Paid as an employee on Northrop Grumman's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).
More open jobs at Northrop Grumman
- 2027 Associate Software Engineer - Boulder CO$76,200–$114,400/yr
- Business Admin Support
- IR Plume Mod/Sim Systems Engineer - Level 2 or 3$83,400–$125,200/yr
- Lead Automation Test Engineer - Level 4$117,500–$176,300/yr
- Network Engineer - Level 3$94,200–$141,200/yr
- Staff AI/ML Software Engineer - Level 5$194,700–$292,100/yr
More flight software and GNC jobs
- Software Development Engineer, Amazon Leo, Embedded Platform$165,200–$223,600/yr
- Design Authority Solution Logiciel (Logiciel embarqué / Bancs de test / Simulateurs) - F/H
- Senior Embedded Software Engineer$140,500–$221,500/yr
- Senior Software Engineer (Lead) - Terminal Software$168,000–$265,000/yr
- Embedded Flight Software Engineer 2
- GNC Engineer (Dragon)$125,000–$195,000/yr
Written flight software or GNC?
One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.
Northrop Grumman openings, sent to you weekly
Each week we send the newest postings from Northrop Grumman's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.