2027 Software Engineer Intern – McClellan CA

Northrop Grumman Corp. (AU); Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 29,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking Software Engineer interns for the Mission Systems NIC division, located in McClellan, CA. You will join a team designing navigation and mission‑planning software, writing C/C++ and Python for embedded and real‑time platforms, and participating in Agile processes.

The internship emphasizes hands‑on development, code reviews, testing, and safety‑critical documentation, with exposure to DoD software lifecycles and security considerations.

Qualifications

• Pursuing full-time undergraduate or graduate degree in a software STEM field.
• Majoring in Software Engineering or Computer Science.
• Available to work 40 hours per week for at least 10 weeks in Summer 2027.
• Able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance; U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with senior software engineers to design, develop, and integrate software components for navigation and mission‑planning systems.
• Write clean, maintainable C/C++ and Python code that runs on embedded and real‑time platforms.
• Perform unit, integration, and system‑level testing using automated test frameworks and CI pipelines.
• Participate in code reviews and provide constructive feedback to improve quality.
• Document design decisions, APIs, and operational procedures for internal use and audits.
• Assist in troubleshooting and performance profiling of flight‑critical software to meet safety and latency needs.
• Contribute to safety‑critical certification artifacts (e.g., DO‑178C design reviews, IS‑145 safety analyses).
• Work in Agile Scrum teams: plan sprints, daily stand‑ups, reviews, and retrospectives.
• Coordinate with systems engineering, hardware integration, and security teams for end‑to‑end mission support.
• Explore emerging technologies (e.g., edge ML) to enhance navigation accuracy and resilience.

Skills

Embedded C/C++

Python

Agile/Scrum

Testing

Code reviews

Education

Pursuing undergraduate or graduate degree in Software Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

Git

CI/CD pipelines

Automated test frameworks

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: No

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 Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission‑enabling solutions for global security. We have a wide portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, and multi‑domain systems and technologies. Our differentiated battle management and cyber solutions deliver timely, mission‑enabling information and provide superior situational awareness and understanding to protect the U.S. and its global allies.

An internship at Northrop Grumman is unique. Sure, you’ll learn new skills, explore our enterprise, network with experts, connect with thought leaders, and finish with a resume that opens doors. But you’ll gain something even more valuable: pride in what you’ve done. Join us and launch your career. We’ll support you with training, professional development and networking opportunities, and our shared vision of global security.

Northrop Grumman is seeking Software Engineers for an internship opportunity. This position will be located at our Mission Systems sector in McClellan, CA.

The qualified candidate will become part of Northrop Grumman’s Navigation, Intelligence, and Connectivity (NIC) division.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with senior software engineers in the NIC division to design, develop, and integrate software components for navigation and mission‑planning systems.

• Write clean, maintainable C/C++ and Python code that will run on embedded and real‑time platforms.

• Perform unit, integration, and system‑level testing using automated test frameworks and continuous integration pipelines.

• Participate in code reviews, provide constructive feedback, and incorporate peer recommendations to improve code quality and reliability.

• Document design decisions, API specifications, and operational procedures for internal use and external audits.

• Assist in troubleshooting and performance profiling of flight‑critical software to meet stringent safety and latency requirements.

• Contribute to the development of safety‑critical certification artifacts (e.g., DO‑178C design reviews, IS‑145 safety analyses).

• Work within Agile Scrum teams: attend sprint planning, daily stand‑ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.

• Coordinate with cross‑functional teams (systems engineering, hardware integration, security) to ensure seamless end‑to‑end mission support.

• Explore and prototype emerging technologies (e.g., machine learning inference on edge devices, secure communication protocols) that could enhance navigation accuracy and resilience.

Basic Qualifications:

A candidate must meet ALL of the below criteria. The candidate must:

• Be a student who is enrolled full‑time and pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited college/university and will be enrolled full time in Fall 2027

• Be majoring in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related STEM degree.

• Be available to work full‑time (40 hours per week) for at least 10 weeks during summer 2027.

• Be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre‑requisite) as well as Program Special access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs (U.S. citizenship is a pre‑requisite)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.00/4.0 or higher

• Hands on experience with embedded C/C++ development on embedded and real time platforms.

• Familiarity with safety critical software development processes and standards (e.g., DO 178C, ISO26262).

• Proficiency in Python for rapid prototyping and data analysis.

• Experience with Agile/Scrum practices, automated testing frameworks, and code review tools.

• Exposure to defense acquisition or DoD software lifecycle processes is a plus.

Intern Pay Range:

Bachelor’s: $21.50 to $39.00 per hour

Master’s: $30.50 to $48.00 per hour

At Northrop Grumman, our internship pay rates are standardized and take into account three main factors: the anticipated graduation date of the individual, the cost of labor of the geographic location, and whether the internship is considered technical or administrative.

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Primary Level Salary Range: $21.50 - $39.00

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.

Job Category: Administrative Services