Sr Principal Engineer Systems (26-465)

About the role

• RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available
• CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
• CLEARANCE TYPE: 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 Space Systems—Missile Defense Integration offers an excellent opportunity for a Sr Principal Engineer Systems (26-465) to join our team of skilled and diverse professionals. Based in Huntsville, AL, this role is essential to supporting the U.S. President, the Secretary of Defense, and combatant commanders at the strategic, regional, and operational levels.

This position does not provide relocation assistance and requires on-site work with no remote options.

Position Overview

The Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) program is a key component of the Missile Defense System.

This vital operational system enables the U.S. president, the Secretary of Defense, and combatant commanders at the strategic, regional, and operational levels to systematically plan ballistic missile defense operations, collectively monitor the battle, and dynamically control networked sensors and weapon systems to achieve global and regional mission goals.

C2BMC supports layered missile defense capabilities, enabling an optimized response to threats across all ranges and flight phases. It serves as a force multiplier by networking, integrating, and synchronizing autonomous sensor and weapon systems and operations, both globally and regionally, to improve performance.

C2BMC is essential to all ground and flight tests that verify and demonstrate the current and future capabilities of missile defense systems.

Essential Functions

• Focused primarily on software development, including building post-processing analysis tools and visualizations to assess C2BMC performance
• Translate existing MATLAB tools into Java; write high-performance Java and Python code; refactor legacy components to improve scalability, latency, and resource utilization
• Conduct deep-dive performance studies, generate actionable insights, and recommend architectural or algorithmic improvements
• Develop and support the Jenkins/HTCondor automation platform by creating, maintaining, and troubleshooting pipeline jobs, scripts, and plugins
• Collaborate across teams to understand and conduct high-level analysis of C2BMC performance
• Prepare and present analytical documents or briefs
• Keep up with emerging Java and Python performance techniques, CI/CD tools, and database technologies, and proactively introduce improvements

Basic Qualifications

Please list your current security clearance and IAT or relevant certifications on your resume, if applicable.

• A Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field from an accredited university, along with 8 years of experience; or a Master’s degree (preferred) in a STEM-related field with 6 years of relevant work experience; or a PhD in a related discipline with 4 years of work experience
• Applicants must have a current, active in-scope Government-issued Secret security clearance at the time of application, which is required to start
• Willingness to travel 10% of the time for business needs
• Relevant hands-on experience in software engineering, along with skills in programming languages such as Java, C++, and Python; database management; and networking or data communications
• Experience using Microsoft Office including PowerPoint, Word, and Excel

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering is highly preferred
• Certification: INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) Certification
• Certification: Object Management Group Certified Systems Modeling Professional - Model Builder Fundamental (OCSMP - MBF)
• Experience developing tools and products to support the analysis or assessment of a system or project is preferred, particularly in Java and Python
• Experience with DevOps-related tools such as Jenkins, HTCondor, and GitLab is preferred
• Experience applying statistical distributions to hypothesis testing, model validation, inferential statistics, confidence interval estimation, and interpreting goodness-of-fit tests is preferred
• Experience in systems engineering for DoD Information Systems is desirable
• Experience creating and briefing chart packages for tooling or analysis

Pay and benefits

Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a supportive work environment that encourages your growth, benefiting both employees and the company. The benefits are flexible and customizable, enabling you to choose options that suit your individual and family needs. Your benefits will include the following:

• Health Plan
• Savings Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Education Assistance
• Training and Development
• Flexible Work Arrangements
• #NGSpace
• #COSpace
• #NGFeaturedJobs
• #C2BMC

Primary Level Salary Range

$135,800.00 - $203,600.00

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.