Skip to content

Sr Principal Airborne Systems Operator (Top Secret Required; Chantilly VA)

Chantilly, Virginia, United States
Full Time On-site

Summary

Job Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top 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 Aeronautics Systems is seeking a Level 4 Senior Principal Airborne System Operator to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position will be located in Chantilly, VA.

You will work in Conduct Mission System and Air Vehicle ground and flight tests, as a crewmember or non-crewmember, to support the System Specification verification process, Production Verification, and follow on testing.

Responsibilities:

  • You will conduct Full Motion Video (FMV) and Electro/Optical Infrared (EO/IR) Imagery operations, as a crewmember, to support the system specification verification process, Production Verification, and follow on testing.
  • Must be able to operate in a high paced operations environment, communicate with leadership, customers, and other operation members to meet all requirements.
  • Must be able to multi-task objectives while monitoring equipment status, customer requirements, and manipulate sensors for optimum utilization.
  • Define plans, organize, and execute complex operation profiles and test events.
  • Conduct briefings, debriefings, coordinate with customers and Northrop Grumman personnel as well as engineers to analyze and correct discrepancies.
  • Act as engineering and data analysis liaison for future development Implementation for the system. Write technical reports for varying test events.
  • Attend sensor and mission system technical interchange meetings, preliminary design reviews, critical design reviews, and readiness reviews.
  • Support engineering with development of test plans, procedures, and test cards.
  • Conduct demonstrations with customers, leadership officials, or other personnel to exhibit performance, qualities and system capabilities.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Position requires 8 years of experience with Bachelors degree; 6 years with Masters and 3 years with PhD. 12 years of relevant experience may be used in lieu of education
  • Must be familiar with technical data and training development.
  • Must be familiar in FMV Operations and camera/imagery manipulation.
  • Must have 500+ hours of airborne systems operation and completion of a Basic FMV System Operator course.
  • Ability to analyze situations to discover facts, knowledge, interpretations to carry out prescribe actions(s).
  • Must be proficient using MS Office applications and have had experience using imagery software such as MAAS and Socet GXP. 
  • Must demonstrate excellent interpersonal and organizational skills as well as oral and written communication skills.
  • Must be willing to work a flexible work schedule that may include extended shifts, holidays, and weekends and support on call status for 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week, 365 days a year.
  • Applicants must be a US citizen and have a current and active US Government Top Secret clearance with ability to maintain, SCI eligible, and willingness to undergo a polygraph. 
  • The ability to obtain and retain Special Access Program clearance within 365 days from submission.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Previous simulator instructor experience

  • DoD experience and familiarity with PFPS, JMPS and/or

  • FalconView mission planning software is highly desired.

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