Payload Flight Software Lead - Level 5
- Pay
- $177,000 – $265,600 per year
- Location
- United States-California-Redondo Beach · On-site
- Job type
- Full-time
- Level
- Director
- Experience
- 8+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Listed
- 14 days ago
Skills & highlights for this role
- Embedded C/C++
- Real-time operating systems (VxWorks)
- Full-cycle software development
- Software team leadership
- Active SCI clearance
Also useful
- Cost Account Management (CAM)
- Agile software development
- CI/CD tools (Jenkins)
- Comprehensive software documentation
About the role
- RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
- CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
- CLEARANCE TYPE: SCI
- TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time
About the role
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.
Northrop Grumman's Space Sector is seeking a Payload Flight Software Lead - Level 5 to join our team. This position will be located in Redondo Beach, CA.
As a Payload Flight Software Lead, you will lead the design, architecture, development, integration, test and verification of flight software solutions for embedded and real-time systems. Specifically, you will produce and maintain architectural artifacts (block diagrams, interface control documents, traceability matrices, and trade studies).
You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams-including Systems Engineering, Hardware, and Integration & Test. You will analyze system capabilities to troubleshoot and resolve issues related to program intent, output requirements, data acquisition, programming methods, and control strategies.
This position will include defining and architecting the system and will require close collaboration with team members of other projects within the organization for security architecture designs, as well as external partners and customers.
The ideal candidate will have the ability to support the architecture, development, and lifecycle management of embedded and real-time systems. The candidate will be expected to understand system requirements, how they apply to system design, and to implement and debug software to meet defined completion criteria. The candidate will have demonstrated ability to define and evolve software architectures and possess strong troubleshooting skills for complex, integrated applications and test-setup issues.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline with 12 years of relevant experience; or a Master's degree in a STEM discipline with 10 years of relevant experience; or a PhD in a STEM discipline with 8 years of relevant experience
- Must have an active SCI access at the time of application
- Experience leading a software team
- Expert level proficiency in embedded C/C++ development
- Experience with real-time operating systems like VxWorks
- Full-cycle software development proficiency from requirements to testing
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Cost Account Management (CAM)
- Experience working in Agile software development
- Experience with software development leveraging CI/CD pipeline tools such as Jenkins
- Proficiency in creating and maintaining comprehensive software documentation throughout the development lifecycle
#SPEnhancedERAP
Primary Level Salary Range
$177,000.00 - $265,600.00
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.
Equal opportunity and legal notices
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. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.
From Ngc's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on October 26, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.
How Rolev.ai helps with this application
Rolev.ai is a job search and application tool for US job seekers. For this Payload Flight Software Lead - Level 5 role at Ngc, it shows how your resume fits, tailors your resume to the posting, and prepares the application for you to review.
See how you fit
Openings from employer career sites are ranked against your whole resume—and searchable inside Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor via Rolev.ai MCP.
Tailor without inventing
Every change to your resume is checked against your original. New experience goes in only with your yes—zero fabricated claims.
Draft the full kit
Tailored and Full Match resumes, role-specific cover letters, and answers to employer screening questions are prepared in seconds.
1-Click Extension Autofill
The Chrome extension fills the employer's Greenhouse, Workday, Lever, or Ashby form in 1 click. You review it and press Submit.
Common questions
What is the salary for the Payload Flight Software Lead - Level 5 role at Ngc?
The Payload Flight Software Lead - Level 5 posting at Ngc states compensation of $177,000 – $265,600 per year. It is listed as a full-time position. Final pay may depend on location, experience, and interview evaluation on Ngc's official career site.
Where is the Payload Flight Software Lead - Level 5 job at Ngc located?
This Payload Flight Software Lead - Level 5 position at Ngc is located in United States-California-Redondo Beach (On-site). Always check Ngc's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.
What qualifications are required for Payload Flight Software Lead - Level 5 at Ngc?
For the Payload Flight Software Lead - Level 5 role, Ngc highlights 8+ years of relevant experience; a bachelor's degree; experience with Embedded C/C++, Real-time operating systems (VxWorks), Full-cycle software development, Software team leadership, Active SCI clearance. Rolev.ai can score your existing resume against these requirements and show any skill gaps before you apply.
How do I apply for the Payload Flight Software Lead - Level 5 position at Ngc?
This listing links directly to Ngc's Workday application page. You can apply directly on Ngc's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Workday application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.