Expand your horizons, advance your career, and contribute to a secure future for generations. Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector invites you to bring your pioneering spirit to our collaborative teams. As a Software Developer you’ll be a linchpin in missions of paramount importance, defining the art of the possible from day one. This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.
In these roles, the focus will be on development, integration, deployment, and sustainment of satellite ground software.
This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.
Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Full‑stack development at the OS, platform, and mission‑unique software layer.
Develop client and server applications and services using service‑oriented or object‑oriented architectures, micro‑services, and message‑bus‑based data exchange that include first‑of‑a‑kind capabilities.
Tech stack – Primary language Python (with C++ and occasional Java), PostgreSQL, Qpid message broker (AMQP) – exploring gRPC (both use Protocol Buffers).
GUIs built in Qt (transitioning to web‑based GUIs using Elixir).
Containerization with Docker for local development and Kubernetes for production orchestration.
Operating systems: Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Windows workstations.
Act as a self‑starter capable of making decisions with overall project budget and schedule in mind.
Support ground‑software operations and associated configurations, including troubleshooting software errors and hardware affecting ground software.
Support Acceptance Test events, run tests, and provide test automation.
Configure ground‑segment software, resolve and remediate software defects, and deliver enhancements per customer change requests or mission needs.
Provide ground‑software support during launch and launch‑rehearsal events.
Other duties as assigned
This position is contingent upon the candidate obtaining final clearances and program access(es) within a reasonable period of time as determined by the company.
This position can be filled at either a Level 3 or Level 4.
Basic Qualifications for Level 3:
Bachelor’s degree in STEM field with 5 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 3 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 1 year of professional experience.
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Top-Secret clearance.
Demonstrated software development experience.
Python application development, C++, Bash scripting experience.
Design and implement mission‑planning tools (trajectory generation, timeline creation, resource allocation).
Build graphical user interfaces and APIs that enable operators to create, edit, and validate mission plans.
Integrate real‑time data feeds (ephemeris, weather, space‑environment models) via the Qpid message bus.
Automate plan validation and collision‑avoidance checks using Python‑based rule engines.
Basic Qualifications for Level 4:
Bachelor’s degree in STEM field with 8 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 6 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 4 years of professional experience.
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Top-Secret clearance.
Demonstrated software development experience.
Python application development, C++, Bash scripting experience.
Design and implement mission‑planning tools (trajectory generation, timeline creation, resource allocation).
Build graphical user interfaces and APIs that enable operators to create, edit, and validate mission plans.
Integrate real‑time data feeds (ephemeris, weather, space‑environment models) via the Qpid message bus.
Automate plan validation and collision‑avoidance checks using Python‑based rule engines.
Preferred Qualifications:
Knowledge of orbital mechanics basics (or willingness to learn), experience with GUI frameworks (e.g., Flask/Django, Plotly/D3), familiarity with real‑time data streaming (Kafka, RabbitMQ), understanding of mission‑timeline concepts.
Strong preference given to Top Secret.
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
Skills Required
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Top-Secret clearance.
- Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in a STEM field with required years of professional experience (Level 3: Bachelors+5/Masters+3/PhD+1; Level 4: Bachelors+8/Masters+6/PhD+4).
- Demonstrated software development experience.
- Python application development experience.
- C++ development experience (Java occasional).
- Bash scripting experience.
- Design and implement mission-planning tools (trajectory generation, timeline creation, resource allocation).
- Build graphical user interfaces and APIs to create, edit, and validate mission plans (Qt and transitioning to web-based GUIs).
- Integrate real-time data feeds (ephemeris, weather, space-environment models) via the Qpid message bus (AMQP).
- Automate plan validation and collision-avoidance checks using Python-based rule engines.
- Containerization and orchestration experience (Docker for development, Kubernetes for production).
- Experience with PostgreSQL databases.
- Experience with Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Windows workstations.
- Support ground-software operations, troubleshooting, test automation, and acceptance test events.
- Knowledge of orbital mechanics basics (or willingness to learn).
- Experience with GUI/web frameworks and visualization (Flask/Django, Plotly, D3).
- Familiarity with real-time data streaming technologies (Kafka, RabbitMQ).
- Possess an existing Top Secret clearance (strong preference).
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.
