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# Guidance Navigation Controls (GNC) Engineer or Principal Guidanc

- **Company:** Northrop Grumman
- **Location:** El Segundo, CA, United States
- **Salary:** $91,800.0 - $137,600.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Computer Programming, Dynamical Systems, Hardware-In-The-Loop Simulation, Python (Programming Language), Lua (Scripting Language), MATLAB, SAP (Applications), Simulink, Stateflow, SC Clearance
- **Published:** October 2, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.clearancejobs.com/jobs/9209721/guidance-navigation-controls-gnc-engineer-or-principal-guidanc

## About the Role

* Bachelor's degree in a relevant Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline with 2 years of related experience; OR a Master's degree in a related STEM discipline with 0 years of experience.
 * Working knowledge of or experience with fixed-wing aircraft flight dynamics.
 * Working knowledge of or experience with linear control principles and tools to design feedback control systems.
 * Working knowledge of or experience with analyzing non-linear simulations of aircraft closed-loop dynamics.
 * Working knowledge of or experience with autopilot functions.
 * Working knowledge of or experience with outer loop control law performance requirements.
 * Experience using MATLAB to create, process, analyze, and visually represent data.
 * Experience using Simulink to model dynamic systems.
 * Familiarity with autocoding Simulink models
 * Working knowledge of logic, modes, and states for autonomous aircraft.
 * Familiarity with C/C++ programming.
 * Familiarity with Python programming.
 * Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Secret clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs

Basic Qualifications for Principal Guidance Navigation Controls Engineer:

 * Bachelor's degree in a relevant Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline with 5 years of related experience; OR a Master's degree in a relevant STEM discipline with 3 years of experience; OR a PhD in a relevant STEM discipline with 1 year of experience.
 * Working knowledge of or experience with fixed-wing aircraft flight dynamics.
 * Working knowledge of or experience with linear control principles and tools to design feedback control systems.
 * Working knowledge of or experience with analyzing non-linear simulations of aircraft closed-loop dynamics.
 * Working knowledge of or experience with autopilot functions.
 * Working knowledge of or experience with outer loop control law performance requirements.
 * Experience using MATLAB to create, process, analyze, and visually represent data.
 * Experience using Simulink to model dynamic systems.
 * Familiarity with autocoding Simulink models
 * Working knowledge of logic, modes, and states for autonomous aircraft.
 * Familiarity with C/C++ programming.
 * Familiarity with Python programming.
 * Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Secret clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs, * Current active in-scope US Government Secret security clearance or higher, with the ability to obtain Special Program Access (SAP).
 * Experience designing control laws for fixed wing aircraft
 * Familiarity with MIL-STD-1797 flying qualities requirements
 * Familiarity with with autonomy algorithms (Autonomous Taxi/ Take Off And Landing, etc.) for driving control laws.
 * Familiarity with Simulink Stateflow Modeling
 * Experience with Lua Script programming.
 * Working knowledge of SAE-94910 performance requirements.

## Description

* 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 to perform guidance, navigation and control (GNC) of autonomous unmanned aircraft.
 * Develop control laws to meet air vehicle performance, flying qualities, and stability margin requirements both on 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 and 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, CDR, etc.

This position may be filled at either the GNC Engineer level OR Principal GNC Engineer level, depending upon the qualifications below.