Staff Guidance & Control (GNC) Engineer

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.

Description

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Sector is seeking a Staff GNC Engineer in Rancho Bernardo, CA.

• Designs, develops, implements, verifies, and tests algorithms and software and simulation tools to perform guidance, navigation and control of aircraft, spacecraft, submersibles, surface ships, missiles, launch vehicles and upper stages during powered and coast phases of launch, flight, earth orbit, interplanetary cruise and orbital insertion, as well as during staging events.

• Navigation functions include the statistical processing of measured data points and their substitution into algorithms simulating physical reality. Guidance functions include the formulation of specific equations to achieve a desired position, orientation, or orbit in space.

• Control design and analyses processes consist of the development of the control laws and hardware and software requirements for aircraft, launch vehicles and/or spacecraft.

Position Overview

Candidate will be skilled in the area of flight sciences and control law development and control system analysis as it relates to new advanced aircraft concepts and technologies. He/she will support developmental flight test activities and represent the company on combined test forces. He/she shall have sufficient multi-disciplinary knowledge to effectively serve as IPT lead, consultant, or participant to various projects/programs and advise management on technical research and applications. He/she will direct and mentor subordinate personnel in G&C design, flight controls analysis, test techniques, and in the preparation of reports. The candidate will keep abreast of or develop new or improved G&C methods or processes to maintain current state-of-the-art tools for the department. He/she will also serve as technical spokesman for G&C with customers including preparation and presentation of technical briefings. He/she may be called upon to direct proposal preparation efforts and new project activities, including responsibility for project technical aspects, cost, schedule, and reviews.

Essential Functions include the following:

• Flight test support in mission control room (pre-flight predictions, real-time support, post flight analysis, parameter identification)

• Perform performance and flying qualities analysis

• Non-linear 6DOF Simulation analysis (stress testing, trade studies, etc.)

• Linear MATLAB analysis (gain/phase margin determination, stability margin analysis)

• Embedded flight control software design/code/test

• Data analysis and investigation (document analysis and provide presentations to management and customer)

• Mission plan analysis support

• Co-leading a team of 8-10 G&C engineers to support a number of program efforts

• Responsible for day to day tasking and execution of program objectives

• Ensure technical quality and robustness of the team’s work

• Coordinating with other product teams in the program

• Act as primary interface between team and program management, customers, and other disciplines. Handle the upward facing briefings to customers and program management.

• Will work closely with the functional organization to ensure appropriate team staffing
   

Basic Qualifications for Staff Engineer:

• Bachelors in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) with 14+ years of relevant industry experience or 12 years' experience with a Masters STEM degree or 9 years with PhD

• Candidate must have excellent communication, analysis and problem solving skills and be able to work in a multi-disciplinary team environment. 

• Familiar with Flight Sciences

• Knowledge of fixed-wing aircraft flight dynamics

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficient in C/C++, MATLAB/Simulink

• Knowledgeable in flight sciences, control law development, and control system analysis.

• Experience analyzing non-linear simulations of aircraft closed-loop dynamics

• Experience using MATLAB to create, process, analyze and visually represent data

• Active DoD Secret clearance

• Flight test experience

• Flight sciences team leadership experience

Salary Range: $161,000 USD - $241,400 USD

Employees may be eligible for 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 health and safety of our employees and their families is a top priority. The company encourages employees to remain up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. U.S. Northrop Grumman employees may be required, in the future, to be vaccinated or have an approved disability/medical or religious accommodation, pursuant to future court decisions and/or government action on the currently stayed federal contractor vaccine mandate under Executive Order 14042 https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/.

Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.