Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Software Engineer or Principal Software Engineer position to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals onsite in El Segundo, CA.
AccomplishYou will report to the Advanced Autonomy Team and will be a key member of their mission autonomy software integration and test group working with unmanned autonomous aircraft platforms and their support systems.
In this role you will work on end-to-end integration of the mission autonomy stack. You will define and execute system-level integration and test strategies across simulation, SIL/HIL, and on the Talon IQ platform. You will also drive root cause analysis and propose resolutions to software issues as well as collaborate to resolve them. Develop comprehensive test plans and verification criteria. Provide vision and implement an automated test framework and CI/CD integration pipeline to support development and testing. Oversee scenario testing, coordinate software releases and mission autonomy flight test campaign on Talon IQ. Provide clear reporting on system maturity, risk, and readiness for deployment.
SucceedThe individual we seek will be self-motivated, proactive, goal-oriented to help us grow our services, become even better at what we do and will possess the following qualifications.
**This role may be filled at either the Software Engineer or a Principal Software Engineer level based on the qualifications below.**
Basic Qualifications:Engineer Software: Must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline with 2 years of engineering related experience or a Masters in STEM with 0 years of related engineering experience
Principal Engineer: Must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM discipline with 5 years of engineering related experience or a Masters in STEM with 3 years of related engineering experience
Experience with Python, C++, and Linux based development environments
Experience with Object Oriented Programming concepts, and test-driven development practices
Experience with Agile best practices and processes.
Knowledge of software engineering practices and patterns for the full software/hardware/network development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, and testing
Experience integrating containerized software using open standards such as OCI (Open Container Initiative)
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience implementing integrating or testing on-board mission system software.
- Experience developing or integrating Mission Autonomy software for tasking, routing, or other behaviors
- Experience with Government Reference Architectures like OMS/UCI and A-GRA
- Knowledge or experience with software infrastructure as code for technologies such as (Kubernetes/K3s, Podman/Docker, Helm, etc.)
- Experience with Operating System fundamentals such as memory management, scheduling, and concurrency.
At Northrop Grumman we are invested in the growth and well-being off all our employees. We offer flexible work arrangements, phenomenal learning opportunities, exposure to a wide variety of projects and customers, and a very friendly team environment.
Our Total Rewards Program offers a comprehensive employee benefits package, including a Retirement and Savings Plan, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts.
If you are ready to join us in defining possible, apply now.
Primary Level Salary Range: $91,800.00 - $137,600.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00The 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.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. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.Skills Required
- Bachelor's in STEM with 2 years engineering experience (Software Engineer) or Bachelor's in STEM with 5 years (Principal) / Master's variants as listed
- Experience with Python, C++, and Linux development environments
- Experience with Object Oriented Programming concepts and test-driven development practices
- Experience with Agile best practices and processes
- Knowledge of software engineering practices: coding standards, code reviews, source control, build processes, and testing
- Experience integrating containerized software using open standards such as OCI
- Ability to obtain and maintain a US Government clearance and Special Access Program (SAP)
- Experience implementing, integrating, or testing onboard mission system software
- Experience developing or integrating mission autonomy software for tasking, routing, or behaviors
- Experience with Government reference architectures like OMS/UCI and A-GRA
- Knowledge or experience with infrastructure-as-code technologies (Kubernetes/K3s, Podman/Docker, Helm)
- Experience with operating system fundamentals (memory management, scheduling, concurrency)
Northrop Grumman Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Northrop Grumman and has not been reviewed or approved by Northrop Grumman.
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Retirement Support — 401(k) matching is considered strong, with additional defined-benefit coverage for certain cohorts and options like catch-up contributions. Retirement programs are repeatedly highlighted as a core strength of the total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — PTO, company-paid holidays, and compressed work schedules (such as 9/80) provide meaningful time away and flexibility. These scheduling options are cited as a major quality-of-life benefit across many locations.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave alongside caregiver leave, adoption assistance, and back-up care supports a range of family needs. These programs have been expanded recently, signaling continued investment in family support.
Northrop Grumman Insights
What We Do
We are a close-knit community of big thinkers collaborating to keep the world safe. Our passion, creativity and expertise bring next-level technology solutions to life in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, space, and logistics and modernization for our customers around the globe. On the Northrop Grumman team, you’ll join our pursuit of excellence immersed in a dynamic culture of innovation and respect. Your unique perspective will help achieve our shared vision for the future of global security. Every step of the way, you'll be supported by world-class training, employee resource groups and a comprehensive benefits package that enables greater health and happiness for you and your family. Worldwide and across disciplines, we’re challenging what’s possible for technology to protect people and places from undersea to outer space and into cyberspace. And we see the impact of our performance every day. We are Northrop Grumman, and we work on what matters—now, you too can make a difference. Explore opportunities in engineering, IT, manufacturing, business management, cybersecurity and more with us. Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.








