Northrop Grumman Space Systems Sector’s Central Region Software Engineering organization is seeking a Principal or Sr Principal Systems Administrator - Workflow Engineer to support mission-critical environments in Aurora, Colorado.
The ideal candidate will combine strong systems administration skills (Windows and Linux) with experience configuring and maintaining Atlassian tools and containerized services, as well as identity and access management technologies. This role is hands-on and requires the ability to design, implement, secure, and sustain complex workflows and infrastructure in a high-availability, classified environment.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Administer, configure, and harden Windows and Linux servers supporting mission-critical applications and workflows
- Configure, maintain, and optimize Atlassian tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket) to support engineering and operational processes
- Design, deploy, and manage containerized workloads, including Kubernetes clusters and associated services
- Manage identity and access services by leveraging IPA and Active Directory for secure authentication and authorization
- Develop scripts and automation (BASH/Python) to streamline operations, patching, and workflow execution
- Provide Tier 2/3 support, perform root cause analysis, and maintain clear technical documentation and runbooks
This position can be staffed at a Principal or Sr Principal level based on the basic qualifications below.
Basic Qualifications
- Principal: Bachelor’s degree in science with 5+ years of relevant experience; 3+ years with a Master’s; or 4 additional years of experience in lieu of a degree
- Sr Principal: Bachelor’s degree in science with 8+ years of relevant experience; 6+ years with a Master’s; or 4 years with a PhD; 4 additional years may be considered in lieu of a degree
- Must have an active U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with the ability to obtain and maintain SCI approval/access.
- Current Security+ certification
- Hands-on experience administering and configuring Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket or similar)
- Experience with containerization and Kubernetes setup/configuration in production or mission environments
- Strong Windows and Linux system administration experience, including IPA/Active Directory integration and troubleshooting
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with OS patching strategies and tooling across Windows and Linux environments
- Scripting proficiency in BASH and Python for automation, integration, and workflow orchestration
- VMware experience (ESXi, vCenter) including provisioning and managing virtualized infrastructure
- VDI experience (e.g., VMware Horizon, Citrix) for design, deployment, and support of virtual desktop environments
- Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code or configuration management (e.g., Ansible, Terraform) and security hardening best practices
#SPEnhancedERAP
Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00The 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
- Bachelor’s degree in science with 5+ years of relevant experience for Principal level
- Bachelor’s degree in science with 8+ years of relevant experience for Sr Principal level
- 3+ years of relevant experience with a Master’s degree for Principal level
- 6+ years of relevant experience with a Master’s degree for Sr Principal level
- 4 years of relevant experience with a PhD for Sr Principal level
- Active U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance, current and within scope
- Ability to obtain and maintain SCI approval/access
- Current Security+ certification
- Hands-on experience administering and configuring Atlassian tools such as Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket
- Experience with containerization and Kubernetes setup and configuration in production or mission environments
- Strong Windows and Linux systems administration experience
- Experience integrating and troubleshooting IPA and Active Directory
- Experience with operating system patching strategies and tooling across Windows and Linux environments
- Bash and Python scripting proficiency for automation, integration, and workflow orchestration
- VMware ESXi and vCenter experience, including virtualized infrastructure provisioning and management
- VDI experience with VMware Horizon or Citrix
- Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code or configuration management tools such as Ansible or Terraform
- Familiarity with security hardening best practices
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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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage offers multiple medical plan options by region alongside dental, vision, mental‑health resources, and wellness programs. Recent materials also highlight added family‑building support, including a dedicated fertility benefit.
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Retirement Support — The 401(k) savings plan is positioned as competitive with a company match, auto‑escalation features, and access to an employee stock fund/ESPP. Official filings and benefits guides emphasize retirement as a core element of the Total Rewards package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Many sites offer a 9/80 schedule, generous PTO, paid holidays, and flexible/telework options where program needs allow. Paid parental and caregiver leave are prominently featured, with recent enhancements for the delivering parent.
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.

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