Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is looking to a Sr Principal Aeronautics Engineer – Responsible RE to join our team either in Palmdale, CA. The candidate should be a self-starter with familiarity working in an Integrated Product Team construct.
Roles and Responsibilities will include:
• Serve as the Responsible Engineer for Vehicle Management System (VMS), Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC), and Navigation subsystems across design, integration, verification, and sustainment phases.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance to the multiple software development and test teams to include software architecture and design. Also provide technical solutions to the team's software needs and mentor other engineers on proper embedded software development techniques
• Produce and maintain engineering artifacts: architecture diagrams, interface control documents (ICDs), requirements specifications, design descriptions, verification reports, and certification evidence.
• Lead integration and verification activities: produce test plans, execute/oversee simulation, HIL, bench, and flight tests, analyze results, and close verification artifacts to demonstrate compliance with requirements.
• Develop and maintain high-fidelity modeling and simulation environments algorithm development, Monte Carlo analysis, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and software-in-the-loop (SIL) verification.
• Coordinate across systems engineering, test, software, mechanical, and supplier teams; provide technical leadership, mentor engineers, and present technical status and risk to program leadership.
• Lead technical point of contact for their system and will be required to develop technical solutions to a wide range of complex problems that come up.
• Perform functional analysis, conduct detailed trade studies and interface definition studies in order to translate customer requirements into hardware and software specifications.
The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility. There is no remote / hybrid / telework available for this position. Travel up to 25% may be required.
Basic Qualifications
• Sr. Principal: Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 8 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 6 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and 4 years of related engineering experience.
• Experience with development, design, sustainment of vehicle management systems (VMS)
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and verifying VMS functions (including algorithm development and closed loop control).
• Excellent technical communication and stakeholder skills, with experience producing requirements, ICDs, verification artifacts, and supporting test or certification activities
• U.S Government Top Secret SCI clearance (with a background investigation within the past 5 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).
• Ability to obtain and maintain initial Special Access Program (SAP) access via a Program Access Request (PAR). This SAP/PAR must be obtained prior to commencement of employment and must be obtained within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
• Ability to obtain and maintain subsequent SAP PARs following commencement of employment to be able to completely support statement of work.
Preferred Qualifications
• Current applicable Special Access Program (SAP) clearance.
• Experience as a supplier management team technical lead, or experience in program management or systems engineering
• Extensive experience presenting technical content to upper management
• Experience with test lab Instrumentation and execution.
• Experience with electrical signal processing – 1553 analyzers, RS-232, RS-485, 1394
• Proficient in CATIA, Matlab, Microsoft Visio
• Experience training junior engineers
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and verifying GNC and navigation.
Primary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00The 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 with 8 years related engineering experience; OR Master's with 6 years; OR PhD with 4 years
- Experience with development, design, and sustainment of Vehicle Management Systems (VMS)
- Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and verifying VMS functions including algorithm development and closed-loop control
- Experience producing requirements, ICDs, verification artifacts, and supporting test or certification activities
- U.S. Government Top Secret SCI clearance with background investigation within past 5 years or enrolled in Continuous Evaluation
- Ability to obtain and maintain initial Special Access Program (SAP) access via Program Access Request (PAR) prior to employment and subsequent SAP PARs
- Ability to work full-time on-site at the company's facility (no remote/hybrid)
- Experience designing, implementing, and verifying GNC and navigation
- Current applicable Special Access Program (SAP) clearance
- Experience as a supplier management team technical lead, program management, or systems engineering
- Extensive experience presenting technical content to upper management
- Experience with test lab instrumentation and execution
- Experience with electrical signal processing and interfaces (1553 analyzers, RS-232, RS-485, 1394)
- Proficiency in CATIA, Matlab, Microsoft Visio
- Experience training and mentoring junior engineers
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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