Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Senior Principal Systems Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals within our Systems Engineering organization. This role is located in Tinker AFB, OK.
In this role, you will collaborate across the engineering disciplines and technology areas to integrate and communicate technical capabilities and analyses with internal stakeholders and external customers across multiple simultaneous Modernization and Sustainment efforts.
Job Responsibilities:
- Support the certification of integrated functional capability (IFC) releases, subsystem upgrades, and new weapon or weapon modification integration activities.
- Ensure hardware/software updates comply with conventional and nuclear armament safety requirements.
- Maintain design documentation and follow configuration management requirements.
- Support planning and conduct of analyses/tests necessary to obtain nuclear and or conventional certification of applicable configuration(s)
- Identify, manage, and demonstrate compliance with armament certification requirements.
- Support long range capabilities initiative and business capture activities regarding the armament subsystem
- Familiar with armament integration and test planning, policies and procedures.
- Support the Hardware Sustaining Engineering IPT by providing oversight of nuclear and conventional certification requirements/tasks
- Ensure the certified status of the weapon system is maintained. Duties will also include preparation of detailed statements of work and program schedules, test plans, program status reporting, and Earned Value Management System (EVMS) reporting.
- Express exceptional communication skills both written and verbal.
Basic Qualifications:
- Must have a Bachelors degree in a STEM field and at least 8 years of relevant military / professional experience, OR a Master's Degree in a STEM field and at least 6 years of relevant military / professional experience, OR a PhD and at least 4 years of relevant military / professional experience
- Must have an active US Government Secret or higher clearance (with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).
- Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.
- Must have experience with armament integration and test planning, policies and procedures.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Advanced knowledge and understanding of governing certifications, specifications, and directives with emphasis on Air Force Instruction (DAFI) 63-125, Department of the Air Force Manual (DAFMAN) 91-101, 91-118, 91-119, AFI 91-208, and MIL-STD 1822, 1760, 464, 461, 704, 1553, 810, 882 and 1289. Also, MIL-HDBK-516, and 1763.
- Working knowledge of multiple engineering disciplines: nuclear design, aerospace, mechanical, electrical, software, nuclear hardness, nuclear surety and safety, materials.
- Knowledge and understanding of the IFC development and Aircraft Monitor and Control (AMAC) test process, procedures and analysis.
- Experience with formal decision-making processes: risk and opportunity management, cost benefit analysis, make/buy decisions.
- Experience managing EVMS Control Accounts as a Control Account Manager (CAM).
- Experience with HW/SW integration testing.
- Experience in Cameo and traceability between architecture elements and requirements.
- Experience with requirement decomposition and traceability from System to Unit/Supplier Specifications.
- Current B-2 Special Access Program (SAP) clearance.
- Experience with Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment software development for Aircraft Sustainment efforts.
- Experience with the full lifecycle of aircraft development, build, and operations.
- Experience with Python or other scripting language.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in a STEM field and at least 8 years relevant experience, OR Master's +6 years, OR PhD +4 years
- Active US Government Secret or higher clearance (background investigation within last 6 years or currently enrolled in Continuous Evaluation)
- Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance within a reasonable time
- Experience with armament integration and test planning, policies and procedures
- Advanced knowledge of Air Force and DoD certifications, specifications, directives (e.g., DAFI, DAFMAN, AFI, MIL-STD/MIL-HDBK)
- Working knowledge of multiple engineering disciplines (nuclear design, aerospace, mechanical, electrical, software, nuclear surety/safety, materials)
- Experience with IFC development and Aircraft Monitor and Control (AMAC) test processes
- Experience with formal decision-making processes: risk/opportunity management, cost-benefit analysis, make/buy decisions
- Experience managing EVMS Control Accounts as a Control Account Manager (CAM)
- Experience with HW/SW integration testing and full aircraft lifecycle (development, build, operations)
- Experience with Cameo and requirements/architecture traceability
- Experience with requirement decomposition and traceability from system to unit/supplier specifications
- Current B-2 Special Access Program (SAP) clearance
- Experience with Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment software development for aircraft sustainment
- Experience with Python or other scripting languages
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.







