Northrop Grumman Defense Systems (NGDS) is looking for a Software Engineer / Principal Software Engineer based in Manhattan Beach, CA. Our Team works on state-of-the-art Mission Planning systems.
Responsibilities Include:
- Designs, develops, documents, tests and debugs applications software and systems that contain logical and mathematical solutions while ensuring software standards are met
- Maintain and improve the software CI/CD pipelines to enable fast, bug free delivery of critical business software to production
- Set up and deploy Development, Test, and Build environments
- Create and update Windows installers
- Install, test, and verify software products
- Provide support for the software build and installation
- Work within a Cross-Functional scrum to develop high-priority mission planning features
- Understand third-party software and hardware peripherals to support implementation of software interfaces and support integration
- Develop software test products such as Verification Cross Reference Matrices to tie software requirements to software tests, Software Test Plans, Software Test Procedures, and Software Test Reports
- Define and develop test approaches for new software and system capabilities.
- Compile data and define changes required in testing procedures or new testing requirements.
- Perform frequent Smoke Testing and frequent Acceptance Testing on SW builds.
- Resolve technical issues within a scrum, across scrums, and with the support of other functional roles.
- Interface on a technical level with the customer
- Support authoring and development of contract deliverable documentation that support deliverable software products and test events
- Help define automated test strategies.
- Support the Agile Framework as a Scrum Master, when required
All work must be performed on-site in Manhattan Beach, CA
Software Engineer Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in STEM and a minimum of 2 years of relevant (Computer Science, etc.) experience, or 0 years of experience with a Master’s degree (Computer Science, etc.). Relevant (Computer Science, etc.) years of experience in lieu of degree may be considered
- US Citizenship and current DoD Top Secret Clearance (adjudicated within the last 5 years), with ability to obtain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance
- Experience with/using Agile Methodology and Continuous Integration (CI) / Continuous Deployment (CD) Tools (Bamboo, Jenkins) and Practices
- Proficiency in C# and/or Java and Object-Oriented Software Design paradigms
- Experience with Microsoft Windows technologies
- Test procedure development and maintenance
- Experience supporting/coordinating formal test events
- Experience with one or more of the following scripts: yaml, Python, PowerShell, Batch, Typescript
- Automated test script or test procedure development and maintenance for software testing
- Experience with automated testing and test software such as TestComplete 4
- A functional understanding of how revision control systems (e.g., BitBucket, git, CVS, etc.) are used
- Hands-on system troubleshooting skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Principal Software Engineer Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in STEM and a minimum of 5 years of relevant (Computer Science, etc.) experience, or 3 years of experience with a Master’s degree (Computer Science, etc.). Relevant (Computer Science, etc.) years of experience in lieu of degree may be considered
- US Citizenship and current DoD Top Secret Clearance (adjudicated within the last 5 years), with ability to obtain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance
- Experience with/using Agile Methodology and Continuous Integration (CI) / Continuous Deployment (CD) Tools (Bamboo, Jenkins) and Practices
- Proficiency in C# and/or Java and Object-Oriented Software Design paradigms
- Experience with Microsoft Windows technologies
- Test procedure development and maintenance
- Experience supporting/coordinating formal test events
- Experience with one or more of the following scripts: yaml, Python, PowerShell, Batch, Typescript
- Automated test script or test procedure development and maintenance for software testing
- Experience with automated testing and test software such as TestComplete 4
- A functional understanding of how revision control systems (e.g., BitBucket, git, CVS, etc.) are used
- Hands-on system troubleshooting skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Preferred (Nice to Have) Qualifications:
- Proficiency in C#, .NET Framework
- Experience with Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Microsoft Windows-based Applications
- Experience with Microservice development and service communication protocols such as gRPC and/or REST
- Experience with Software Design Patterns
- Experience with/using Relational Databases, SQL
- Experience with the Atlassian Tool Suite: Bitbucket, Jira, Confluence, Crucible/Fish-eye
- Familiarity with/using/deploying to Cloud technology: Azure and/or AWS
- Familiarity with/using Containers in Docker and/or Kubernetes
- Experience with/using and/or managing these DevOps tools: Ansible, Terraform, Chef, or Puppet
- Excellent communication and organizational skills; strong interpersonal and analytic skills
- Previous in-depth mission planning domain knowledge of program software design and code
- Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) or Professional Scrum Master™ (PSM™) certification
- Experience working with requirements in DOORS.
- Demonstrated ability to implement process improvements, streamline activities, and develop efficiencies.
- Strong interpersonal and analytic skills; Works well in a team-environment
- Experience with Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) Framework (FW)
- Exposure to Infrastructure as Code (IaC) development
- Experience with Air Force mission planning
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in STEM (or equivalent experience) with minimum 2 years relevant experience (Software Engineer) or 5 years relevant experience (Principal Software Engineer)
- US Citizenship and current DoD Top Secret Clearance (adjudicated within the last 5 years) with ability to obtain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance
- Experience with Agile methodology and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment tools and practices (e.g., Bamboo, Jenkins)
- Proficiency in C# and/or Java and object-oriented software design paradigms
- Experience with Microsoft Windows technologies
- Test procedure development and maintenance
- Experience supporting/coordinating formal test events
- Experience with scripting (yaml, Python, PowerShell, Batch, Typescript)
- Automated test script or test procedure development and maintenance for software testing
- Experience with automated testing tools such as TestComplete 4
- Functional understanding of revision control systems (e.g., BitBucket, git, CVS)
- Hands-on system troubleshooting skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Proficiency in C# and .NET Framework
- Experience with Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Windows-based applications
- Experience with microservice development and service communication protocols such as gRPC and/or REST
- Experience with software design patterns
- Experience with relational databases and SQL
- Experience with Atlassian tool suite: Bitbucket, Jira, Confluence, Crucible/Fisheye
- Familiarity with Azure and/or AWS cloud technologies
- Familiarity with containers (Docker, Kubernetes)
- Experience with DevOps tools (Ansible, Terraform, Chef, Puppet)
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or Professional Scrum Master (PSM) certification
- Experience working with requirements in DOORS
- Previous mission planning domain knowledge, Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) Framework exposure, or Air Force mission planning experience
- Exposure to Infrastructure as Code (IaC) development
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.






