Guidance Nav & Control (GNC) Engineer: Flight Test Lead (Secret) - Level 5

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: 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 Flight Test Lead Engineer - * Level 5 located in * Chandler, AZ, you'll be a linchpin in missions of paramount importance, defining the art of the possible from day one. This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.

This role defines and executes comprehensive flight-test strategies for guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) systems, handling test planning, resource allocation, and both HIL/SIL simulations through to full-scale flight campaigns. It collaborates closely with GNC engineers to develop and validate control laws, algorithms, and models, leveraging deep expertise in control theory, dynamics, sensor-fusion techniques, and high-fidelity simulation tools. Additionally, this role applies strong MATLAB/Simulink, Python, and C/C++ programming skills to analyze pre- and post-flight data, troubleshoot issues, and drive continuous performance improvements.
This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.
Your Role and Impact:

Test Planning and Strategy: Define comprehensive flight test strategies and prepare detailed test plans, objectives, and schedules, including identifying the required resources and test environment setup.
System Integration & Testing: Oversee the integration and testing of GNC hardware and software, including hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations, software-in-the-loop (SIL) testing, and actual flight campaigns.
Data Analysis and Validation: Analyze pre- and post-flight test data to evaluate compliance with requirements, troubleshoot anomalies, and identify areas for improvement.
Algorithm and Software Development Support: Work closely with GNC design engineers to develop and refine flight control laws, algorithms, and models, often using tools like MATLAB/Simulink, C, or C++.
Deep Understanding of GNC Theory: Expertise in control theory (linear, non-linear, adaptive, optimal), dynamics (rigid body, flight/orbital mechanics), and navigation algorithms (Kalman filters, sensor fusion, GPS).
Simulation and Modeling Proficiency: Extensive experience developing and using high-fidelity simulations, including hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL) testing environments.