This Systems Engineering position is an engineering support role withing Fault Management and System Autonomy in the Tactical Space Systems Division at Northrop Grumman Space Systems located in Dulles, VA.
The job responsibilities will be as an individual-contributor within a multi-disciplinary engineering team. Successful candidate will perform traditional Systems Engineering functions, including requirements synthesis and flow-down, verification/validation planning, system trades study support, systems analysis, coordination of design efforts, and management of technical budgets & interface definitions. The application of these systems engineering principles will be in the context of fault management and system autonomy. The candidate must be able to assist in the formulation of system design, definition of concept of operations, and systems analysis for failure mode and effects. The candidate will be responsible for identification of these modes and mitigation through autonomous or operational controls. Responsibilities will also include interaction with program, functional and customer leadership.
The candidate must be knowledgeable in aerospace systems, spacecraft subsystems design, or mission operations. Position will also include responsibilities relating to integration, testing, and operational readiness of spacecraft. The engineer will develop original ideas, elaborate on preliminary design concepts, evaluate completed designs with their program/functional supervisors and other technical groups, and make the necessary design modifications to achieve the best design within the program constraints. The candidate may also develop and coordinate the conduct of test programs required to evaluate design work.
Responsibilities/Duties:
- Perform traditional Systems Engineering functions, including requirements synthesis and flow-down, verification/validation planning, system trades study support, systems analysis, coordination of design efforts, and management of technical budgets & interface definitions withing the Fault Management domain.
- Designing, implementing, and validating Fault Management and System Autonomy Flight Software using flight-like simulations and flight hardware.
- Must be knowledgeable in spacecraft subsystem design, spacecraft testing, flight software best practices, and mission operations.
- Candidate may be called on to assist in new business activities, such as conceptual design and analysis for proposals and funded studies and may include authoring sections for both.
- Presentation skills and the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to either technical or nontechnical audiences is required.
- Support and deliver SE Products and other deliverables, with a focus on mission success
- Write status and technical performance reviews, analyses and reports
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelors of Science degree in technical field and 2+ years of experience, or Masters of Science degree in technical field
- Active TS/SCI security clearance requires at time of application
- Experience in Systems Engineering for mission critical applications
- Mission and/or vehicle systems engineering experience
- Software coding or scripting experience
Preferred Qualifications:
- Failure analysis or fault management technical experience
- Experience with Systems Engineering process
- Experience defining requirements & interfaces
- Understanding of spacecraft integration & test, launch, and mission operations
- Experience with human spaceflight vehicle development including integration & test
- Experience developing verification documentation
- Experience with architecture development
- Familiarity with electrical & computer systems
- Familiarity with command and telemetry database
- Strong Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), Python, & Matlab scripting skills
Skills Required
- Bachelor of Science in a technical field with 2+ years experience, or Master of Science in a technical field
- Active TS/SCI security clearance at time of application
- Experience in Systems Engineering for mission critical applications
- Mission and/or vehicle systems engineering experience
- Software coding or scripting experience
- Presentation skills and ability to communicate complex technical concepts to technical or nontechnical audiences
- Knowledgeable in aerospace systems or spacecraft subsystems design or mission operations
- Failure analysis or fault management technical experience
- Experience with Systems Engineering process
- Experience defining requirements and interfaces
- Understanding of spacecraft integration & test, launch, and mission operations
- Experience with human spaceflight vehicle development including integration & test
- Experience developing verification documentation
- Experience with architecture development
- Familiarity with electrical and computer systems
- Familiarity with command and telemetry databases
- Strong Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), Python, and Matlab scripting skills
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.








