Principal/Sr. Principal Cloud Engineer (AHT)

About the role

• RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
• CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
• CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret
• 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 Defense Systems (NGDS) is seeking a Principal / Sr. Principal Engineer to help shape and sustain the cloud infrastructure that powers the National Space Intelligence Center at Wright‑Patterson AFB. In this role, you’ll be at the heart of mission‑critical work, partnering directly with senior leadership and technical stakeholders to design, implement, and enhance modern cloud capabilities that support national security.

You’ll join a collaborative, high‑impact team where your ideas matter, your expertise is valued, and your work has a clear connection to the mission.

What You’ll Do

• Maintain, implement, and enhance cloud infrastructure supporting the National Space Intelligence Center
• Work closely with senior leadership, providing trusted technical guidance and support
• Participate in Agile development and full life cycle engineering, from design through deployment and sustainment
• Interface with multiple stakeholders and clearly communicate project status, risks, and blockers
• Help drive cloud adoption, modernization, and best practices in a rapidly evolving environment

Successful candidates

• Are effective communicators and problem solvers who build strong relationships with internal stakeholders
• Are comfortable working in Agile teams and navigating full life cycle development
• Can coordinate across diverse stakeholders and clearly articulate technical concepts and project progress

Basic Qualifications

Principal Engineer (Level 3)

• Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree with 3+ years of relevant experience

Sr. Principal Engineer (Level 4)

• Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree with 6+ years of relevant experience

Additional required qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI)
• Ability to obtain IAT Level II certification per DoD 8570.01 (e.g., CASP+ or Security+) within 60 days of start
• Deep experience with core infrastructure components:
• Networking, storage, Linux/Windows, and IT security concepts
• Strong technical knowledge of cloud platforms:
• AWS, Azure, and/or Google Cloud
• Expertise with:
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
• Containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Microservices architectures
• Experience with networking in cloud and on‑prem environments
• 3+ years of scripting experience in Bash or PowerShell
• Hands‑on experience with Agile methodologies and tools (Atlassian suite: Jira, Confluence)
• Strong interpersonal, problem‑solving, organizational, and multi‑tasking skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• CompTIA Security+ certification or IAT Level II equivalent per DoD 8570.01
• Cloud platform certifications (associate level or above), such as:
• AWS Solutions Architect Associate (or higher)
• Azure Administrator Associate (or higher)
• Google Cloud Engineer (or higher)
• Expertise leveraging git‑based workflows for code management (e.g., ArgoCD, Flux, GitLab)
• Experience administering cloud‑based networking (ACLs, Security Groups, WAF)
• Demonstrated experience in:
• Cloud adoption and modernization initiatives
• Environment prototyping and proof‑of‑concepts
• Data migration to cloud platforms
• Knowledge of account management and identity solutions (RBAC, AWS IAM, Azure AD)

#CWI2026

Primary Level Salary Range

$103,600.00 - $155,400.00

Secondary Level Salary Range

$129,300.00 - $193,900.00

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.