Skip to content

Command and Control Enclave (C2E) Architect – Sr. Principal Engineer Systems Architect

El Segundo, California, United States
Full Time On-site
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 25% 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 Aeronautics Systems has an opening for Command and Control Enclave (C2E) Architect - Senior Principal Engineer Systems Architect to join the team of qualified individuals on our Research and Advanced Design organization. This role is located onsite in El Segundo, CA.

In the role, the successful candidate will serve as the primary technical expert responsible for delivering tailored architectural solutions that meet contract requirements within C2E and supporting other system architects. The focus is on conducting detailed trade studies, defining system integration approaches, and ensuring that design and development efforts align with the project's technical objectives. In this individual contributor role, the successful candidate will work closely with Systems Engineering and other technical teams to support the realization of contract deliverables.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead contract-specific trade studies and technical assessments to evaluate alternative design approaches, ensuring optimal performance, cost effectiveness, and alignment with C2E requirements.
  • Develop and refine architectural strategies for hardware, software, support systems, and networking elements that underpin C2E.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define and validate system requirements, ensuring seamless integration and proper testing throughout the system lifecycle.
  • Analyze system performance, interface compatibility, and payload integration to deliver robust and scalable architecture solutions specific to C2E operations.
  • Serve as the primary technical point-of-contact for inquiries related to the architectural direction and trade study outcomes, facilitating clear and effective communication with customers and internal stakeholders.
  • Prepare and deliver technical documentation, design reviews, and strategic proposals to support contract execution and ongoing system improvements.
  • Apply rigorous engineering processes to all development, integration, and testing activities, ensuring compliance with company policies and quality standards.

We offer flexible work arrangements, 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off, phenomenal learning opportunities, exposure to a wide variety of projects and customers, and a very friendly team environment. We are looking for self-motivated, proactive, and goal-oriented people to help us grow our services and become even better at what we do.
 

Basic Qualifications:

  • Must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) discipline AND 8 years of related professional/military experience OR a Master of Science degree in a STEM discipline AND 6 years of related professional/military experience, OR a STEM Ph.D. AND 4 years of related professional/military experience

  • Must have an active US Government Top Secret clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation)

  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance, within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.

  • Must have experience in large system development, integration, and test processes, with a strong emphasis on technical analysis and trade studies.

  • Must have ability to drive technical initiatives as an individual contributor, managing complex tasks with minimal supervision.

  • Must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively interface with customers, cross-functional teams, and management.

  • Must have a background in system architecture, with experience in software, hardware, networking, and/or related engineering disciplines.

  • Must have familiarity with various phases of engineering including concept development, testing, integration, and/or operational execution.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in a STEM field
  • Experience in developing technical proposals and statements of work related to DoD contracts.
  • Well-versed in DoD systems engineering requirements and agile engineering methodologies.
  • Understanding of earned value management, control account management, and digital transformation strategies.
  • Knowledge of cyber protocols, network architecture, and data processing operations.

Primary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00

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.

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States, building advanced systems across space, air, land, sea, and cyber domains. The company is known for some of the most complex defense programs in the world, including stealth aircraft, autonomous systems, missile defense technologies, satellites, and space-based intelligence platforms that support U.S. national security operations.

For job seekers, Northrop Grumman offers careers across a wide range of high-impact fields including aerospace engineering, software development, cybersecurity, systems engineering, manufacturing, program management, and intelligence support. The company is especially attractive to veterans, cleared professionals, and engineers who want to work on mission-critical systems that directly support the Department of Defense and intelligence community. Many roles involve long-term programs with significant technical depth and real-world operational impact.

Unlike smaller defense startups focused on narrow capabilities, Northrop Grumman operates across multiple major mission areas, giving employees exposure to highly advanced programs such as stealth platforms, space systems, autonomous vehicles, and next-generation command-and-control systems. The company is also a major leader in classified space and intelligence systems, where cutting-edge engineering and secure infrastructure play a critical role in national defense.

As global competition in space, cyber, and advanced military systems continues to intensify, Northrop Grumman remains one of the most strategically important employers in the defense industry. For professionals seeking stable, highly technical careers with long-term impact on national security, Northrop Grumman continues to stand out as a leading destination in aerospace and defense.

Go to company profile