The Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems (NGAS), Global Surveillance division is looking for Principal Engineer Software/Senior Principal Engineer Software to join our software team. This position will be located in Melbourne, Florida.
Responsibilities will include deploying, automating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and improving the systems and software infrastructure running smoothly. The role requires you to have hands-on technical experience and a can-do approach towards environment automation and management along with continuous improvements. You will be a team member working in agile development process. You will be responsible for the design and implementation of application builds, releases, deployment along with configuration activities. Your responsibilities will include working with internal business partners to gather requirements, prototyping, and architecting complex solutions supporting the building and test plan execution, performing quality reviews, and triaging and fixing operational issues. The candidate will assist with the integration, troubleshooting and testing of implemented software changes. The ideal candidate will have the ability to take ownership of ambiguous hard problems and drive to a solution, while working in a team environment. It is critical that you understand the software development life cycle and have an in-depth knowledge of automated testing to facilitate and analyze large data sets. The Software Engineer will develop, modify, and maintain customized or standardized applications using software engineering best practices and standards, and participate in the full life cycle of software development, to include requirements development, modeling and design, application development, unit to CSCI testing, integration, formal system testing, release, installation, and maintenance.
The ideal candidate will have the ability to take ownership of hard problems and drive to a solution, while working in a team environment and provide leadership for its implementation. It is critical that you understand the software development life cycle and have an in-depth knowledge of automated testing to facilitate and analyze large data sets. Additional responsibilities will include being able to run the E-2 software and communicate the issues back to the Melbourne team when on travel. The Software Engineer will participate in the full life cycle of software development, to include requirements development, modeling and design, application development, unit to CSCI testing, integration, formal system testing, release, installation, and maintenance. The Software Engineer will apply technical expertise in solving complex integrations problems.
This position requires interfaces between systems analysts/programmers and users located in a specialized area to ensure that information technology designs meet the needs of the end users within an organization. Documents product/service requirements and develop test procedures to ensure user requests are carried out. The Software Engineer will interact with Program Management, and/or government customers. Therefore, excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills are required. A solid experience in bash scripting, C/C++, or other OOP languages, in a Linux environment is required.
**This position may be filled by either a Principal Software Engineer or a Sr. Principal Software Engineer level based on the qualifications listed. **
Basic Qualifications:
(Principal Engineer Software) bachelor’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) discipline and 5 or more years of experience in software engineering OR a Master’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) discipline and 3 or more years of experience in software engineering.
(Sr. Principal Engineer Software) bachelor’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) discipline and 8 or more years of experience in software engineering OR a Master’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) discipline and 6 or more years of experience in software engineering
Development experience developing software in a Linux and Windows environment.
Development experience with debugging software in both the desktop and target environments.
Development experience with software and system test
Experience with Agile software development
Development experience with C/C++ or other OOP languages.
US citizen with ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret level security clearance.
The ability to obtain and maintain special program access is also require.
Preferred Qualifications:
U.S. Citizen and and Active Secret or Top Secret Clearance with issue/reissue in the last 5 years and the ability to obtain and maintain a special program access clearance
Excellent customer interaction skills
Excellent oral and written communication skills and Strong interpersonal skills.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in STEM with 5+ years software engineering experience OR Master's degree in STEM with 3+ years (Principal level)
- Bachelor's degree in STEM with 8+ years software engineering experience OR Master's degree in STEM with 6+ years (Sr. Principal level)
- Development experience in Linux and Windows environments
- Experience debugging software in desktop and target/embedded environments
- Experience with software and system test and automated testing
- Experience with Agile software development processes
- Development experience with C/C++ or other object oriented programming languages
- Proficiency with bash scripting
- U.S. citizen with ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret level security clearance
- Ability to obtain and maintain special program access
- Customer interaction, verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
- Active Secret or Top Secret clearance with recent issue/reissue (preferred)
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.





