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Principal

Advanced Programs - Principal / Sr Principal Systems Engineer - 16464

Confirmed live in the last 24 hours

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman

Compensation

$108,800 - $203,600/year

United States-Alabama-Huntsville
On-site
Posted April 1, 2026

Job Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman Strategic Deterrent Systems Division is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer / Senior Principal Systems Engineer (Product Support). This position will be in Huntsville, AL and supporting the Advanced Programs organization.

What You’ll Get To Do:

The successful candidate will provide conceptual and preliminary design support for the Nuclear Sea Launched Cruise Missile, focusing on reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) as well as the associated support equipment such as transportation vehicles. In addition, the candidate will make technical contributions to an expanding Advanced Programs team of designers, logisticians, and analysts dedicated to RAM and support equipment development, technology maturation, and new advanced concepts that address future deterrence requirements for cruise missiles and related subsystems—including cyber defense, security, decision aide tools, and other support systems.

In this role, the candidate will engage in RAM/Support/Sustainment trade studies, architecture development, and systems engineering, applying RAM design influence to generate credible conceptual and preliminary weapon system designs that satisfy customers’ performance, cost, schedule, and risk thresholds while clarifying the surrounding design space for capability trade offs among life cycle cost, technical availability dates, and overall capability.

Responsibilities also include identifying, assessing, and tracking the RAM/Support/Sustainment technology roadmap and any existing or emerging support system capability gaps to inform technology development and the conceptual design process. The candidate must demonstrate a strong commitment to ethics and integrity, the ability to innovate, and a willingness to challenge traditional business practices, while operating in an advanced design environment and collaborating across the Division and with suppliers to achieve team objectives. Additionally, the candidate will help conceptualize and mature new business opportunities for Division growth and will transition innovative solutions, technologies, and advanced concepts that support U.S. strategic deterrence interests into programs of record for product development and fielding.

Basic Qualifications:

This requisition may be filled at either the Principal Systems Engineer level (T-03) or Sr Principal Systems Engineer level (T-04).

  • Principal Systems Engineer: Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline from an accredited university with 5 years of related experience, 3 years with Masters, 1 year with PhD
  • Senior Principal Systems Engineer: Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM discipline from an accredited university with 8 years of related experience, 6 years with Masters, 4 years with PhD
  • Must have an active U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with an investigation date within the last 6 years
  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period, as determined by the company to meet its business needs

Preferred Qualifications:

  • 2+ years of experience with the Agile Approach
  • 2+ years of experience with MBSE (Model-Based Systems Engineering) Principles
  • 3+ years of experience with Requirements Development
  • 3+ years of experience with Systems Engineering Principles
  • Experience with DoD weapon system support system conceptual and preliminary design, particularly related to design analysis cycles, cost versus capability trade studies, and multi-design discipline integration
  • Experience with ballistic missile, cruise missile, and/or weapon support system design
  • Operational experience with Navy Strategic Weapons Facilities
  • Experience with digital design, model-based engineering, and modeling and simulation tools and processes
  • Experience with nuclear hardened strategic systems
  • Experience with Directed Trade Studies

As a full-time employee of Northrop Grumman, you are eligible for our robust benefits package including: 

  • Medical, Dental & Vision coverage 
  • 401k 
  • Educational Assistance 
  • Life Insurance 
  • Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions 
  • Paid Time Off 
  • Health & Wellness Resources 
  • Employee Discounts 

This position’s standard work schedule is a 9/80. The 9/80 schedule allows employees who work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday to take every other Friday off.

#Sentinelsystems

Primary Level Salary Range: $108,800.00 - $163,200.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $135,800.00 - $203,600.00

The 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.