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Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a Principal or Sr. Principal Systems Engineer - CS IFC Lead to join the team located in Roy UT in support of the Sentinel program. Northrop Grumman supports the Air Force’s sustainment, development, production and deployment of hardware and system modifications for Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM,) Ground and Airborne Launch Control Systems, Launch Facilities, and associated infrastructure. This position may be filled at a higher level based on qualifications listed below.
Roles and Responsibilities
- This role supports our Command Systems Special Projects. Through close partnership with our business and operating units, we collaboratively transform uncertain, urgent, and cross-cutting challenges into actionable, scalable solutions. By working collaboratively, we provide objective insight, align strategic direction, and accelerate the delivery of mission-critical capabilities while upholding the highest standards of quality and return on investment.
- The Command Systems (CS) Systems Engineer for Increment/IFC Support reports to the CS Execution Lead within the CS Business Unit (BU) under the CS Special Projects Organization. This role leads and coordinates the planning, integration, and delivery of Sentinel capabilities across multiple increments and IFC baselines. You will apply systems engineering processes to plan and manage systems engineering activities, with a focus on understanding, coordinating, and driving resolution of the impacts of change across segments and elements. You will work closely with cross-functional teams and working groups to assess change requests, maintain technical and configuration baselines, and help ensure that Sentinel capabilities are delivered on schedule and meet mission and performance objectives. You will provide data-driven insights and recommendations to technical review boards, change control boards, and IFC/increment working groups.
- In this role you will:
- Lead the analysis and coordination of change requests, including assessment of technical, verification, and schedule impacts, and prepare recommendations and decision packages for technical review boards and change control boards.
- Coordinate and guide systems, software, hardware, test, and program management teams to maintain integrated technical baselines and resolve complex issues affecting IFC/increment deliveries.
- Use requirements and configuration management tools (and, where applicable, MBSE/digital engineering tools) to manage baselines, track changes, and plan and execute IFC/increment activities, ensuring traceability and configuration control.
- Prepare and present clear, concise technical information, options, and recommendations to working groups, review boards, leadership, and customer stakeholders to enable data-driven decisions on Sentinel increment and IFC activities.
Basic Qualifications
This requisition may be filled at either the Principal Systems Engineer or the Senior Principal Systems Engineer level
- Requires a Bachelor's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university and 5 years of related experience; 3 years with a Masters; or 1 year with a PhD (Senior Principal level requires 8 years with a bachelors; 6 years with a Master's; or 4 years with a PhD)
- Must be a US Citizen with an active US Government Secret Security Clearance with an investigation date within the last 6 years.
- REQUIRES Sentinel Special Program Access (SAP) on Day 1
- Requires experience applying systems engineering processes (e.g., requirements development and decomposition, interface definition, verification and validation, change management) on complex defense or aerospace systems.
- Requires experience leading or coordinating cross-functional teams (systems, software, hardware, specialty engineering, test, program management) to resolve technical issues and maintain alignment to cost, schedule, and performance objectives.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience leading or co-leading Sentinel IFC planning and execution activities, including coordination with segment/element teams, increment working groups, or IFC working groups.
- Experience with requirements and configuration management tools used on Sentinel (e.g., DOORS and relevant change/configuration control tools) for owning or managing baselines, traceability, and change packages across increments/IFCs.
- Experience developing, reviewing, and maintaining technical products for Sentinel such as requirements specifications, interface control documents, integration plans, and verification/validation plans that span multiple increments/IFCs.
- Experience leading analysis and communication of technical and schedule impacts of change requests across Sentinel increments/IFCs and supporting (or chairing on behalf of the lead) technical review boards, change control boards, or integrated product team (IPT) forums.
- Direct experience using model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and digital engineering environments on Sentinel, including using system models and digital artifacts to support capability definition, integration planning, and verification strategy.
- Experience with large, complex system development leading or significantly contributing to major program events such as SRR, SFR, PDR, CDR, TRR, SVR.
- Experience leading or serving as a primary contributor for incremental capability deliveries or Integrated Functional Capability (IFC) baselines on a large program, including assessing change requests and driving understanding of impacts to requirements, integration, and test.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare and present technical information to engineering teams, program leadership, and customer stakeholders.
Position Benefits
As a full-time employee of Northrop Grumman Defense Systems, you are eligible for our robust benefits package including:
- Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
- 401k
- Educational Assistance
- Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions
- Paid Time Off
- Health & Wellness Resources
- Employee Discounts
This position’s standard work schedule is 9/80. The 9/80 schedule allows employees who work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday to take every other Friday off. This role may offer a competitive relocation assistance package.
#SentinelSystemsPrimary Level Salary Range: $98,400.00 - $147,600.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $122,800.00 - $184,200.00The 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 a STEM discipline and 5 years of related experience; or 3 years with a master’s degree; or 1 year with a PhD. Senior Principal level requires 8 years with a bachelor’s, 6 years with a master’s, or 4 years with a PhD.
- U.S. citizenship.
- Active U.S. Government Secret security clearance with an investigation date within the last 6 years.
- Sentinel Special Program Access (SAP) on Day 1.
- Experience applying systems engineering processes to complex defense or aerospace systems, including requirements development, interface definition, verification and validation, and change management.
- Experience leading or coordinating cross-functional systems, software, hardware, specialty engineering, test, and program management teams.
- Experience leading or co-leading Sentinel IFC planning and execution activities.
- Experience with Sentinel requirements and configuration management tools, such as DOORS.
- Experience maintaining Sentinel technical products, including requirements specifications, interface control documents, integration plans, and verification or validation plans.
- Experience analyzing and communicating technical and schedule impacts of change requests and supporting technical review boards, change control boards, or IPT forums.
- Direct experience using MBSE and digital engineering environments on Sentinel.
- Experience with major program events such as SRR, SFR, PDR, CDR, TRR, or SVR.
- Experience contributing to incremental capability deliveries or IFC baselines on a large program.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for presenting technical information to engineering teams, program leadership, and customer stakeholders.
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.







