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Systems Engineer Level 3 or Level 4

Gilbert, Arizona, United States
Full Time On-site
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’s Space Systems Sector is seeking a Systems Engineer – Level 3 and Level 4 to join our team in either Gilbert, Arizona or Dulles, VA.

Spacecraft Payload Engineers are key members of a cross-disciplinary team helping drive the design, development, integration & test, launch, and on-orbit operations of space vehicles. As a Spacecraft Payload Engineer, you will have unique opportunities to witness and take part in the entire engineering lifecycle culminating in the on-orbit delivery of fully mission capable space vehicles to our customers! Come join our team and help us keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

This Systems Engineer Level 3 and Level 4 position are for an individual contributor within a multi-disciplinary engineering team. The specific responsibilities of this position will be to manage the technical and functional interfaces of one or more hosted payload(s) to a spacecraft bus. Work products include the development of payload port-specific interface control documents (ICDs), managing giver-receiver materials, review and approval of bus accommodation documents, development of functional and performance test scripts, and identification of mechanical, electrical, and environmental constraints and requirements. Analysis roles include supporting science, experiment, and mission planning for the payload and evaluating mission performance and orbital operations.

Job Responsibilities:

  • Leverage your technical and leadership skills to help bring payload and platform Interfaces together to produce a spacecraft meeting contractual and mission requirements

  • Develop payload specific Interface control documents governing all mechanical, electrical, and functional interfaces to the host space vehicle

  • Recognize and mitigate payload related technical issues and risks

  • Play a key role in major program milestone and readiness reviews

  • Working with our customers, aid in the development of operational mission scenarios and payload concepts of operations

  • Support the planning, design, and execution of testing strategies to exercise payload functionality, measure performance, and verify survivability in the extreme launch and space environments

  • Provide on-floor support of integration, testing, and operational readiness of spacecraft and payloads. 

  • Directly support the Launch and On-orbit operations campaign for your designated mission at the launch site and Mission Operations Center

  • Lead by example and be willing to mentor, coach, train, guide, direct and advise junior staff

Basic Qualifications:

  • Systems Engineer Level - 3 -Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 5 years of engineering experience or Masters degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of engineering experience or PhD in a STEM discipline and 1 year of engineering experience.

  • Systems Engineer Level - 4 - Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 8 years of engineering experience or Masters degree in a STEM discipline and 6 years of engineering experience or PhD in a STEM discipline and 4 years of engineering experience.

  • Have a strong background in systems engineering to include architectural studies, technical baseline definition, requirements & interface management, hardware/software integration, test planning & execution, or operational support

  • Self-starter with strong technical problem-solving skills, an aptitude for understanding system and subsystem interactions and initiative to drive product development to closure

  • Prior experience in technical or project leadership positions

  • Must have active or current U.S. Government Top Secret Security Clearance and Ability to obtain TS/SCI Clearance at time of application. 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Active U.S. Government Top Secret Security clearance with SCI/SSBI at time of application.
  • Experience in space systems, spacecraft design, payloads or mission operations

  • Experience in system architecture, CONOPs development, or model-based system engineering

  • Experience with various technical tools such as MATLAB, STK, CORE, DOORS, or CAMEO

  • Experience in any of the following areas is also desired:  orbital mechanics, orbital debris modeling, spacecraft attitude control, power systems and modeling, avionics or digital electronics design, risk analysis, optics, communications, rocket propulsion, thermal engineering, or spacecraft integration and testing

  • Experience with Mission Operations for spacecraft

  • Knowledge of Launch Vehicles, System Safety, System Reliability, Contamination Control, EMI, Space Environments (Radiation, Surface Charging, etc.), and Human Factors is also desired.

  • Experience and/or training in Earned Value Management Systems

Primary Level Salary Range: $98,400.00 - $147,600.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $122,800.00 - $184,200.00

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.

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