At the heart of Defining Possible is our commitment to missions. In rapidly changing global security environments, Northrop Grumman brings informed insights and software-secure technology to enable strategic planning. We’re looking for innovators who can help us keep building on our wide portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, and multi-domain systems and technologies that fuel those missions. By joining in our shared mission, we’ll support yours of expanding your personal network and developing skills, whether you are new to the field, or an industry thought leader. At Northrop Grumman, you’ll have the resources, support, and team to do some of the best work of your career.
The EOIR team anticipates a near-term need for a Staff Systems Engineer to work as the Technical Lead in performing sensor architecture and system development work associated with advanced electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensing. The candidate selected will work across a range of programs to solve disparate challenges while leveraging core knowledge, skills, tools, algorithms, and more. This person will coordinate with architects for program-specific implementations and will be expected to have regular technical interactions with the customers, as well as providing technical mentoring to junior staff.
As our program scope expands, we have the need for more talent, so come join us for this 100% on-site position from Linthicum, MD!
What You’ll Get To Do:
The family of EOIR programs has a growing set of efforts on both the passive and active sides. This role will focus on system architecture and definition for passive systems. The ideal candidate would have experience in hardware selection for airborne sensors, including optics, dewars, focal planes, processors, and more; data processing and exploitation, including real-time analysis, ground tests, anomaly resolution, and algorithm development; integration and test experience, including brassboards, lab/ground tests, and flight tests; and software/firmware interactions, to understand how the system actually implements and realizes the work. The team has subject matter experts in these areas, so the candidate selected will need to be able to work with those SMEs to ensure the selected approach meets the customer’s and user’s needs. These are developmental systems and concepts, meaning that you will help develop the systems and methods that future generations will rely on. As part of your regular work, you will lead interactions with external customers and internal leaders, building trust through communicating the technical achievements and capabilities of the team
A strong candidate for this role has experience in airborne and/or space-based EOIR sensors, experience developing and demonstrating passive imaging optical sensors, experience leading teams to successful program execution, and strength in customer engagements.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Define architectures and lead implementations for IRAD, CRAD, and execution programs
Mentor and develop junior team members
Design, develop, integrate, test, and deploy novel EOIR sensors
Build and maintain physics-based sensor models
Develop and quantify performance metrics for system performance
Understand data quality and artifact impacts
Represent system performance in functional and analytical models
This position is contingent upon the successful transfer of an active DoD Secret Clearance and the ability to obtain Special Program Access.
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree with 12 years of experience, Master's degree with 10 years of experience or Ph.D. with 8 years of experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or related technical fields; an additional 4 years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
U.S Citizenship is required
A current/active U.S. Government Secret Clearance
Ability to obtain Special Program Access (SAP)
Experience as a team lead with successful customer interactions
Experience leading junior and peer team members
Experience in technical computing languages, e.g. Python or MATLAB
Experience with airborne and/or space-based EOIR sensors
Preferred Qualifications:
Advanced degree in STEM
Prior radiometry experience
Experience writing technical proposals
Experience acting as principal investigator of team lead for R&D programs
Experience developing and executing internal research and development projects
Current Top Secret clearance, SAP access(es), and/or SCI access
Strong communication skills, both for internal and external audiences
Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a work environment which encourages your growth and supports the mutual success of our people and our company. Northrop Grumman benefits give you the flexibility and control to choose the benefits that make the most sense for you and your family.
Your benefits will include the following: Health Plan, Savings Plan, Paid Time Off and Additional Benefits including Education Assistance, Training and Development, 9/80 Work Schedule (where available), and much more!
Northrop Grumman has approximately 90,000 employees in all 50 states and in more than 27 countries. We strive to attract and retain the best employees by providing an inclusive work environment wherein employees are receptive to diverse ideas, perspectives, and talents to help solve our toughest customer challenges: to develop and maintain some of the most technically sophisticated products, programs, and services in the world.
Our Values. The women and men of Northrop Grumman Corporation are guided by Our Values. They describe our company as we want it to be. We want our decisions and actions to demonstrate these Values. We believe that putting Our Values into practice creates long-term benefits for shareholders, customers, employees, suppliers, and the communities we serve.
Our Responsibility. At Northrop Grumman, we are committed to maintaining the highest of ethical standards, embracing diversity and inclusion, protecting the environment, and striving to be an ideal corporate citizen in the community and in the world.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree with 12 years of experience, master’s degree with 10 years, or Ph.D. with 8 years in STEM or related technical fields; four additional years may substitute for a degree
- U.S. citizenship
- Current or active U.S. Government Secret Clearance
- Ability to obtain Special Program Access
- Experience as a team lead with successful customer interactions
- Experience leading junior and peer team members
- Experience with technical computing languages such as Python or MATLAB
- Experience with airborne or space-based EO/IR sensors
- Advanced degree in STEM
- Prior radiometry experience
- Experience writing technical proposals
- Experience as a principal investigator or team lead for research and development programs
- Experience developing and executing internal research and development projects
- Current Top Secret clearance, SAP access, or SCI access
- Strong internal and external 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.
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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.
