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# Principal OR Sr. Principal Guidance Navigation Controls Engineer

- **Company:** Northrop Grumman
- **Location:** San Diego, CA, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $114,000.0 - $171,000.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** C++ (Programming Language), Dynamical Systems, Hardware-In-The-Loop Simulation, Python (Programming Language), Lua (Scripting Language), MATLAB, SAP (Applications), Simulink, Stateflow
- **Published:** October 14, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.beyondsandiego.com/job.asp?id=3467072757&tx=FR9794FFR&pt=1&aff=0B19D771-A501-4A5E-8338-2A822B784D54&utm_source=Job%20Feed&utm_medium=textkernel&utm_campaign=DE&utm_term=0B19D771-A501-4A5E-8338-2A822B784D54

## About the Role

* Bachelor's degree in a related Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline with 5 years of relevant, professional engineering experience; OR Master's degree in a related STEM discipline with 3 years of relevant, professional engineering experience; OR a PhD in a related STEM discipline with 1 year of relevant, professional engineering experience.
 * Experience with fixed-wing aircraft flight dynamics.
 * Experience using linear control principles and tools to design feedback control systems.
 * Experience analyzing non-linear simulations of aircraft closed-loop dynamics.
 * Working knowledge of autopilot functions and outer/inner loop control law performance requirements.
 * Experience using MATLAB to create, process, analyze, and visually represent data.
 * Experience using Simulink to model dynamic systems.
 * Working knowledge of logic, modes, and states for autonomous aircraft.
 * Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% of the time.
 * Ability to obtain a US Government Secret security clearance or higher and Special Program Access (SAP)., * Bachelor's degree in a related Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline with 8 years of relevant, professional engineering experience; OR Master's degree in a related STEM discipline with 6 years of relevant, professional engineering experience; OR a PhD in a related STEM discipline with 4 years of relevant, professional engineering experience.
 * Experience with fixed-wing aircraft flight dynamics.
 * Experience using linear control principles and tools to design feedback control systems.
 * Experience analyzing non-linear simulations of aircraft closed-loop dynamics.
 * Working knowledge of autopilot functions and outer/inner loop control law performance requirements.
 * Experience using MATLAB to create, process, analyze, and visually represent data.
 * Experience using Simulink to model dynamic systems.
 * Working knowledge of logic, modes, and states for autonomous aircraft.
 * Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% of the time.
 * Ability to obtain a US Government Secret security clearance or higher and Special Program Access (SAP).

Preferred Qualifications for both levels:

 * A 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 and performing handling qualities analysis
 * Working knowledge of MIL-STD-1797 flying qualities requirements
 * Experience with autonomy algorithms (Autonomous Taxi/ Take Off and Landing, etc.) for driving control laws.
 * Familiarity with Simulink Stateflow Modeling and autocoding Simulink models
 * Experience with C/C++, Python, and Lua script programming

## 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.