Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector is seeking a Systems Engineer – Level 2 or Level 3 to join our team in East Hartford, CT. This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.
While the preferred home location for this role is East Hartford, CT, highly qualified candidates currently based near Hanover, MD may be considered to sit at our Hanover, MD site.
Thermal, Optics, & Power Systems (TOPS) Operating Unit is a leading supplier of complex electro-optic and photonic systems, heat-pipe thermal systems and electronic power systems.
Reporting to the Structural Engineering Manager, the Systems Engineer will support the Optics product area under TOPS: Thermal heat pipes, opto-mechanical systems, and electrical power systems. We are seeking a Systems Engineer with deep Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) expertise, strong systems thinking, and the judgment, drive, and work ethic to help teams move faster and smarter. You will play a key role in enabling our engineers to make better decisions, reduce iteration cycles, and deliver high-confidence solutions.
This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.
Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Lead MBSE architecture development for advanced concept and campaign efforts
- Translate high-level mission needs into coherent architectures, requirements, behaviors, interfaces, and traceable model artifacts
- Requirements Development & Management:
- Organize and define system level requirements, derive and allocate requirements to subsystems (performing or coordinating analyses as required), manage the requirements baseline in a relational database (such as DOORS), write clear requirement specifications, create Requirements Traceability and Verification Matrices (RTVMs), and collect the objective quality evidence (OQE) that verifies requirements are met.
- Modeling, Simulation & Analysis:
- Develop system modeling, simulation, analysis and trade study activities, system capability analysis, system performance/effectiveness analysis to ensure performance capabilities are consistent with mission requirements.
- Interface Development & Management:
- Identify external and internal interfaces, define parameters that characterize those interfaces (performing or coordinating analyses as required), develop interface control documents & deliverables, and participate in system architecture & design development to resolve interface issues and ensure interface compliance
- Collaborate across systems, software, hardware, integration, and mission teams to align technical solutions and execution
- Communicate complex technical ideas in clear, concise terms tailored to both engineering teams and senior leadership
- Conduct peer reviews of engineering work products to ensure quality, consistency, and technical integrity
- Other duties as assigned
If this job description reads like it was written specifically for you, consider joining our team!
This position can be filled at either a Level 2 or Level 3.
Basic Qualifications for Level 2:
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field with 2 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 0 years of professional experience.
- Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Top-Secret security clearance
- Hands-on Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) experience on complex aerospace, defense, or advanced technology programs
- Demonstrated strength in system architecture, requirements analysis, interface definition, and technical decomposition of complex systems
- Analytical problem solver with strong technical abilities; results and deadline driven; excellent oral and written communication skills including presentation skills
- Proficient in MS Office software
- Ability to work independently with minimal direction while contributing effectively in a team environment
Basic Qualifications for Level 3:
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field with 5 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 3 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 1 year of professional experience.
- Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Top-Secret security clearance
- Hands-on Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) experience on complex aerospace, defense, or advanced technology programs
- Demonstrated strength in system architecture, requirements analysis, interface definition, and technical decomposition of complex systems
- Analytical problem solver with strong technical abilities; results and deadline driven; excellent oral and written communication skills including presentation skills
- Proficient in MS Office software
- Ability to work independently with minimal direction while contributing effectively in a team environment
Preferred Qualifications:
- Advanced degree in Systems Engineering or related technical field.
- Experience supporting advanced development, campaign planning, or early-phase concept definition activities for Space applications
- Experience influencing technical direction across cross-functional teams.
- Demonstrated ability to solve hard problems with urgency, creativity, and discipline
- Experience with MBSE software tools (e.g. CATIA Magic/Cameo Modeler)
- Familiarity with digital engineering toolchains, model-based methods, and model-centric architecture development
- Active Top Secret security clearance
Working Environment & Physical Demands:
- Travel as required (10%)
- Ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods of times and light physical effort as required
Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:
https://www.northropgrumman.com/space
Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.
Northrop Grumman Total Rewards
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Primary Level Salary Range: $91,800.00 - $137,600.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $108,800.00 - $171,000.00The 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 field with 2 years of professional experience, or master's degree with 0 years of professional experience for Level 2
- Bachelor's degree in a STEM field with 5 years of professional experience, master's degree with 3 years of professional experience, or PhD with 1 year of professional experience for Level 3
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance
- Hands-on Model-Based Systems Engineering experience on complex aerospace, defense, or advanced technology programs
- Experience in system architecture, requirements analysis, interface definition, and technical decomposition of complex systems
- Analytical problem-solving ability and strong technical skills
- Results- and deadline-driven work style
- Excellent oral, written, and presentation communication skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office software
- Ability to work independently with minimal direction and contribute effectively in a team environment
- Advanced degree in Systems Engineering or a related technical field
- Experience supporting advanced development, campaign planning, or early-phase concept definition for space applications
- Experience influencing technical direction across cross-functional teams
- Ability to solve complex problems with urgency, creativity, and discipline
- Experience with MBSE software tools such as CATIA Magic or Cameo Modeler
- Familiarity with digital engineering toolchains, model-based methods, and model-centric architecture development
- 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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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage offers multiple medical plan options by region alongside dental, vision, mental‑health resources, and wellness programs. Recent materials also highlight added family‑building support, including a dedicated fertility benefit.
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Retirement Support — The 401(k) savings plan is positioned as competitive with a company match, auto‑escalation features, and access to an employee stock fund/ESPP. Official filings and benefits guides emphasize retirement as a core element of the Total Rewards package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Many sites offer a 9/80 schedule, generous PTO, paid holidays, and flexible/telework options where program needs allow. Paid parental and caregiver leave are prominently featured, with recent enhancements for the delivering parent.
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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.








