Embedded Software Engineer – Level 3 or 4

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: None

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescription

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.

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.

If lunar exploration and moonbase building excites you, look no further! Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector provides an arena where your passion for innovation and quest for exploration are welcome. As a Embedded Software Engineer – Level 3 or 4 your role at Mclean, VA will be pivotal in supporting Lunar Base Infrastructure to NASA.

Ready to join forces with our visionary team?  

This Embedded Software Engineer will join our team of qualified, diverse individuals in the Space Systems organization developing space flight software platforms for Civil Commercial and National Space Security programs. The individual we seek will be self-motivated, proactive, and goal-oriented.

This work is unclassified but does require the ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance.  This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.  This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develop embedded software modules that can interact directly with hardware protocols and interfaces including UART, Synchronous Serial, MIL-STD-1553, SPACEWIRE, SPI, discrete digital and analog IO.

• Work with other disciplines to establish Flight-Software requirements, testing and verification plan.

• Develop and configure board support packages (BSPs) and integrate device drivers.

• Performs trade studies via computer simulation or kits & development boards.

• Work with multiple engineers to integrate spacecraft components and flight software with the simulation platform.

• Be involved in the hardware definition and software design, development, debug and integration on simulation and hardware-in-the-loop platforms.

• Analyze system resources to enhance efficiency, stability, and processing speed.

• Prepare design documentation, analysis, test results and presentation materials for internal and external customers.

• Work with software developers and other engineers, as needed, to help diagnose and identify the root cause of problems found during software installation, integration, acceptance test, and operational events.

• Work in an innovative environment across diverse assignments and in collaborative team settings across all levels.

• Other duties as assigned.

If this job description reads like it was written specifically for you, consider joining our team!

This position is contingent upon the candidate obtaining final clearances and program access(es) within a reasonable period of time as determined by the company.

This position can be filled at either a Level 3 or Level 4.

Basic Qualifications for Level 3:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace/Electrical/Computer/Software Engineering or related STEM field with 5 years of relevant professional experience – OR – Master’s degree in Aerospace/Electrical/Computer/Software Engineering or related STEM field with 3 years of relevant professional experience – OR – PhD in Aerospace/Electrical/Computer/Software Engineering or related STEM field with 1 year of relevant professional experience.

• Requires ability to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Government Top-Secret [TS] security clearance and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)[TS/SCI]; U.S. citizenship required

• Must have experience in C/Python/Linux/Git.

• Experience with Software development unit/functional test frameworks, Verification test scripting on hardware platforms.

• Experience with Kubernetes (K8s)/Docker.

• Experience with Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines.

• Experience in collaborating within an integrated team of systems, software, and specialty engineers to develop solutions.

• Experience with Software development unit/functional test frameworks, Verification test scripting on hardware platforms.

Basic Qualifications for Level 4:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace/Electrical/Computer/Software Engineering or related STEM field with 8 years of relevant professional experience – OR – Master’s degree in Aerospace/Electrical/Computer/Software Engineering or related STEM field with 6 years of relevant professional experience – OR – PhD in Aerospace/Electrical/Computer/Software Engineering or related STEM field with 4 years of relevant professional experience.  

• Requires ability to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Government Top-Secret [TS] security clearance and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)[TS/SCI]; U.S. citizenship required

• Must have experience in C/Python/Linux/Git.

• Experience with Software development unit/functional test frameworks, Verification test scripting on hardware platforms.

• Experience with Kubernetes (K8s)/Docker.

• Experience with Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines.

• Experience in collaborating within an integrated team of systems, software, and specialty engineers to develop solutions.

• Experience with Software development unit/functional test frameworks, Verification test scripting on hardware platforms.

Preferred Qualifications:   

• Current and within scope active U.S. Government TS/SCI current and within scope with the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval/access.

• System knowledge in one or more of the following domains: Spacecraft Command & Control, Mission Planning, Space Situational Awareness and Visualization.

• Experience with ethernet with embedded systems.

• Familiarity with static code analysis tools such as: Coverity, SonarQube, and Fortify.

• Hardware interfacing, integration and test and controls experience.

• Understanding of common embedded system tools, real-time operating systems (RTOS) VxWorks 6.9/7.0 and avionics integration and test practices.

• Ability to integrate Flight-Software using simulation models of sensors, actuators and space environments to demonstrate closed-loop spacecraft system performance, general integration and test of aerospace systems.

• Understanding of Jenkins, Jira (Agile, Scrum and Kanban), Bitbucket and related DevSecOps tools.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal skills, and the ability to interface with all levels of employees and management

• Experience developing software in a Linux OS environment

• Experience with National Instruments data acquisition cards.

• Ability to read schematics, and work with components datasheets.

• Experience with Digital, Analog, RS-422 synchronous serial and UART, MIL-STD-1553, SpaceWire electrical interfaces

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00

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.

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.