Senior Staff Lead Engineer – GN&C

Northrop Grumman

. Support flight simulator development, GN&C algorithm development and implementation, and “test as you fly” with rigorous model and requirements verification and validation .

Posted 11/12/2026full-timeUnited StatesSenior💰 $166,500 - $249,700 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive expertise in Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) algorithm development and analysis, with proficiency in high-level programming languages such as MATLAB and C++. Possesses strong leadership skills and the ability to work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams to achieve complex flight system objectives.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Guidance, Navigation, And Control (GN&C) Algorithm DevelopmentMATLAB And C++ ProgrammingReal-Time Embedded Software DevelopmentSensor Navigation TechniquesU.S. Government DoD Secret Security Clearance

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Guidance, Navigation, And Control (GN&C) SystemsTrajectory OptimizationKalman FilteringAerodynamic ModelingReal-Time Multi-Threaded Architecture DesignSoftware Version Control (Git)Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)Algorithmic Application DevelopmentEmbedded Control SystemsMachine Learning Applications

Soft Skills

Technical LeadershipCollaborationIntegration Troubleshooting

Tools & Technologies

MATLAB/SimulinkPythonVisual StudioKubernetesAtlassian Tool SetIntegrity Operating SystemVxWorksCoveritySonarCubeDevSecOps Best Practices

Certifications & Qualifications

U.S. Government DoD Secret Security ClearanceSpecial Access Program (SAP) Approval

Industry Keywords

Flight Simulator DevelopmentMissile Flight SimulatorHigh Level Programming LanguagesHardware-In-The-Loop (HWIL) TestingFlight MechanicsMissile/Re-Entry Vehicle DynamicsSoftware Standards (DO-330, DO-178C)

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

KubernetesPythonC++

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Support flight simulator development, GN&C algorithm development and implementation, and “test as you fly” with rigorous model and requirements verification and validation
Provide technical leadership within the Flight Systems Analysis & Algorithms team
Help plan, develop, and integrate work scope
Identify GN&C risks and opportunities
Provide subject matter expertise and brief senior leadership on technical issues
Work in multi-disciplinary teams to develop, verify, and validate a complex 6-degree-of-freedom missile flight simulator
Design and implement guidance, navigation, and control algorithms
Perform gain tuning and assess system stability
Develop software tools for analyzing GN&C performance
Conduct system assessments for performance against mission requirements
Perform GN&C system and accuracy analysis of flight tests and root-cause error analysis

Requirements

What you’ll need

14 years with bachelor’s in relevant field of study, 12 years with master’s, or 10 years with PhD
An additional 4 years of experience can be considered in lieu of a degree
Must be a US Citizen
Must have an active U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance at time of application with an investigation completed within the last 6 years
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time
10+ years’ experience in guidance, navigation, or control algorithm development and/or analysis for launch vehicles, missiles, spacecraft, and/or aircraft applications
8+ years’ experience in high level programming languages (MATLAB, C++) and Object-Oriented Programming design
8+ years’ experience working in a highly collaborative & dynamic team-based environment
Preferred: Master’s or PhD Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
Experience in sensor navigation, including inertial, radio, and/or optical navigation techniques
Experience in strategic missile guidance and implementation of guidance algorithms
Experience in trajectory optimization, non-linear control, and/or adaptive/autonomous flight control systems
Experience with optimal state estimation filters (e.g. Kalman)
Knowledge of machine learning applications for adaptive flight control
Demonstrated proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, C/C++, Python, and/or other tools for GN&C simulation and development
Demonstrated knowledge of aerodynamic modeling, flight mechanics, missile/re-entry vehicle dynamics
Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) testing, embedded control systems, and real-time software integration
In depth knowledge of Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) systems and systems architecture
Experience in software version control system (i.e. Git) and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) practices
Experience in algorithmic application development and optimization
Experience in real-time embedded software development, including real-time multi-threaded architecture design, w/ knowledge of guidance and control systems
Experience with the Integrity Operating System and/or VxWorks
Experience with Visual Studio
Experience with Coverity, SonarCube, CodeSonar, Fortify and/or other SAST applications
Experience with the Atlassian tool set, Kubernetes, Model Based Engineering, GitLab, and DevSecOps best practices
Excellent integration troubleshooting skills
Knowledge of software standards including DO-330 or DO-178C

Benefits

Comp & perks

Relocation assistance may be available
Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
401k
Educational Assistance
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions
Paid Time Off
Health & Wellness Resources
Employee Discounts
9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off
Overtime, shift differential, and discretionary bonus may be available
Company paid holidays
Disability insurance
Savings plan