Northrop Grumman Space Systems—Missile Defense Integration offers an excellent opportunity for a Principal Software Engineer – SW Systems Engineer (26-298) to join our team of skilled and diverse professionals. Based in Huntsville, AL, this role is essential to supporting the U.S. President, the Secretary of Defense, and combatant commanders at the strategic, regional, and operational levels.
This position does not provide relocation assistance and requires on-site work with no remote options.
Position Overview:
The Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) program is a key component of the Missile Defense System. It is a vital operational system that enables the U.S. president, the secretary of defense, and combatant commanders at strategic, regional, and operational levels to systematically plan ballistic missile defense operations, monitor the battle, and dynamically control networked sensors and weapon systems to achieve global and regional mission goals. C2BMC supports layered missile defense capabilities that enable an optimized response to threats across all ranges and flight phases. It serves as a force multiplier by networking, integrating, and synchronizing autonomous sensor and weapon systems and operations, both globally and regionally, to improve performance. C2BMC is essential for all ground and flight tests that verify and demonstrate the current and future capabilities of missile defense systems.
This position is for a Software Systems Engineer supporting the C2BMC program, with a focus on system design, technical decision-making, and the integration of software-intensive capabilities within an Agile Scrum Team. Your contributions will shape the software behavior of the C2BMC Battle Management components, directly impacting national security and defense capabilities.
Essential Functions:
- Lead and support system-level design activities for software-intensive components, including defining behavior, data flows, and interfaces
- Conduct technical analysis to assess design options, recognize potential risks, and enable informed decisions
- Translate system requirements into logical architecture, algorithmic approaches, and implementable software designs
- Support integration efforts by analyzing system interactions, resolving interface issues, and ensuring end-to-end functionality
- Conduct trade studies and design evaluations to assess alternative solutions and recommend optimal approaches
- Collaborate closely with software, systems, and integration teams to ensure design alignment, effective implementation, and operational readiness, emphasizing teamwork and technical coordination.
- Develop and maintain technical documentation, including design descriptions, interface definitions, and analysis results
- Support verification and validation planning by defining expected system behavior and performance criteria
- Participate in Agile team activities, providing technical guidance during planning, design reviews, and execution
Basic Qualifications:
Please list your current security clearance and IAT or relevant certifications on your resume, if applicable.
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field from an accredited university, along with 5 years of experience; or a Master’s degree in a related field with 3 years of relevant work experience; or 9 years of relevant work experience may be considered as an alternative to a degree
- Applicants must hold an active in-scope DoD-issued Secret security clearance at the time of application, which is essential for employment consideration and starting the role
- Experience applying systems engineering principles to the design and analysis of complex systems
- Ability to interpret requirements and drive them into practical, well-reasoned design solutions
- Experience working in integrated teams across systems, software, and specialty engineering disciplines
- Familiarity with systems engineering artifacts such as requirements, interface definitions, use cases, and architecture descriptions
- Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Experience in systems engineering, software systems engineering, or related technical field
- Experience with engineering and collaboration tools such as Git, JIRA, Confluence, and standard development environments
- Ability to understand and evaluate software implementations without requiring primary responsibility for coding
- Understanding of system integration challenges, data flows, and interface control
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with algorithms, analysis, and design within command and control (C2) systems
- Strong background in system design, architecture, or technical analysis
- Experience working with algorithms, data processing, or performance-driven systems
- Experience with system integration and interface development
- Familiarity with software development environments (Unix/Linux, Windows)
- Experience conducting trade studies, design evaluations, or analysis of alternatives
- Experience working in Agile development environments
- Experience supporting large, distributed, or multi-team development efforts
- Experience in the Ballistic Missile Defense domain or closely related areas such as Air Defense, Radar Systems, Missile Systems, or Integrated Air and Missile Defense
- Experience with programs or systems such as C2BMC, GMD, Missile Defense Agency, THAAD, Aegis Combat System, or IBCS
- Familiarity with sensor management, track processing, engagement planning, or fire control concepts
What We Can Offer You:
Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a supportive work environment that encourages your growth, benefiting both employees and the company. The benefits are flexible and customizable, enabling you to choose options that suit your individual and family needs. Your benefits will include the following:
- Health Plan
- Savings Plan
- Paid Time Off
- Education Assistance
- Training and Development
- Flexible Work Arrangements
https://benefits.northropgrumman.com/us/en2/BenefitsOverview/Pages/default.aspx
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Primary Level Salary Range: $108,800.00 - $163,200.00The 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 Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or related field with 5 years experience; OR Master's with 3 years experience; OR 9 years relevant experience in lieu of degree
- Active in-scope DoD-issued Secret security clearance at time of application
- Experience applying systems engineering principles to design and analysis of complex systems
- Ability to interpret requirements and drive them into practical design solutions
- Experience working in integrated teams across systems, software, and specialty engineering disciplines
- Familiarity with systems engineering artifacts: requirements, interface definitions, use cases, architecture descriptions
- Experience with engineering and collaboration tools such as Git, JIRA, Confluence, and standard development environments
- Ability to understand and evaluate software implementations without primary responsibility for coding
- Understanding of system integration challenges, data flows, and interface control
- Experience with algorithms, data processing, performance-driven systems, C2 systems, or ballistic missile defense (preferred)
- Familiarity with Unix/Linux and Windows development environments (preferred)
- Experience supporting large, distributed, or multi-team Agile development efforts (preferred)
- Experience with C2BMC, GMD, Missile Defense Agency programs, THAAD, Aegis Combat System, or IBCS (preferred)
- List current security clearance and IAT or relevant certifications on your resume
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.
