Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineer

Northrop Grumman

GNC Engineer designing and testing spacecraft attitude and position control systems for Northrop Grumman. Involving collaboration with DoD, NASA, and commercial customers in innovative aerospace projects.

Posted 7/13/2026full-timeDulles • Arizona, Virginia • 🇺🇸 United StatesJuniorMid-Level💰 $76,200 - $114,400 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in spacecraft GNC subsystem design, analysis, and testing, with proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and C/C++. Capable of developing and verifying flight algorithms and conducting performance analysis using simulations and analytic tools.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Spacecraft GNC Subsystem DesignMATLAB/Simulink ProficiencyC/C++ ProgrammingKalman Filter ImplementationModel Based Systems Engineering

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Spacecraft Attitude ControlPosition Control LoopsSequential FiltersFlight Algorithm DevelopmentSimulation Model DevelopmentActuator SizingSensor SelectionRendezvous AnalysisProximity OperationsDocking Analysis

Soft Skills

Leadership RolesTeam CollaborationCommunication Skills

Tools & Technologies

Microsoft Office SuiteVersion Control ToolsSVNGitAtlassian Suite

Industry Keywords

Aerospace EngineeringMechanical EngineeringU.S. Government Security ClearanceEmbedded SystemsDigital Transformation Tools

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Subversion

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Design, analyze, and tune spacecraft attitude and position control loops using time and frequency domain techniques
Design, analyze, and tune sequential filters (e.g. Kalman filters) for attitude determination and relative navigation
Design, develop, test and verify flight algorithms for the GNC subsystem and support flight software qualification testing
Analyze and test the spacecraft GNC subsystem performance using simulations and other analytic tools
Perform analysis to support early design phase concept development including actuator sizing and placement, sensor selection and placement, attitude and position guidance, rendezvous, proximity operations and docking analyses, and predicted performance assessments
Develop simulation models for sensors (e.g. star tracker, rate gyro, accelerometer, GPS, magnetometer, sun sensors, visible and IR spectrum cameras, LIDAR), actuators (e.g. reaction wheel, torque bar, thruster, CMG), system dynamics (e.g. rigid body, multi-body, orbit mechanics, flexible models, propellant slosh), and the space environment (e.g. atmospheric, solar radiation pressure, third-body gravity, geopotential)

Requirements

What you’ll need

Be completing or has completed their Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution.
Be majoring in or having majored in an Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related field
Be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite)
Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.4 out of 4.0 or higher (Preferred)
Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and C/C++ (Preferred)
Experience in spacecraft GNC subsystem design, analysis, and testing (Preferred)
Experience implementing GNC algorithms on embedded systems (Preferred)
Prior work experience in related field (Preferred)
Proficiency in Microsoft office suite, version control tools such as SVN or Git (Preferred)
Experience with Model Based Systems engineering, digital transformation tools such as the Atlassian suite (Preferred)
Previous/current membership or leadership roles in professional groups, clubs, or extracurricular activities is desired (Preferred)

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health insurance coverage
Life and disability insurance
Savings plan
Company paid holidays
Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business