As an Emerging Capabilities Development (ECD) Systems Engineering Integration and Test (SEIT) Sr. Staff Systems Architect you will be a key player in driving business growth through the development and maturation of forward-leaning solutions and products. You will work in a dynamic and innovative environment and work closely with cross-functional teams to create solutions to meet the needs of our customers and provide a competitive edge in the market.
You will work within our Systems Engineering, Integration, and Test (SEIT) organization for Central Region Engineering in Rolling Meadows, IL. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a leading global provider of advanced, secure, and agile software-defined systems and solutions. Our products are state-of-the-art Radio Frequency Electronic Warfare (RFEW) systems designed to protect the lives of U.S and Allied warfighters in present and future conflicts.
As an Architect on our team, you are expected to apply advanced technical principles, theories, and concepts to unusually complex technical problems and provide innovative solutions. Assignments are often self-initiated, and it will be necessary to determine and pursue courses of action necessary to obtain the desired results. This is a high impact position where you will often serve as an organization spokesperson on advanced projects and act as an advisor to management and customers.
Your expertise in RF system design and analysis, digital signal processing, and system modeling and simulation allows you to turn customer wants and needs into rapid proof of concept solutions. You can take a high-level customer objective and, through a logical and systematic process, turn it into product requirements and total system solutions that acknowledge technical, schedule, and cost constraints. This will be done through functional analysis, timeline analysis, detailed trade studies, and requirements allocation to create hardware and software specifications. You then work with and within the team to deliver that solution to the customer.
You have extensive experience in, and a deep understanding of, computational electromagnetics, wave theory, RF propagation modeling, antenna design, and RF chain analysis. You also have experience turning those concepts into reality through MATLAB implementation of low TRL concepts, and a thorough knowledge of embedded software, firmware, and FPGA implementation.
At Northrop Grumman, we value our employees and strive to provide a positive and inclusive work environment. Apply now to join our team and be a part of an organization dedicated to protecting the lives of U.S and Allied warfighters.
This position will be full-time, on-site at our Rolling Meadows, IL location.
This position is contingent upon acquiring and maintaining the necessary US Government security clearance per customers' requirements prior to start.
Basic Qualifications for Sr. Staff Systems Architect:
Bachelor’s Degree and 14 years of experience in relevant engineering or sciences field or MS Degree and 12 years of experience in relevant engineering or sciences field or PhD and 10 years of experience in relevant engineering or sciences field
Experience in writing technical volumes in response to customer proposals
Expertise in digital signal processing algorithms used to build state-of-the-art high sensitivity, wideband, real-time processing digital receivers
Experience performing optimum system function allocation to hardware and software requirements
Prior experience communicating directly with customers to extract and convert their needs into testable system requirements
Experience with antenna modeling and RF chain analysis
Demonstrated success in developing test plans that prove the system satisfies requirements and the ability to quickly capture and process data in tools like MATLAB and Python for debugging and specification verification
Excellent written and oral communication skills, and a strong ability to work in an integrated product team environment
U.S. citizenship
Must have a current active Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain SAP.
Preferred Qualifications for Sr. Staff Systems Architect:
Prior experience designing hardware, firmware, and software to best allocate functionality to each subsystem
Ability to monitor hardware and software design teams with critical insight to help steer the team to a successful solution
RFEW experience, RF threat scenario analysis
Experience architecting and developing Electronic Warfare RF systems with real-time digital signal processing
Experience working low TRL Department of Defense contracts
Active Top Secret security clearance
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree and 14 years, MS and 12 years, or PhD and 10 years in engineering or sciences
- Experience writing technical volumes in response to customer proposals
- Expertise in digital signal processing algorithms for high-sensitivity, wideband, real-time digital receivers
- Experience performing optimum system function allocation to hardware and software requirements
- Prior experience communicating directly with customers to extract and convert needs into testable system requirements
- Experience with antenna modeling and RF chain analysis
- Demonstrated success developing test plans and using MATLAB and Python for debugging and specification verification
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to work in integrated product teams
- U.S. citizenship
- Current active Secret security clearance with ability to obtain and maintain SAP
- Prior experience designing hardware, firmware, and software to allocate functionality to subsystems
- Ability to monitor hardware and software design teams and steer toward successful solutions
- Radio Frequency Electronic Warfare (RFEW) experience and RF threat scenario analysis
- Experience architecting and developing Electronic Warfare RF systems with real-time digital signal processing
- Experience working low TRL Department of Defense contracts
- Active Top Secret security clearance
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.








