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Guidance Navigation Control Engineer Jobs in Virginia

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Guidance Navigation Control Engineer information

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$54.5K

$95.7K

$129.9K

How much do guidance navigation control engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for guidance navigation control engineer in Virginia is $95,745.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $82,800.00 and $107,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a guidance navigation control engineer?

Guidance Navigation Control (GNC) Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and test systems that guide and control the movement of vehicles such as aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and autonomous vehicles. Their work involves creating algorithms and integrating sensors and actuators to ensure precise navigation and stability. GNC Engineers play a critical role in mission planning, real-time control, and safety, making sure vehicles follow their intended paths accurately. They often collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to solve complex problems related to flight dynamics, navigation, and control systems.

What does a guidance navigation control engineer do?

A guidance, navigation, and control engineer designs, manufactures, and tests aircraft and other vehicles. Your duties span research and development, analysis, design, and manufacturing. As a GNC engineer, you are an aerospace engineer with responsibilities that include examining design proposals for financial and structural feasibility, overseeing the design and manufacturing system operations, and running tests to determine safety and performance. You manage quality control, look for issues with designs and final products, and determine what solutions are safe and effective. You must understand and apply concepts like propulsion and flight mechanics, aerodynamics, and thermodynamics when designing and building vehicles.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a guidance navigation control engineer?

To thrive as a Guidance Navigation Control Engineer, you need a strong background in aerospace engineering, control theory, and mathematics, usually supported by a relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree. Familiarity with simulation tools like MATLAB/Simulink, programming languages such as C/C++, and experience with sensor integration and embedded systems are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork and communication skills help you excel in this role. These skills and qualities are vital to ensure the safe, precise, and reliable operation of complex aerospace or autonomous systems.

How does a guidance navigation control engineer typically collaborate with multidisciplinary teams during a project?

Guidance Navigation Control Engineers work closely with professionals from various disciplines, such as mechanical engineers, software developers, and systems engineers, to ensure that navigation and control systems are seamlessly integrated into larger aerospace or robotics projects. Regular meetings, design reviews, and simulation sessions are common, where GNC engineers both contribute their expertise and adapt solutions based on feedback from other teams. This collaborative environment helps resolve integration challenges early and ensures that final products meet safety, performance, and reliability standards.

What are the most commonly searched types of Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs in Virginia?

For Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Guidance Navigation Control Engineer jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Guidance Navigation Control Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Guidance Navigation Control Engineer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,745 per year, or $46 per hour.

2026 Associate Guidance Navigation Control Engineer/Guidance Navigation Control Engineer Engineer...

Dulles, VA • On-site


Northrop Grumman Corporation
Space Research Administration • 10K+ employees

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 367 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

85th of 544 rated manufacturers

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Recommended by students


Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Posted 8 days ago


Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: NoCLEARANCE TYPE: NoneTRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescriptionAt 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 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 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)

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

The 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 field
  • Be 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 field
  • Be 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 higher
  • Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and C/C++
  • Experience in spacecraft GNC subsystem design, analysis, and testing
  • 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.
  • Previous/current membership or leadership roles in professional groups, clubs, or extracurricular activities is desired
  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities

Pay Range for Associate Engineer: 76,200.00 - 114,400.00

Pay Range for Engineer: 91,800.00 - 137,600.00

Primary Level Salary Range: $76,200.00 - $114,400.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $0.00 - $0.00The 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.

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About Northrop Grumman

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

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.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Falls Church, VA, US

Year founded

1939


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