Principal/Sr Principal GNC Engineer
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE TYPE: Top 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.Northrop Grumman's Space Systems is seeking a motivated candidate that will fill the position of Principal/Senior Principal Engineer within our Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) department, located in Dulles, Virginia. We are seeking highly talented and ambitious engineers with backgrounds in Machine Perception including Computer Vision (CV) and Celestial Navigation.
Experience and/or education in spacecraft navigation, robotics, and/or embedded processing is preferred.
A spacecraft GNC engineer is expected to:
Design, develop, integrate, and test machine perception algorithms for real-time on-board processing on space vehicles and near-real-time processing within ground systems
Conduct rigorous testing, validation, and tuning of celestial navigation algorithms
Collaborate with other engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of machine perception systems with the overall space system
Design, analyze, and tune spacecraft attitude and position control loops using time and frequency domain techniques
Design, analyze, and tune sequential filters (e.g. Kalman filters) for attitude determination and relative navigation
Analyze and test the spacecraft GNC subsystem performance using simulations and other analytic tools
Implement GNC algorithms in flight software and support flight software qualification testing
Perform analysis to support early design phase concept development including actuator sizing and placement, sensor selection and placement, and predicted performance assessments
Develop simulation models for sensors (e.g. star tracker, rate gyro, accelerometer, GPS, magnetometer, sun sensors), actuators (e.g. reaction wheel, torque bar, thruster, CMG), system dynamics (e.g. rigid body, multi-body, orbit mechanics, flexible models), and the space environment (e.g. atmospheric, solar radiation pressure, third-body gravity, geopotential)
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Communication is a key element of your role and all engineers are expected to:
Apply engineering principles, industry standards, company process, and knowledge of machine perception, vehicle dynamics, propulsion, classical/modern control, and estimation theory to perform tasks to advance program/project goals
Document designs, analysis, and test results, and generate presentation material
Participate in peer reviews with internal and external customers
Work well within small- to medium-sized groups
Basic Qualifications:
Principal Level : BS Degree in Engineering, Physics, or Math with at least 5 years of professional experience (3 years with Masters, or 0 years with Ph.D.).
Sr. Principal Level: BS Degree in Engineering, Physics, or Math with at least 8 years of professional experience (6 years with Masters, or 3 years with Ph.D.).
Active Top Secret clearance and eligibility for SCI at the time of application. U.S. citizenship is required for this position.
Preferred Qualifications:
MS or PhD degree in engineering, physics, or math
Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, C/C++, and Python
Experience with Computer Vision and/or Celestial Navigation algorithms to support space vehicle navigation
Experience in spacecraft MP subsystem design, analysis, and testing
Experience implementing MP algorithms on embedded systems
Prior work experience in a related field
Proficiency with version control systems such as Git and SVN
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite
Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and digital transformation tools (such as the Atlassian suite)
Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities
Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00The 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.
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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