*This position is contingent upon program award.
At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they are making history.
Northrop Grumman’s Space Systems Sector is seeking a Systems Engineer – Level 2 or Level 3 to join our team in Redondo Beach, CA in support of the Space Development Agency (SDA) programs.
Job responsibilities of the SDA Systems Engineer include, but are not limited to, the following:
Supporting the definition, development, integration, and verification of system requirements for Space Development Agency (SDA) programs and related mission capabilities.
Performing systems engineering activities across the program lifecycle, including requirements analysis, functional decomposition, interface definition, architecture development, and technical baseline management.
Coordinating with software, hardware, integration and test, cybersecurity, mission operations, and external mission partners to ensure end-to-end system performance and interoperability.
Developing and maintaining systems engineering artifacts such as requirements specifications, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), concept of operations (ConOps), verification matrices, and technical presentations.
Supporting trade studies, technical analyses, and risk assessments to evaluate design alternatives and recommend solutions that meet mission, cost, and schedule objectives.
Applying strong problem-solving skills to quickly understand and address complex technical concepts, system issues, and integration challenges.
Preparing charts, presenting data, and providing recommendations to internal teams, program leadership, government customers, and external stakeholders, demonstrating excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Supporting system integration, test planning, anomaly resolution, and verification/validation activities to ensure delivered capabilities satisfy mission and customer requirements.
This requisition may be filled at a higher grade based on the qualifications listed below.
This requisition is contingent upon award.
Basic Qualifications for Systems Engineer – Level 2 / Level 3:
Systems Engineer Level 2:
Bachelor’s degree in STEM (engineering, computer science, physics, math, or related field) with 2+ years of relevant experience in systems engineering for aerospace, defense, or space programs, or Master’s degree in STEM
Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance
Systems Engineer Level 3:
Bachelor’s degree in STEM (engineering, computer science, physics, math, or related field) with 5+ years of relevant experience in systems engineering for aerospace, defense, or space programs, or Master’s degree in STEM with 3+ years of relevant experience, or PhD with 1 year of relevant experience.
Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance
Demonstrated experience managing requirements, system architecture, and/or CONOPs development
Working knowledge of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools (e.g., CAMEO, SysML, or UML)
Past experience using Python
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to document and communicate technical information clearly across teams
Familiarity with AWS and cloud technologies
Preferred Qualifications for Systems Engineer – Level 2 / Level 3:
Active DOD Secret Clearance
Direct experience with space systems, with emphasis on ground segment engineering (mission planning, ground SW, networking, cyber, operations)
Hands-on CAMEO usage for requirements management/traceability, architecture modeling, and interface definition
Familiarity with the full systems engineering lifecycle, including requirements flowdown, verification/validation, and risk management
Exposure to cloud-based ground architectures (AWS, GovCloud), secure communications (IPSec), or integration with mission partners
Experience supporting program milestones, major design reviews, or operational readiness events
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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Primary Level Salary Range: $91,800.00 - $137,600.00Secondary 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 STEM, such as engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, or a related field, with 2+ years of relevant systems engineering experience; alternatively, a master's degree in STEM
- For Level 3: Bachelor's degree in STEM with 5+ years of relevant experience, master's degree with 3+ years, or PhD with 1+ year
- Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance
- Experience managing requirements, system architecture, and/or CONOPS development
- Working knowledge of MBSE tools such as CAMEO, SysML, or UML
- Past experience using Python
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Familiarity with AWS and cloud technologies
- Active DoD Secret clearance
- Direct experience with space systems, especially ground segment engineering
- Hands-on CAMEO experience for requirements management, traceability, architecture modeling, and interface definition
- Familiarity with the full systems engineering lifecycle, including requirements flowdown, verification, validation, and risk management
- Exposure to cloud-based ground architectures, secure communications such as IPSec, or mission-partner integration
- Experience supporting program milestones, major design reviews, or operational readiness events
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.








