Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems seeks a Sr. Principal Mission Systems Electronics Engineer for the Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP) team in El Segundo, CA or San Diego (Rancho Bernardo), CA.
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.
Role Overview:
Responsible for designing mission systems technical baselines (subsystems, components, software) to meet platform requirements.
Lead trade studies, technical analysis, modeling & simulation, risk/opportunity management, and support strategic objectives.
Decompose system-level requirements, track/report metrics, and maintain strong relationships with customers, suppliers, peers, and leadership.
Key Responsibilities:
Mission system element design, capability assessment, interface decomposition, verification/validation planning, and mission integration during development
Advise programs as subject matter expert, mentor junior engineers, conduct independent reviews of milestones and technical work products
Support technical business development (proposals, white papers)
Oversee technical activities within Mission Systems IPT, ensuring sound engineering processes
Engage customers/end users to translate requirements into deployable products
Perform subsystem trades, analysis of alternatives, modeling, and simulation for mission effects, data, or capabilities (including air vehicles, payloads, ground segments, mission planning, CONOPS, DRM, system security, and interfaces)
Basic Qualifications:
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 with 4 years of related engineering experience.
Experience supporting Supplier SSOW, SRD, and scope discussions
Engineering experience on a DoD program
Significant experience in at least two of the following:
Technical leadership on DoD development projects
System architecture concepts/solutions
Performance modeling & simulation
Designing systems with COTS/GOTS components for DoD interoperability RF or EO/IR systems for sensing, EW, or communications Non-kinetic effects (cyber operations) DoD cyber requirements, RMF, and solutions
Identifying/managing system capabilities, producing architecture artifacts
Preparing/reviewing architecture designs and presenting at DoD customer reviews
Your ability to transfer and maintain the final adjudicated Secret clearance (DoD must be in-scope or enrolled in Continuous Evaluation) and any Special Program Access(es) required for the position within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the Company.
Preferred Qualifications:
Active DoD Top Secret clearance
Prior SAP or SCI clearance
Significant architecture, design, integration, and test experience
Systems engineering experience (requirements derivation/flow-down, verification/validation)
Experience leading design of mission systems/subsystems
Experience across product lifecycles (R&D, development, production, sustainment)
Demonstrated success as an engineering leader over large teams
Exceptional communication skills
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in STEM with 8 years related experience, OR Master's with 6 years, OR PhD with 4 years
- Ability to obtain/transfer and maintain final adjudicated Secret clearance and any Special Program Access required
- Experience supporting Supplier SSOW, SRD, and scope discussions
- Engineering experience on a DoD program
- Significant experience in at least two: DoD technical leadership; system architecture; performance modeling & simulation; designing systems with COTS/GOTS for DoD interoperability; RF or EO/IR systems, EW, or communications; cyber operations, DoD cyber requirements, RMF; producing architecture artifacts; preparing/presenting architecture designs to DoD customers
- Work full-time on-site at employer facility (no remote/hybrid)
- Active DoD Top Secret clearance
- Prior SAP or SCI clearance
- Significant architecture, design, integration, and test experience
- Systems engineering experience (requirements derivation/flow-down, verification/validation)
- Experience leading design of mission systems/subsystems and across product lifecycles (R&D, development, production, sustainment)
- Demonstrated success as an engineering leader over large teams and exceptional communication skills
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.







