Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. Our Engineering and Sciences (E&S) organization pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered with providing the skills, innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter. Come be a part of our mission!
Northrop Grumman is seeking a Senior Principal Systems Safety Engineer to work with our Specialty Engineering Team out of Woodland Hills, CA. Our success is grounded in our ability to embrace change, move quickly and continuously drive innovation. The successful candidate will be collaborative, open, transparent, and team-oriented with a focus on team empowerment & shared responsibility, flexibility, continuous learning, and a culture of automation. This is an exciting, challenging and specialized role for a talented, energized and innovative individual who wants to pursue growth in Systems Safety Engineering. This is fully onsite position located in Woodland Hills, CA working a 9/80 schedule.
What You’ll get to Do:
Apply knowledge, methodologies, and principles of safety engineering as defined in MIL-STD-882 and software safety engineering as outlined in the Joint Software System Safety Engineering Handbook (JSSSEH).
Support development and certification of systems and software to DO-178/DO-254 Standards
Prepare System Safety Engineering analysis and Generate documents in accordance with MIL-STD-882E including PHAs, FHAs, SHAs/SSHAs, Bent Pin Analyses, Fault Tree Analyses, and Software System Safety Analyses.
Identify system safety issues, propose solutions and ensure appropriate action is taken to mitigate safety issues
Develop, review, update and approve System Safety Artifacts and System Safety Requirements
Document hazards using a closed-loop Hazard Tracking System
Communicate project status to the CAM and IPT Lead as required.
This position is contingent on program award.
Basic Qualifications Senior Principal Systems Safety Engineer:
Bachelor’s degree in STEM discipline plus 8 years of relevant experience; Master's degree in STEM discipline plus 6 years of relevant experience; PhD. in STEM discipline plus 4 years of relevant experience
Demonstrated ability to apply system safety engineering principles in accordance with MIL-STD-882 and analyses such as preliminary hazard analyses, function/system/subsystem hazard analyses, fault tree analyses, software system safety analyses and safety assessment reports
Experience using DO-178, DO-254 or JSSSEH for design development
Ability to analyze, recommend, and drive safety into system design, equipment, and procedures to mitigate or eliminate hazards
Ability to develop, review, update and approve system safety artifacts and system safety requirements
Understanding of requirements development, system/software architecture, hardware/software design, software code implementation, test, verification, and validation
Strong written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to effectively communicate with all levels of leadership and customers
U.S. Citizenship is required
The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance is required
Preferred Qualifications:
Familiarity with requirements tools such as DOORS, Cameo, PLM Systems, Safety and Reliability tools such as PTC Windchill Quality Solutions, Agile software tools, JIRA, and/or Confluence
Demonstrated expertise in the application of Military systems safety and process standards and their Industry equivalent such as: MIL-STD-882, DO-178B/C, DO-248, DO-254, ARP-4754, ARP-4761, MIL-HDBK-516C, etc.
Experience in Agile and with Model Based Systems Engineering
Experience with generating or reviewing Failure Modes Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) or experience with FMEA.
Possess active U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline plus 8 years relevant experience (Master's +6 years or PhD +4 years accepted)
- Demonstrated application of system safety engineering principles in accordance with MIL-STD-882, including PHAs, FHAs, fault tree analyses, software system safety analyses, and safety assessment reports
- Experience using DO-178, DO-254 or JSSSEH for design development and software/system certification
- Ability to analyze, recommend, and drive safety into system design, equipment, and procedures to mitigate or eliminate hazards
- Ability to develop, review, update, and approve system safety artifacts and system safety requirements
- Understanding of requirements development, system/software architecture, hardware/software design, code implementation, test, verification, and validation
- Experience preparing Hazard Tracking and closed-loop hazard documentation
- Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to communicate with leadership and customers
- U.S. Citizenship is required
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance
- Familiarity with DOORS, Cameo, PLM systems, PTC Windchill Quality Solutions, Agile tools, JIRA, and Confluence
- Demonstrated expertise with industry safety/process standards (DO-178B/C, DO-248, DO-254, ARP-4754, ARP-4761, MIL-HDBK-516C) and MIL-STD-882
- Experience with Agile processes and Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
- Experience generating or reviewing FMECA or FMEA
- Possess active U.S. Government Secret security clearance
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.
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