RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret
TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time
DescriptionNorthrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a Sr Staff Engineer Guidance Navigation Control . This position is located in
Roy, Utah or Manhattan Beach, California and supports the Sentinel program.
What You Will Get To Do:The GNC Technical Execution Deputy will help own and drive the most critical GNC program issues for the Sentinel program. The role combines deep technical expertise in guidance, navigation, and control hardware/software with strong leadership, stakeholder coordination, and issue resolution authority to keep the program on schedule, within performance budgets, and on a clear technical path forward.
- Own GNC issues, from issue identification through resolution and flight test acceleration.
- Lead root cause investigations, develop and execute detailed resolution plans, and ensure timely closure of open actions.
- Work daily with multiple Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) inside GNC.
- Liaise with the Office of the Chief Engineer (OCE) to secure approvals for schedule acceleration and risk reduction actions.
- Secondary technical POC for NIXAG (customer technical leadership interface)
- Provide technical insight, influence NIXAG decisions, and shape inputs to Flight Systems (e.g., JCCB packages, Alternate PIGA, trade studies, Measure of Capability (MOC)).
- Co-chair design reviews; adjudicate CRMs with USG, coordinate RFAs and responses.
- Lead GNC level Material Review Boards (MRBs) and Failure Review Boards (FRBs).
- Determine and communicate the technical path forward for GNC issues, direct troubleshooting, and investigation effort.
- Deliver technical recommendations to IPT/Element/Segment leads that shape schedule, cost, and performance outcomes.
- Ensure the team's work products meet program quality standards and are delivered on schedule.
- Partner with IPTs early in the development cycle to anticipate and prevent critical GNC issues.
- Drive schedule acceleration and risk mitigation measures, securing cross organizational stakeholder approval.
- Communicate complex technical status, risks, and decisions to senior leadership and customer representatives.
- Own all Measure of Capability (MOC) items and flight test acceleration activities linked to GNC.
- Coordinate test plan development, data collection, and analysis to validate GNC performance against Level 1 WSS requirements and Program KPPs.
This positions standard work schedule is a 9/80. The 9/80 schedule allows employees who work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday to take every other Friday off. This role may offer a relocation assistance package.
Basic Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, Control Engineering or related STEM discipline
- 14 years of related experience
- Must be a US Citizen
- Active Top Secret Clearance, at time of application, current and within scope, with an investigation date within the last 6 years
- Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs
- Minimum of 14 years of experience in Guidance, Navigation & Controls or comparable control systems engineering
- Strong background in hardware and/or software flight systems design, manufacturing, and test
- Expertise in HW/SW troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and failure review processes
- Experience leading detailed issue resolution plans from detection through closure.
- Extensive knowledge of GNC hardware, algorithms, accuracy trade studies, and embedded electronics
- Ability to integrate HW and SW perspectives for system level solutions
- Familiarity with MRB/FRB processes, JCCB packages, and MOC procedures
- Excellent written and oral communication
- Proficient in Microsoft Office suite
- JIRA/Confluence or equivalent issue tracking tools
- Willingness to travel to customer sites and test ranges as needed
Preferred Qualifications: - Bachelor of Science in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, Controls, or a related engineering discipline.
- Advanced Education-Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline or certification in Systems Engineering, Project Management, or Six Sigma.
- Self starter with a record of leading senior technical staff
- Strong influence and negotiation skills with senior customer and internal stakeholders.
- Ability to convey complex technical concepts clearly to senior leadership and non technical audiences.
- Understanding of GNC Systems Engineering lifecycle and associated phases of development
- Experience in inertial sensor performance analysis
- Deep knowledge of GNC algorithm development, linear covariance analysis, modeling and simulation, control systems
- Experience in full software lifecycle: architecture, development, peer review, verification, performance analysis, implementation, integration, debug, and maintenance
- Experience with real time operating systems
- Experience in Design / Analysis of processor architecture, digital electronics architecture, actuator electronic design, analog sensor electronics design, power electronics design
- Proficiency in C/C++ for embedded code (preferably MISRA C compliant)
- Experience with MATLAB/Simulink for modeling, simulation, and code generation
- Use of version control (Git) and CI/CD pipelines
- Experience working in Model-Based Systems Engineering tools such as Cameo
- Understanding of requirements development/management using DOORS or similar tool(s)
- Experience working in Teamcenter PLM
- Experience working in Jira / Confluence
- Program Delivery-Prior experience delivering avionics or GNC units/systems to operational status.
- Technology Maturation-Background in technology readiness level (TRL) advancement, technology insertion, or developmental maturation activities.
- Systems Integration-Exposure to full system integration, especially within large scale defense programs.
Roy UT salary range: $166,500-$249,700
Manhattan Beach CA salary range: $192,800-$289,200
Primary Level Salary Range: $166,500.00 - $289,200.00
The 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.
