Sr Principal Software Engineer secret clearance

About the role

• RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be 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.

This position description does not represent a current opening but may be used to identify candidates with skills and experience for positions within Northrop Grumman that frequently become available. Candidates who express an interest may be considered for future positions at Northrop Grumman.

Northrop Grumman is seeking Sr Principal Software Engineers for the GCCS-J program.

GCCS‑J is the DoD’s Joint Command and Control system of record, delivering a fused, real‑time battlespace picture to commanders and warfighters. The Product Owner will act as the subject‑matter expert and project lead, driving the development, enhancement, and sustainment of GCCS‑J product areas (Situational Awareness, Infrastructure, and Intelligence). The incumbent will own the product vision, roadmap, and backlog, champion user‑centered design, and ensure delivery of high‑value capabilities using Agile/Scrum practices.

The Senior Software Engineer leads the design, development, integration, and optimization of data-driven software capabilities supporting the modernization of the Global Command and Control System–Joint (GCCS-J). This role provides technical leadership across the full software lifecycle, ensuring scalable architectures, robust data workflows, and mission-aligned software solutions that enhance operational decision-making.

This position is contingent upon contract award, budget, and/or customer approval. This position description does not represent a current opening but may be used to identify candidates with skills and experience for positions within Northrop Grumman that frequently become available. Candidates who express an interest may be considered for future positions at Northrop Grumman.

If you do not meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Sometimes people hesitate because they cannot tick every box. If this opportunity interests you and you believe you could grow into the role, we would like to hear from you.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related STEM field with 8 years’ experience or a Master’s degree with 6 years’ experience.
• 7+ years of software engineering experience.
• Strong experience with Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, and object-oriented design.
• Proficiency in REST services and event/messaging platforms (Kafka, RabbitMQ, ActiveMQ, GraphQL, SSEs, etc.).
• Experience with SQL, NoSQL, geospatial, and key/object databases.
• Proficiency with JavaScript frameworks (Vue.js, Angular, React).
• Experience designing and implementing software architectures.
• Familiarity with Linux/UNIX and containerized deployments.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.
• U.S. citizenship and an active Secret clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Spring Boot, Node.js, NPM, and modern IDEs.
• Experience writing Ansible plays and playbooks.
• Experience with Maven, Gradle, Jenkins, and automated testing tools.
• Familiarity with UX best practices and UI frameworks.
• Experience with Docker, OCI development, Kubernetes, Helm, and GitOps.
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies, C2 systems, STIGs, and static analysis tools.
• Knowledge of networking, performance testing, debugging, and Atlassian tools.
• Background in military intelligence or strategic planning.
• Knowledge of DoD policies and mission environments.
• TS/SCI clearance.

Primary 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.