GNC Engineer: Autopilot/Guidance – Level 5 (Secret) Chandler

Company: Northrop Grumman
Location: Chandler
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret TRAVEL: 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. Expand your horizons, advance your career, and contribute to a secure future for generations. Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector invites you to bring your pioneering spirit to our collaborative teams. As a GNC Engineer: Autopilot/Guidance – Level 5 located in Chandler, AZ , you’ll be a linchpin in missions of paramount importance, defining the art of the possible from day one. This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work. We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Autopilot/Guidance Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will design, develop, implement, verify, and test algorithms, software, and simulation tools to support the guidance, navigation, and control of advanced aerospace systems, including missiles, launch vehicles, and spacecraft. Your primary focus will involve creating and testing high-fidelity 6-degree-of-freedom (6DoF) simulation models to evaluate system performance and refine missile flight dynamics, autopilot, and guidance systems. Key responsibilities include developing control algorithms, implementing navigation functions, and ensuring system integration into flight code. This position requires strong expertise in autopilot design and development, a solid foundation in missile flight dynamics, and a commitment to mentoring early-career engineers. If you are passionate about working on cutting-edge aerospace technologies and driving innovative solutions, we encourage you to apply. This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off. Your Role and Impact: Design, develop, implement, verify, and test algorithms and software for guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) systems of aerospace vehicles, including missiles, launch vehicles, and spacecraft. Create and maintain high-fidelity 6-degree-of-freedom (6DoF) simulation models to analyze and evaluate system performance. Develop and implement autopilot and guidance algorithms into missile flight code to achieve desired trajectories, orientations, and system objectives. Perform statistical processing of measured data for navigation functions and simulate physical systems in software models. Formulate and analyze equations for achieving specific flight paths, orbital positions, and system orientations. Develop control laws and determine hardware and software requirements for launch vehicles, aircraft, and spacecraft control systems. Test, validate, and refine software and simulation tools to ensure functionality and reliability in real-world and simulated operations. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure integration of GNC systems into broader system designs and architectures. Conduct thorough model-based design and testing to support mission readiness and system validation. Mentor and train early-career engineers in guidance, navigation, and control design and implementation processes. Contribute to technical reviews and documentation of the GNC development lifecycle. Other duties as assigned If this job description reads like it was written specifically for you, consider joining our team! This position is contingent upon the candidate obtaining final clearances and program access(es) within a reasonable period of time as determined by the company. Basic Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree with 12 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 10 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 8 years of professional experience. Will consider an additional 4 years of experience in lieu of degree. Must have active and in scope U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance Extensive experience in missile flight dynamics, autopilot design, and guidance system development. Strong background in designing, developing, implementing, and testing GNC algorithms, simulation models, and control systems. Proficiency in creating and implementing 6-degree-of-freedom (6DoF) simulation models. Expertise in integrating autopilot and guidance algorithms into missile flight code. Knowledge of statistical data processing for navigation and simulating physical systems in software. Ability to participate in verification and validation processes for aerospace systems. Preferred Qualifications: Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. Hands-on experience in missile software development and validation testing. Familiarity with relevant programming languages (e.g., C++, Python, MATLAB) and software tools for aerospace applications. Proven experience mentoring and training junior engineers. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to support control law design and system optimization. Knowledge of launch vehicles, spacecraft control, or related fields in aerospace systems. Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below: https://www.northropgrumman.com/space Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site. Northrop Grumman Total Rewards Primary Level Salary Range: $152,900.00 - $229,300.00 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. 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.

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