Guidance Navigation Controls Engineer

Northrop Grumman

. Support research and development of flight control algorithms for manned and unmanned air vehicles .

Posted 10/15/2026full-timeUnited StatesJuniorMid-Level💰 $79,300 - $137,600 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in developing flight control algorithms and simulation tools for autonomous unmanned aircraft, with a strong foundation in control laws, flight dynamics, and performance analysis. Proficient in MATLAB and Simulink for modeling and analyzing dynamic systems, with the ability to support flight test activities and design reviews.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Flight Control Algorithm DevelopmentMATLAB Data AnalysisSimulink Dynamic System ModelingFixed-Wing Aircraft Flight DynamicsControl Law Design

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Flight Control AlgorithmsControl LawsDynamic Simulation ModelsNon-Linear Simulation AnalysisMATLABSimulinkC/C++ ProgrammingPython ProgrammingLua Script ProgrammingAutonomy Algorithms

Tools & Technologies

Simulation ToolsHardware-in-the-Loop TestingStateflow Modeling

Certifications & Qualifications

US Government Secret Security ClearanceSpecial Program Access (SAP)

Industry Keywords

Manned and Unmanned Air VehiclesGuidance, Navigation, and Control SystemsMIL-STD-1797 Flying Qualities Requirements

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

LuaPythonC++

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Support research and development of flight control algorithms for manned and unmanned air vehicles
Design, develop, implement, verify, and test algorithms, software, and simulation tools for guidance, navigation, and control of autonomous unmanned aircraft
Develop control laws to meet air vehicle performance, flying qualities, and stability margin requirements on the ground and in flight
Design outer and inner loop control laws and associated logic and autonomy functions
Develop air vehicle system linear and non-linear dynamic simulation models
Integrate models into software and hardware-in-the-loop simulation environments
Perform performance and flying qualities analysis
Support non-linear simulation and hardware-in-the-loop lab testing
Support flight test activities and analyze air vehicle flight test data
Develop analysis to support design reviews at different stages in a development program, such as PDR and CDR
Work in collaborative/team settings across all levels on developmental avionics, guidance, navigation, and control systems

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in a relevant Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline and 2 years of related engineering experience OR a Master’s degree in a relevant STEM discipline with 0 years of related engineering experience
Working knowledge of fixed-wing aircraft flight dynamics
Familiarity with linear control principles and tools to design feedback control systems
Working knowledge of analyzing non-linear simulations of aircraft closed-loop dynamics
Working knowledge of outer and/or inner loop control law performance requirements
Experience using MATLAB to create, process, analyze, and visually represent data
Experience using Simulink to model dynamic systems
Working knowledge of logic, modes, and states for autonomous aircraft
Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% of the time
Ability to obtain a US Government Secret security clearance or higher and Special Program Access (SAP)
Current, active in-scope US Government Secret security clearance or higher, with the ability to obtain Special Program Access (SAP) (preferred)
Experience designing control laws for fixed wing aircraft (preferred)
Familiarity with MIL-STD-1797 flying qualities requirements (preferred)
Familiarity with autonomy algorithms for driving control laws (preferred)
Familiarity with Simulink Stateflow Modeling (preferred)
Familiarity with autocoding Simulink models (preferred)
Familiarity with C/C++ programming (preferred)
Familiarity with Python programming (preferred)
Experience with Lua Script programming (preferred)
U.S. Citizenship is required for positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions

Benefits

Comp & perks

Relocation assistance may be available
Overtime eligibility may be available depending on the position
Shift differential may be available depending on the position
Discretionary bonus may be available
Long Term Incentives may be available for Vice President or Director positions
Health insurance coverage
Life and disability insurance
Savings plan
Company paid holidays
Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business