Sr. Principal Engineer: GNC – Space Systems; Dulles

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE:
Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE TYPE:
None

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.

We have an opening for a Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals in the Tactical Space organization. This position will be located in Dulles, Virginia or Gilbert, Arizona .

GNC is designing, building, and 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. We are seeking a highly talented and ambitious Engineer to take responsibility for the GNC solutions with an emphasis on Rendezvous and Proximity Operations.

Applications include the groundbreaking Mission Robotic Vehicle, Mission Extension Pod, and DoD programs which involve enhanced capabilities such as mission life extension services, in-orbit repair, augmentation, assembly, detailed inspection, and relocation of client spacecraft.

The Spacecraft GNC Engineer will work within the GNC subsystem team and is expected to perform a combination of duties that include:

• Design and analyze relative guidance solutions for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO)

• Design, analyze, and tune sequential filters (e.g. Kalman filters) for relative navigation applications

• Design, develop, test, and verify flight algorithms for the GNC subsystem and support flight software qualification testing

• Develop and test GNC Simulation and Spacecraft Flight Software using C/C++ and MATLAB/Simulink

• 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, optical sensors, LIDAR, laser range finders), 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 goals

• Document designs, analysis, and test results and create presentation materials

• Present designs, analysis, and test results to internal and external customers

• Work well within small- to medium-sized groups

Basic Qualifications:

Principal Engineer:

• Bachelor's Degree (STEM field preferred) with 5 years of experience (or 3 years of experience w/ a Masters, or 1 year [outside of internships/graduate research/etc.] w/ a PhD). Experience can be considered in lieu of degree

• Direct spacecraft/satellite GNC experience performing design, analysis, HW and I&T, or (possibly) flight operations

• US Citizenship is required as well as the ability to obtain a DOD Clearance at time of application

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS or PhD degree in engineering, physics, or math

• Minimum overall GPA of 3.25

• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and C/C++ Experience in centroid tracking, image processing, and RPO computer vision

• Experience with RPO practices and strategies

• Experience implementing GNC algorithms on embedded systems

• Prior work experience in related field

• Proficiency in Microsoft office suite, version control tools such as SVN or Git

• Experience with Model Based Systems engineering, digital transformation tools such as the Atlassian suite.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities

• Active TS/SCI Clearance

The Northrop Grumman Tactical Space Division is a strategic partner specializing in commercial and classified partnerships with the design, delivery, operation and sustainment of…