Staff Chief Engineer - Mission Software

About the role

• RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
• CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
• CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret
• TRAVEL: Yes, 25% 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.

Position Description

The Staff Chief Engineer – Mission Software Designs, develops, documents, tests and debugs applications software and systems that contain logical and mathematical solutions. Conducts multidisciplinary research and collaborates with equipment designers and/or hardware engineers in the planning, design, development, and utilization of electronic data processing systems for product and commercial software.

Determines computer user needs; analyzes system capabilities to resolve problems on program intent, output requirements, input data acquisition, programming techniques and controls; prepares operating instructions; designs and develops compilers and assemblers, utility programs, and operating systems. Ensures software standards are met.

The Staff Chief Engineer – Mission Software is the senior technical authority for a complex mission system segment, responsible for the overall design and technical baseline of common software supporting multiple sensors and mission applications.

This role leads the definition and evolution of the mission software architecture—including multi‑sensor data ingestion and fusion, TCPED workflows, telemetry, and health and status services—and ensures delivered capabilities meet mission, performance, cyber, schedule, and cost objectives.

The Chief Engineer works closely with the Program Manager, Engineering Program Manager, SEIT Lead, product owners, and functional managers, and collaborates with operations, customer representatives, mission partners, and suppliers to drive the program through technical maturity and major milestones.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the mission software architecture, interfaces, and CONOPS for common capabilities.
• Own and maintain the technical baseline and roadmap, aligned to mission and program objectives.
• Lead development, allocation, and verification of system and segment‑level requirements; ensure traceability to customer needs and mission threads.
• Coordinate with program management, engineering program management, systems/software engineering, operations, and I&T to ensure the architecture and implementation meet requirements.
• Lead and participate in major technical reviews (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, ORR, FRR), resolving technical issues, risks, and actions.
• Guide integration and test strategy, including use of simulation/emulation and automated testing to verify end‑to‑end mission threads.
• Identify and evaluate new technologies (e.g., cloud, microservices, data frameworks) to enhance mission capabilities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customer counterparts and internal stakeholders; communicate technical status and recommendations to leadership.
• Support capture and proposal efforts with solution architecture, BOEs, and technical content for new and follow‑on business.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 12+ years of related professional/military experience; OR STEM Master’s with 10+ years; OR STEM PhD with 8+ years.
• Working knowledge of systems engineering principles and processes, including requirements development and verification.
• Working knowledge of general-purpose programming languages (Python, Golang, Typescript, Javascript) and SQL
• Demonstrated experience as a Chief Engineer, SEIT Lead, System Architect, or major segment Technical Lead on a large, multi‑disciplinary program.
• Experience with mission software systems, including one or more of:
• Multi‑sensor data ingestion and processing
• Data fusion/correlation or track/information fusion
• TCPED or comparable mission workflows
• Telemetry, health and status, or system monitoring.
• Experience with cloud‑based and/or virtualized architectures, and containerized microservices (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift) in mission environments.
• Experience leading requirements development, testing, and verification, using tools such as DOORS or equivalent.
• Experience with Agile development and engineering collaboration tools (e.g., JIRA, Confluence, or equivalents).
• Familiarity with DevSecOps toolchains and practices.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including experience presenting technical information to customers and senior leadership.
• Active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance (background investigation within the past 6 years or enrolled in Continuous Evaluation) and ability to obtain and maintain SCI within a reasonable timeframe.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active U.S. Government Top Secret/SCI
• Master’s degree or PhD in a related STEM discipline.
• Prior experience as a segment‑level or program‑level Chief Engineer or Chief Architect on mission system, C2, sensor fusion, or ISR/TCPED programs.
• Experience applying Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) (e.g., SysML/UML, Cameo) to support architecture design and development.
• Experience with data‑intensive, distributed systems (real‑time/near‑real‑time processing, streaming/data frameworks, high‑availability architectures).
• Security+ or equivalent (IAT Level II) certification.
• AWS Cloud Practitioner or equivalent certification.
• Experience working in a SAFe Agile (Scaled Agile Framework) environment (e.g., ARTs, PI planning, multi‑team coordination).
• Experience with RMF/ATO processes and implementing cybersecurity controls in operational systems.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills; ability to operate in a fast‑paced environment, resolve conflict, and maintain strong customer relationships.
• Experience leading geographically distributed teams and managing supplier/subcontractor technical performance.

Primary Level Salary Range

$161,000.00 - $241,400.00

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.