Expand your horizons, advance your career, and contribute to a secure future for generations. Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector invites you to bring your pioneering spirit to our collaborative teams. As a Full-Stack Software Engineer (Level 3 or 4), you’ll be a linchpin in missions of paramount importance, defining the art of the possible from day one.
Central Region Software Engineering organization comprises over 200 highly skilled professionals (for Aurora, CO), including Software Engineers, DevOps Engineers, Database Administrators, Systems Administrators, and Network Engineers, at all levels—ranging from early-career engineers to senior chief engineers and architects. These engineering organizations support numerous programs, and we have plenty of opportunities for career advancement into higher level technical roles or leadership positions. Our culture promotes cross-program collaboration, continuous professional development, and a strong sense of community.
The Full-Stack Software Engineer will support a critical national security mission on a contract involving both development and operational components. The team is composed of software developers organized into Agile Scrum teams led by Product Owners and Scrum Masters. The program’s culture is agile, fast-paced, high-performing, proactive, and collaborative, fostering an environment that welcomes new ideas, technologies, and tools to benefit the mission, increase productivity, or enhance product quality. The selected candidate will be joining an NG team of approximately 35 people that is primarily staffed at NG’s facility in Aurora, CO and selected candidate will need to work in-person. The NG program is part of a larger customer program with other companies involved.
The selected candidate will be responsible for identifying and proposing improvement ideas related to technology, processes, architecture, or tooling. Ideal candidates are fast learners who can quickly familiarize themselves with existing codebases. Additionally, as a Full-Stack Software Engineer the candidate will provide support for integration, testing, deployment, and operations and maintenance (O&M) defect resolution in a secure facility on a part-time basis. This ensures that all team members gain insight into the entire software lifecycle and develop a deep understanding of the full program mission. The candidate will primarily develop in Java and should consider themselves strong in this language. Primary software baselines are unclassified and can be worked outside of our secure facilities. If you thrive in this kind of environment, then please apply so we can consider you as a candidate.
Basic Qualifications:
- Level 3: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) discipline with 5+ years of software development experience; Master's degree in a STEM discipline with 3+ years of experience. An additional 4 years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
- Level 4: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) discipline with 8+ years of software development experience; Master's degree in a STEM discipline with 6+ years of experience. An additional 4 years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
- Active Top Secret clearance required at the time of application, with the ability and willingness to obtain then maintain an SCI access.
- Ability to obtain a Counterintelligence Polygraph (CI-Poly), and program special access after starting work.
- Primary experience developing applications in Java
- Experience developing applications in a containerized architecture using Docker and Kubernetes
- Experience with at least one of these three: Apache Kafka, Apache NiFi, or Data Management
- Experience developing applications on a Linux/Unix operating system
- Experience developing applications using Agile principles, processes, and tools
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering
- Active SCI clearance at the time of application
- Prior completed Counterintelligence Polygraph (CI-Poly)
- At least 3 years of experience developing object-oriented applications in Java
- At least 3 years of experience developing applications on Linux/Unix operating systems including proficiency with OS commands and shell scripting
- At least 1 year of experience developing in environment using Docker and Kubernetes
- Experience within the US Space Industry
- Experience effectively communicating and presenting technical concepts to program management and customers
- Experience writing clear, detailed, and effective technical documentation
- Experience sharing knowledge, providing mentorship, and working in a collaborative team environment
- Experience in designing, analyzing, and troubleshooting large-scale distributed software systems
- Active Security+ certification (or equivalent)
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline (or equivalent experience) with 5+ years (Level 3) or 8+ years (Level 4) of software development experience
- Active Top Secret clearance required at time of application, with ability and willingness to obtain and maintain SCI access
- Ability to obtain a Counterintelligence Polygraph (CI-Poly) and program special access after starting work
- Primary experience developing applications in Java
- Experience developing applications in a containerized architecture using Docker and Kubernetes
- Experience with at least one of: Apache Kafka, Apache NiFi, or Data Management
- Experience developing applications on a Linux/Unix operating system
- Experience developing applications using Agile principles, processes, and tools
- Must work in-person at Northrop Grumman facility in Aurora, CO
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering
- Active SCI clearance at time of application
- Prior completed Counterintelligence Polygraph (CI-Poly)
- At least 3 years of experience developing object-oriented applications in Java
- At least 3 years of experience on Linux/Unix including proficiency with OS commands and shell scripting
- At least 1 year of experience using Docker and Kubernetes
- Experience within the US Space Industry
- Experience effectively communicating and presenting technical concepts to program management and customers
- Experience writing clear, detailed, and effective technical documentation
- Experience sharing knowledge, providing mentorship, and working in a collaborative team environment
- Experience designing, analyzing, and troubleshooting large-scale distributed software systems
- Active Security+ certification (or equivalent)
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.







