2026 Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineer/Guidance Navigation Control Engineer Engineer - Dulles VA

We are looking for motivated GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control) engineers who want to solve interesting, complex problems, which protect our nation. Our GNC team is designing, building, testing spacecraft subsystems for a mix of DoD, NASA, and commercial customers. We are leaders in innovative solutions to the rapidly growing/evolving fields of space based autonomous rendezvous and docking and rapid design/production of small satellites. Spacecraft GNC analysis engineers will work within the GNC subsystem team and are expected to:Design, analyze, and tune spacecraft attitude and position control loops using time and frequency domain techniquesDesign, analyze, and tune sequential filters (e.g. Kalman filters) for attitude determination and relative navigationDesign, develop, test and verify flight algorithms for the GNC subsystem and support flight software qualification testingAnalyze and test the spacecraft GNC subsystem performance using simulations and other analytic toolsPerform 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 assessmentsDevelop 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)Communication is a key element of your role and all GNC engineers are expected to:Apply engineering principles, industry standards, company process, and knowledge of vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics, propulsion, classical/modern control, and estimation theory to perform tasks to advanced program/project goalsDocument designs, analysis, and test results and create presentation materialsPresent designs, analysis, and test results to internal and external customersWork well within small- to medium-sized groupsThe Northrop Grumman  Space Division is a strategic partner specializing in commercial and classified partnerships with the design, delivery, operation and sustainment of satellites and human spacecraft. We support science and space exploration through our various partnerships, including NASA’s Artemis program with the goal to return humans to the Moon in 2024 and the TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) program that has discovered more than twenty confirmed plants. Recognized as an industry leader, we also develop highly specialized space and satellite components.Basic Qualifications for Associate GNC Engineer:A candidate, regardless of age and hiring source, must meet ALL of the below criteria. The candidate must: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 fieldBe able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite)Basic Qualifications for GNC Engineer:A candidate, regardless of age and hiring source, must meet ALL of the below criteria. The candidate must:Be completing or has completed their Master’s Degree from an accredited institution.Be majoring in or having majored in an Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related fieldBe able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite)Preferred Qualifications for both levels:Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.4 out of 4.0 or higherProficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and C/C++Experience in spacecraft GNC subsystem design, analysis, and testingExperience implementing GNC algorithms on embedded systemsPrior work experience in related fieldProficiency in Microsoft office suite, version...