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Principal / Sr. Principal GNC Autopilot / Guidance Engineer

Today Chandler, AZ

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.Embark on a career putting innovative, reliable, and agile products and ideas into orbit, and beyond. Northrop Grumman has opportunities waiting for you that play a vital role in human space exploration, national defense, and scientific discovery, supporting multiple programs across the universe. With us, you'll discover a culture of curiosity and collaboration that will have you Defining Possible from the day you start. Our space systems connect and protect millions of people on earth every day, now and for the future. Explore your future and launch your career today.
Autopilot / Guidance Engineer
The Principal Engineer / Sr. Principal Engineer will design, develop, implement, verify, and test high-quality software and simulation toolchains. The candidate will be working on a 6 degree of freedom (6DOF) simulation to design and test missile flight code. The applicant will be creating and implementing 6DoF simulation models to evaluate system performance. The candidate should have extensive experience with missile flight dynamics, autopilot and guidance design and implementation into the missile flight code. The candidate should have a strong background in autopilot design/development and be able to mentor early career engineers.
This position may be offered at the Principal Engineer GNC Level 3 or Sr. Principal Engineer GNC Level 4.
Principal Engineer GNC Level 3 - 5 Years with Bachelors in Science; 3 Years with Masters; 1 Year with PhD
Basic Qualifications:

Experience designing, tuning, implementing, and testing guidance algorithms and autopilot parameters for guided missiles and/or interceptors.
Previous experience in designing, implementing, and testing missile autopilot systems. Including exposure to multiple control system schemes for guided missiles and linear stability analysis.
Strong understanding of missile control systems, including classical and modern control theory.
Proficiency in creating and maintaining analysis tools in C++, MATLAB and Python
Proficiency in C++ development in a Linux environment
Proficiency in MATLAB and Python toolchains
Must have current and active Secret Clearance at time of application
Travel 10% of the time
Preferred Qualifications:

Experience working with GNC algorithms for hypersonic missiles
Experience with AEGIS weapon system
Experience with IR discrimination and tracking
Familiarity with state estimation and state propagation techniques
Sr. Principal Engineer GNC Level 4. 8 Years with Bachelors in Science; 6 Years with Masters; 4 Years with PhD
Basic Qualifications:

Experience designing, tuning, implementing, and testing guidance algorithms and autopilot parameters for guided missiles and/or interceptors.
Previous experience in designing, implementing, and testing missile autopilot systems. Including exposure to multiple control system schemes for guided missiles and linear stability analysis.
Strong understanding of missile control systems, including classical and modern control theory.
Proficiency in creating and maintaining analysis tools in C++, MATLAB and Python
Proficiency in C++ development in a Linux environment
Proficiency in MATLAB and Python toolchains
Must have current and active Secret Clearance at time of application
Travel 10% of the time
Preferred Qualifications:

Experience working with GNC algorithms for hypersonic missiles
Experience with AEGIS weapon system
Experience with IR discrimination and tracking
Familiarity with state estimation and state propagation techniques
Primary Level Salary Range: $95,300.00 - $142,900.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $118,600.00 - $178,000.00The 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.

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Client-provided location(s): Chandler, AZ
Job ID: NorthropGrumman-R10208021
Employment Type: OTHER
Posted: 2025-09-18T20:07:36

Perks and Benefits

  • Health and Wellness

    • Health Insurance
    • Dental Insurance
    • Vision Insurance
    • Life Insurance
    • Short-Term Disability
    • Long-Term Disability
    • HSA
    • HSA With Employer Contribution
    • On-Site Gym
    • Pet Insurance
    • Mental Health Benefits
    • Virtual Fitness Classes
  • Parental Benefits

    • Birth Parent or Maternity Leave
    • Non-Birth Parent or Paternity Leave
    • Fertility Benefits
    • Adoption Assistance Program
    • Family Support Resources
    • Adoption Leave
  • Work Flexibility

    • Flexible Work Hours
    • Remote Work Opportunities
    • Hybrid Work Opportunities
    • Four-Day Work Week
  • Office Life and Perks

    • Commuter Benefits Program
    • Company Outings
    • On-Site Cafeteria
    • Holiday Events
  • Vacation and Time Off

    • Paid Vacation
    • Paid Holidays
    • Sabbatical
    • Leave of Absence
  • Financial and Retirement

    • 401(K)
    • 401(K) With Company Matching
    • Performance Bonus
    • Relocation Assistance
    • Financial Counseling
    • Profit Sharing
  • Professional Development

    • Tuition Reimbursement
    • Promote From Within
    • Mentor Program
    • Shadowing Opportunities
    • Access to Online Courses
    • Lunch and Learns
    • Internship Program
    • Leadership Training Program
    • Associate or Rotational Training Program
  • Diversity and Inclusion

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