Embedded Software Engineer – Level 3 or 4

Posted Yesterday
Be an Early Applicant
Dulles, VA, USA
In-Office
114K-213K Annually
Senior level
Aerospace • Logistics • Security • Software • Cybersecurity
The Role
Develop, integrate, and test embedded flight software and device drivers for spacecraft systems. Work with hardware interfaces (e.g., MIL-STD-1553, SpaceWire, SPI, UART), BSPs, simulation and hardware-in-the-loop platforms. Collaborate with multi-discipline teams to define requirements, perform trade studies, optimize system resources, document designs, and support CI/CD, DevSecOps, and tooling for deployments in a classified, on-site environment.
Summary Generated by Built In
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: SCI

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.

If forging a secure future 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 Dulles, VA will be pivotal in supporting missions critical to national and global security.

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 National Space Security programs. The individual we seek will be self-motivated, proactive, and goal-oriented.

This work does require a TS/SCI clearance and will primarily be performed in a SCIF environment.  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. [completed Aerospace/Electrical/Computer/Software Engineering or related STEM field degree required]

  • Requires an active U.S. Government Top-Secret [TS] security clearance and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)[TS/SCI] at time of application, current and within scope, with the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval/access within a reasonable amount of time [US citizenship required]

  • Must be willing and able to favorably succeed a Counterintelligence polygraph

  • Must have experience in Python/Linux/Git.

  • Must have excellent communication skills and be capable of presenting technical concepts to a diverse group of engineers.

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

  • Experience working with Docker containers and Helm charts.

  • Experience with Kubernetes (K8s)/Docker.

  • Experience with AWS.

  • Experience with Gitlab workflows.

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

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.  [completed Aerospace/Electrical/Computer/Software Engineering or related STEM field degree required]

  • Requires an active U.S. Government Top-Secret [TS] security clearance and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)[TS/SCI] at time of application, current and within scope, with the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval/access within a reasonable amount of time [US citizenship required]

  • Must be willing and able to favorably succeed a Counterintelligence polygraph

  • Advanced programming proficiency with: C/C++, Python.

  • Advanced programming proficiency with MATLAB.

  • Excellent communication skills and ability to work in small teams.

  • Ability to debug hardware and software.

  • Ability to use software revision control tools such as Subversion and Git.

  • Ability to clearly document and present technical and programmatic status to management.

Preferred Qualifications:    

  • Active SAP

  • Favorably adjudicated CI or FS polygraph

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

  • 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 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

Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:

https://www.northropgrumman.com/space

Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.

Northrop Grumman Total Rewards 

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.

Skills Required

  • Completed Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Computer, Software Engineering or related STEM field (or advanced degree per level requirements)
  • Level 3 experience: Bachelors + 5 years OR Masters + 3 years OR PhD + 1 year
  • Level 4 experience: Bachelors + 8 years OR Masters + 6 years OR PhD + 4 years
  • Active U.S. Top-Secret (TS) security clearance with SCI access at time of application
  • U.S. citizenship required
  • Willing and able to successfully complete a Counterintelligence polygraph
  • Experience with Python
  • Experience with Linux
  • Experience with Git and software revision control (Subversion/Git)
  • Experience with Docker and Helm charts
  • Experience with Kubernetes (K8s)
  • Experience with AWS
  • Experience with GitLab workflows and CI/CD pipelines
  • Advanced programming proficiency with C/C++ and Python (Level 4)
  • Advanced programming proficiency with MATLAB (Level 4)
  • Ability to debug hardware and software and integrate flight software on simulation and hardware-in-the-loop platforms
  • Develop embedded software interacting with hardware protocols: UART, synchronous serial, MIL-STD-1553, SpaceWire, SPI, discrete digital and analog IO
  • Prepare design documentation, analysis, and test results and present technical information

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.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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

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The Company
HQ: Charlotte, North Carolina
85,636 Employees

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.

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