This position description does not represent a current opening but may be used to identify candidates with skills and experience for positions within Northrop Grumman that frequently become available. Candidates who express an interest may be considered for future positions at Northrop Grumman.
Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector is seeking a Principal/Sr. Principal Software Engineer - Level 3 or 4 to join our team of highly qualified, diverse professionals within the Western Region Software Engineering Directorate. This position is located onsite in Azusa, CA.
The Western Region Software Engineering organization comprises over 800 highly skilled professionals, including Software Engineers, DevOps Engineers, Database Administrators, and Network Engineers, at all levels—ranging from early-career engineers to senior chief engineers and architects. This engineering organization supports 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 job responsibilities of the Principal/Sr. Principal Software Engineer include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Design, develop, integrate, and verify/test software solutions for embedded/real-time systems and ground systems.
• Understand system requirements, how they apply to system design, and implement and debug software to meet defined completion criteria.
• Analyze system capabilities to troubleshoot and resolve issues related to program intent, output requirements, data acquisition, programming methods, and control strategies.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams—including Systems Engineering, Digital Engineering, Hardware, and Integration & Test—in an Agile development environment.
The Software Engineer will work in a rapid, fast-paced program environment and must be a self-starter who can operate effectively in a team setting. Existing engineering and systems specialists will be available to assist with activities associated with executing primary tasking; however, the selected individual will be expected to prioritize work and make recommendations to Technical Leads, as required, to implement assigned tasking.
This requisition may be filled at a higher grade based on the qualifications listed below.
Basic Qualifications – Principal Software Engineer (Level 3):
• Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline with 5+ years of software or relevant engineering experience; Master's degree in a STEM discipline with 3+ years of stated experience; Ph.D. in a STEM discipline with 1+ years of stated experience
• Candidate must have an active SCI at time of application OR an active U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance (or equivalent) at time of application and prior to start date as well as the ability and willingness to obtain and maintain an active SCI prior to start date. Continued employment thereafter will be subject to the candidate’s maintenance of the level of clearance and program access required for the position in the future.
• Strong background in C/C++ development with emphasis in object-oriented and thread-safe programming
• Strong background in integrating and troubleshooting software in a lab environment
• Proficiency with Python
• Prior experience executing in an RTOS environment (i.e., VxWorks, FreeRTOS, RT-Linux, GH Integrity)
• Experience working in Agile software development using the Atlassian Tool Suite (Bitbucket, Jira, Confluence) and Git version control
Basic Qualifications – Sr. Principal Flight Software Engineer (Level 4):
• Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline with 8+ years of software or relevant engineering experience; Master's degree in a STEM discipline with 6+ years of stated experience; Ph.D. in a STEM discipline with 4+ years of stated experience
• Candidate must have an active SCI at time of application OR an active U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance (or equivalent) at time of application and prior to start date as well as the ability and willingness to obtain and maintain an active SCI prior to start date. Continued employment thereafter will be subject to the candidate’s maintenance of the level of clearance and program access required for the position in the future.
• Strong background in C/C++ development with emphasis in object-oriented and thread-safe programming
• Strong background in integrating and troubleshooting software in a lab environment
• Proficiency with Python
• Prior experience executing in an RTOS environment (i.e., VxWorks, FreeRTOS, RT-Linux, GH Integrity)
• Experience working in Agile software development using the Atlassian Tool Suite (Bitbucket, Jira, Confluence) and Git version control
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with software development in Docker containerized environment
- Experience with Shell scripting
- Experience with CCSDS Space Packet Protocol
- Experience with software development leveraging CI/CD pipeline tools such as Jenkins
- Experience developing or interfacing with Optical, RF, or IR payloads
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.
As a full-time employee of Northrop Grumman, you are eligible for:
-Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
-401k
-Educational Assistance
-Life Insurance
-Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions
-Paid Time Off
-Health & Wellness Resources
-Employee Discounts
-Flexible Schedules: for example, the ability to work a 9/80 work schedule, which allows an employee to work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday and take every other Friday off of work.
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#SpaceEngJobs
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Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00The 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 a STEM discipline with 5+ years of software or relevant engineering experience; alternatively, a master's degree with 3+ years or Ph.D. with 1+ years
- For the senior principal level, bachelor's degree with 8+ years, master's degree with 6+ years, or Ph.D. with 4+ years of software or relevant engineering experience
- Active SCI clearance at application, or active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance with ability and willingness to obtain SCI before start
- Strong C/C++ development background, including object-oriented and thread-safe programming
- Strong experience integrating and troubleshooting software in a laboratory environment
- Proficiency with Python
- Experience executing in an RTOS environment such as VxWorks, FreeRTOS, RT-Linux, or Green Hills Integrity
- Experience with Agile software development using Bitbucket, Jira, Confluence, and Git
- Software development in a Docker containerized environment
- Shell scripting experience
- Experience with CCSDS Space Packet Protocol
- Experience using CI/CD pipeline tools such as Jenkins
- Experience developing or interfacing with optical, RF, or IR payloads
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.
