Join Northrop Grumman on our continued mission to push the boundaries of possible across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. Enjoy a culture where your voice is valued and start contributing to our team of passionate professionals providing real-life solutions to our world’s biggest challenges. We take pride in creating purposeful work and allowing our employees to grow and achieve their goals every day by Defining Possible. With our competitive pay and comprehensive benefits, we have the right opportunities to fit your life and launch your career today.
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 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.
Are you interested in defining possible? Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking a candidate to fill a Systems Engineer / Principal Systems Engineer position.
Northrop Grumman is seeking an Systems Engineer / Principal Systems Engineer to join Mission Systems Discipline Engineering Organization. This position will be located in Chantilly, VA.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Collaborate with a multidisciplinary engineering team to design, integrate, enhance, and productionize solutions
Support the assembly, test, and documentation for hardware components, software integration, and systems of systems
Interface and collaborate with customers, end users, operators, and field representatives
Develop a comprehensive knowledge of system architecture & mission operations to be able to communicate both upwards and outwards
Conduct Acceptance Test Procedures (ATPs), failure analysis, documentation development, and operations development
Develop and maintain requirements
Participate in test events
This requisition may be filled at either a Systems Engineer or Principal Systems Engineer level.
Basic Qualifications for Systems Engineer:
Must have a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or an equivalent STEM related discipline.
Minimum of 2 years of experience with a Bachelor's degree; Minimum of 0 years with Master's degree; Minimum of 0 Years experience with PhD
Willing and able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI Security Clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite)
Strong interdisciplinary problem-solving skills, demonstrated by frequent and successful application of technical standards, theories, concepts, and techniques
A background and strong demonstrated success in test, design, and integration
Knowledge of RF and radio communication system components & functions
Experience with lab test equipment such as function generator, oscilloscope, multi-meter, spectrum analyzers, etc.
Knowledge and familiarity with Windows and Linux Operating Systems, specifically the ability to execute in command line and rapidly navigate both operating systems
Experience with networking architecture and cisco language
Basic Qualifications for Principal Systems Engineer:
Must have a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or an equivalent STEM related discipline.
Minimum of 5 Years of experience with a Bachelor's degree; Minimum of 3 Years with Master's degree; Minimum of 1 Years experience with PhD
Strong interdisciplinary problem-solving skills, demonstrated by frequent and successful application of technical standards, theories, concepts, and techniques
A background and strong demonstrated success in test, design, and integration
Knowledge of RF and radio communication system components & functions
Experience with lab test equipment such as function generator, oscilloscope, multi-meter, spectrum analyzers, etc.
Knowledge and familiarity with Windows and Linux Operating Systems, specifically the ability to execute in command line and rapidly navigate both operating systems
Experience with networking architecture and cisco language
Preferred Qualifications for both levels:
Active Top Secret/SCI security clearance
Experience in cable design and testing
Knowledge and experience with scripting for automation
Knowledge of system architecture
Strong knowledge of SIGINT operations
Experience with Acceptance Test Procedures (ATPs) and failure analysis
Demonstrated experience in documentation and operational processes development
Experience with schematic design tools (e.g. Mentor Graphics, Zuken, etc.)
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or an equivalent STEM-related discipline
- At least 2 years of experience with a bachelor’s degree for Systems Engineer level
- At least 0 years of experience with a master’s degree or PhD for Systems Engineer level
- At least 5 years of experience with a bachelor’s degree for Principal Systems Engineer level
- At least 3 years of experience with a master’s degree for Principal Systems Engineer level
- At least 1 year of experience with a PhD for Principal Systems Engineer level
- Willingness and ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
- Strong interdisciplinary problem-solving skills
- Demonstrated success in test, design, and integration
- Knowledge of RF and radio communication system components and functions
- Experience with function generators, oscilloscopes, multimeters, spectrum analyzers, and other laboratory test equipment
- Familiarity with Windows and Linux operating systems, including command-line use
- Experience with networking architecture and Cisco language
- Active Top Secret/SCI security clearance
- Experience in cable design and testing
- Scripting experience for automation
- Knowledge of system architecture
- Strong knowledge of SIGINT operations
- Experience with Acceptance Test Procedures and failure analysis
- Experience developing documentation and operational processes
- Experience with schematic design tools such as Mentor Graphics or Zuken
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.
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.
