Sentinel - Principal/Sr Principal Guidance Navigation & Control Engineer (15109-1*)
Northrop Grumman
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Roy, UT · Posted November 12, 2026
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About the job
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
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.
Join Northrop Grumman on our continued mission to push the boundaries of possible across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. Enjoy a culture where your voice is valued and start contributing to our team of passionate professionals providing real-life solutions to our world’s biggest challenges. We take pride in creating purposeful work and allowing our employees to grow and achieve their goals every day by Defining Possible. With our competitive pay and comprehensive benefits, we have the right opportunities to fit your life and launch your career today.
Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a Principal or Sr. Principal Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) Test Engineer to join our team. This position will be located at Roy, UT to support the Sentinel (GBSD) program in the Strategic Deterrent Systems (SDS) Division. Northrop Grumman supports the Air Force’s sustainment, development, production and deployment of hardware and system modifications for Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Ground and Airborne Launch Control Systems, Launch Facilities and associated infrastructure. This individual will be a technical leader, providing technical expertise in support of the GN&C Integration and Testing campaign, supporting activities including Inertial Navigation Sensor ground-based testing, and GN&C-centric hardware-in-the-loop testing. This position may be filled at a higher level based on qualifications below.
Roles and Responsibilities
Work supporting and leading multi-disciplinary teams to develop, verify, and validate testing strategies for Navigation sensors
Implement guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) algorithms in a system level test environment
Develop software tools for analyzing GN&C performance
Conduct system performance assessments for performance against mission requirements
Perform GN&C system and accuracy analysis of flight tests
Technical planning, systems integration, verification and validation, risk and opportunity identification for all integration and test activities under Guidance, Navigation, and Control
Develop test requirements, test plans and procedures, and integration of test equipment and test support equipment across multiple test cells
Support accuracy analysis using navigation sensor performance data
Performs functional analysis, timeline analysis, detail trade studies, requirements allocation and interface definition studies to translate customer requirements into test hardware and software specifications
Supporting system, segment, element and unit level trade studies
Collaborate with multiple engineering teams to define test objectives and requirements for test activities in a hardware in the loop lab
Performing customer requirements elicitation leading to Requirements Development
Coordination & collaboration with the System Engineering and AVE/IATC Segment System Engineering Teams and Test Teams
Basic Qualifications
This position may be filled at a Principal Engineer level or at a Sr. Principal Engineer level
Requires a bachelor’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university with 5 years of related experience; or a master’s degree with 3 years of related experience (Sr. Principal level requires 8 years with a bachelor's; 6 years with a master's; or 4 years with a PhD)
Must be a US Citizen with an active U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance, at time of application, current and within scope, with an investigation date within the last 6 years
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs
Requires 3 years of experience in guidance, navigation, or control algorithm development and/or flight/trajectory analysis for launch vehicles, missiles, spacecraft, and/or aircraft applications
Requires experience with system integration (HW and SW) and test principles
Requires experience with systems engineering principles including requirement decomposition and allocation of requirements
Requires experience with aerodynamic modeling, flight mechanics, missile/re-entry vehicle dynamics
Requires experience in sensor navigation, including inertial, radio, and/or optical navigation techniques
Requires experience with technical writing and documentation
Requires experience with strategic missile guidance and implementation of guidance algorithms
Preferred Qualifications
DoD Top Secret Clearance
Master's or PhD Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
Experience working in an Agile team or even leading a scrum team
Experience with Object-Oriented Programming
Knowledge of estimation and control theory, such as Kalman filtering
Experience with linear stability analysis to determine control system stability margins
Experience modeling navigation sensors, such as IMU or GPS
Experience in trajectory optimization, non-linear control, and/or adaptive/autonomous flight control systems
Experience defining test objectives based on test requirements, VCRM and interface and specification documentation
Experience with data collection/instrumentation (methods, hardware, setup, and troubleshooting)
Experience with development of test plans, procedures, and reports (functional testing and checkout)
Experience modeling with Cameo Enterprise Architecture or other similar Model-Based Engineering Tools
Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) testing, embedded control systems, and real-time software integration
Experience in sensor navigation, including inertial, radio, and/or optical navigation techniques
Experience in strategic missile guidance and implementation of guidance algorithms
Demonstrated proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, C/C++, Python, and/or other tools for GN&C Analysis and development
Knowledge/experience with AF Test Directive 99-103
Experience with ICBMs (MM, PK, Small Missile) or DOD programs
Experience in troubleshooting anomalous hardware and software
Ability to work in a highly collaborative & dynamic team-based environment
Position Benefits
As a full-time employee of Northrop Grumman Defense Systems, you are eligible for our robust benefits package including:
Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
401k
Educational Assistance
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions
Paid Time Off
Health & Wellness Resources
Employee Discounts
This position’s standard work schedule is 9/80. The 9/80 schedule allows employees who work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday to take every other Friday off. This role may offer a competitive relocation assistance package.
#SentinelSystems
Primary Level Salary Range: $98,400.00 - $147,600.00
Secondary Level Salary Range: $122,800.00 - $184,200.00
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.