Northrop Grumman Space Systems, Multi-Domain Operations, and Missile Defense Integration Business Unit (BU) has an exciting career opportunity for a Principal / Sr. Systems Engineer – Level 3 or 4 to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position will be in Huntsville, AL.
What you will get to do:
- Perform model-based systems engineering (MBSE) functional and behavior analysis for a software and hardware integrated system.
- Participate in a MBSE environment to develop system-of-systems requirements via system/component trade studies and analysis.
- Contributes to publishing change notices to system specification and update of requirements databases, architectural models, interface definitions, and trace system and Element level requirements.
- Document analysis results in reports and briefings for critique and review by internal and external stakeholders.
- Create and present briefings within the team and external stakeholders.
- Duties will include leading system engineering in the development of requirements, model, and tracking status of verification.
- Perform detailed tracking of changes to system requirements and verification
- Decompose hardware and software requirements from the Prime item design specification (PIDS).
The selected candidate should thrive in a fast-paced work environment with high expectations, significantly diverse assignments, and collaborative/team settings across all levels.
This requisition may be filled at a higher grade based on qualifications listed below.
This requisition may be filled at either a Principal Systems Engineer – Level 3 or a Sr. Principal Systems Engineer – Level 4.
Basic Qualifications:
- Basic Qualifications for Principal Systems Engineer – Leve 3: Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline from an accredited university and 5 years of related work experience, or a Master's Degree in STEM and 3 years of related work experience, or 1 year of related work experience with a PhD in STEM.
- Basic Qualifications for Sr. Principal Systems Engineer – Level 4: Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline from an accredited university and 8 years of related work experience, or a Master's Degree in STEM and 6 years of related work experience, or 4 years of related work experience with a PhD in STEM.
- Strong prior experience with use of MSOSA (Cameo) and DOORS (Requirements decomposition).
- Applicants must demonstrate a strong technical background in architecture development, functional decomposition, requirements development and allocation, and interface definition with system-modeling tools.
- Applicants must have a strong background in MBSE (Model Based Systems Engineering) and the use of SysML to describe behaviors of a complex DoD system.
- Capable of working both independently and within a small team environment.
- Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% of the time to support business needs.
- Applicants must have a current active in-scope U.S. Government issued Secret security clearance at the time of application which is required to start.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated experience modeling or simulating missile defense applications or similar domains (air combat, air defense, intercept of ballistic targets, intercept of non-ballistic targets, space vehicles, sub-orbital mechanics, etc.).
- Systems modeling and analysis experience in aspects of the missile defense system (e.g., Aegis Weapons Systems, Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD), Glide Phase Intercept (GPI), Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS), Fire Control, C2BMC, MDS sensors (EO/IR/RF), kill vehicles, interceptors, countermeasures, etc.).
- Systems engineering experience with large, complex systems.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in STEM with 5+ years related experience (or Master's with 3+ years, or PhD with 1+ years)
- For Level 4: Bachelor's degree in STEM with 8+ years related experience (or Master's with 6+ years, or PhD with 4+ years)
- Strong prior experience with MSOSA (Cameo) and DOORS
- Strong technical background in architecture development, functional decomposition, requirements development and allocation, and interface definition using system-modeling tools
- Strong background in MBSE and use of SysML to describe complex DoD system behaviors
- Current active in-scope U.S. Government issued Secret security clearance at time of application (required to start)
- Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% of the time
- Experience modeling or simulating missile defense or related domains (air combat, intercept, space vehicles, sensors)
- Systems engineering experience with large, complex systems
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.






