Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a Principal / Sr. Principal Systems Engineer (level 3/4) to join the Strategic Mobile Command and Control (SMC2) organization in Huntsville AL. You will help design, develop, integrate, test, and sustain mission‑critical architectures and network and recording products used by our warfighters and customers around the world. In this role, you will support the Base Operations Networks (BONEs) programs that support network infrastructure and services at tactical operational locations.
Key Responsibilities:
- Co-leading cross-functional team meetings, including recurring PM Staff, PM Staff status, weekly meetings with the Customer, technical meetings for internal bi-weekly or weekly technical development focusing on cost, schedule and performance
- Collaborating with other Integrated Product Team (IPT) leads and interfacing with Customer and Program Leadership to ensure the program satisfies all Engineering requirements
- Leading ad- hoc and standing working group Engineering meetings
- Serving as Configuration Control Board (CCB) Chair Alternate providing interface for U.S. Government (USG) Stakeholders and disposition on hardware drawings, network configurations and software versions
- Developing, tracking and maintaining Engineering priorities and milestones for planning, design, procurement, training, integration and deployment of network, recording and warning equipment
- Working with the Integration and Test IPTs to ensure the BONEs system(s) are built and tested to the appropriate requirements
- Developing staffing for events and ensuring hardware/software baselines and equipment are mission ready
- Reviewing program plans, procedures, reports, drawings, and other documentation for completeness, accuracy, and quality
- Supporting development, evaluation, verification, and validation of system design changes, ranging from minor system fixes to large-scale system capability changes
- Assisting Engineering responses and inputs to requests for proposal (RFPs), bases of estimate (BOEs), technical volumes, and statements of work
- Communicating and executing Cost Account Manager (CAM) functions impacting staffing, budgeting and forecasting
Basic Qualifications:
- Principal Systems Engineer: 5 years of experience with a STEM Bachelor's Degree; 3 years with a Master's, 1 year with PhD
- Sr. Principal Systems Engineer: 8 years of experience with a STEM Bachelor's degree, 6 years with a Master's, 4 with PhD
- Active DoD Secret Clearance
- Experience operating in an Agile environment using any of the Atlassian software tool sets (JIRA, CONFLUENCE...etc.)
- Ability to work on-site in Huntsville
- Minimum 15% travel with potential for travel Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS)
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with Sense and Warn & Intercept (SnW&I) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) architectures and Northrop Grumman products
- Experience with Lucen Timeline (formerly Office Timeline) or MS Project
- Experience developing milestone schedules
- Experience with customer-facing roles and leading a multi-discipline team
- Experience developing trade studies, system requirements reviews (SRRs), preliminary design reviews (PDRs), and critical design reviews (CDRs)
- Experience writing test reports
Primary Level Salary Range: $98,400.00 - $163,200.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $122,800.00 - $203,600.00The 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
- Principal level: 5 years of experience with a STEM bachelor's degree, 3 years with a master's degree, or 1 year with a PhD
- Senior Principal level: 8 years of experience with a STEM bachelor's degree, 6 years with a master's degree, or 4 years with a PhD
- Active DoD Secret clearance
- Experience operating in an Agile environment using Atlassian software tools such as JIRA or Confluence
- Ability to work on-site in Huntsville, Alabama
- Minimum 15% travel, potentially outside the continental United States
- Experience with Sense and Warn & Intercept and Counter-Unmanned Aerial System architectures and Northrop Grumman products
- Experience with Lucen Timeline or Microsoft Project
- Experience developing milestone schedules
- Experience in customer-facing roles and leading multidisciplinary teams
- Experience developing trade studies, system requirements reviews, preliminary design reviews, and critical design reviews
- Experience writing test reports
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.






