Mission Architect Engineer (AHT)

0909 SP - Orbital Space Systems; United States; On-site; USD 114,000 - 213,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Northrop Grumman's Space Sector seeks a Principal/Senior Principal Engineer to lead mission integration in Chantilly, VA. 100% on-site with a 9/80 schedule, you will coordinate ground system and space vehicle integration, manage risks, and interface with customers and vendors to keep launches on schedule.

The role requires TS/SCI clearance, aerospace experience, and strong systems engineering and leadership capabilities.

Qualifications

• Active U.S. Government DoD Top-Secret/SCI clearance at time of application.
• Experience in aerospace with government agency or contractor.
• Strong systems engineering knowledge including requirements, modeling, simulation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the mission integration plan, schedule, milestones, and deliverables.
• Lead integration between space vehicles, ground system, and vendors.
• Serve as primary contact with customers and mission partners on status and issues.
• Onboard SVs into the ground system and ensure activation data delivery.
• Oversee Critical Path, risk management, and technical trades to protect launch dates.

Skills

Systems engineering

Multi-disciplinary teams

Program management

Customer interaction

Verbal and written communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree + 5 years experience

Master's degree + 3 years experience

PhD + 1 year experience

Tools

Python

STK

Modeling & simulation tools

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: SCI TRAVEL: No

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 Sector is seeking a Principal Mission Architect Engineer Level 3 or Senior Principal Mission Architect Engineer Level 4 to join our team in Chantilly, VA.

This position is 100% on site and does not support remote work.

This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.

This position is contingent upon the candidate obtaining final clearances and program access(es) within a reasonable period of time as determined by the company.

In this job, you will:

• Develop and manage the overall mission integration plan, schedule, milestones, and deliverables to ensure on-time delivery of the ground system in support of launches.


• Serve as the primary technical and programmatic lead for integration between the space vehicles, ground system, and vehicle vendors.


• Act as the primary point of contact with customers and mission partners regarding integration status, technical challenges, interface exchanges, and resolution of SV issues.


• Collaborate closely with the Phoenix team to onboard SVs into the ground system, identify necessary capabilities for mission execution, and ensure data delivery meets activation requirements.


• Oversee integrated Critical Path (IMS), risk management, and lead technical trades to secure customer concurrence, preserving launch dates and mission performance.


• Provide recommendations during reviews throughout the Space Vehicle lifecycle and propose improvements to mission architecture based on SV development maturations.


• Engage with space vehicle providers and stakeholders to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for enhanced mission performance and more effective integration.

Basic Qualifications:

• Level 3 - Principal Engineer


• Bachelor's degree with 5 years of professional experience or Master's degree with 3 years of professional experience or PhD with 1 year of professional experience


• Requires an active U.S. Government DoD Top-Secret/SCI security clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with an ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time


• Prior aerospace-related work experience with a U.S. Government Agency or Contractor


• Familiarity with systems engineering principles and practices, including requirements management, modeling, simulation, and analysis of complex systems


• Proven track record of managing multi-disciplinary technical teams and interfacing with senior leaders and government customers


• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences

Level 4 - Sr. Principal Engineer

• Bachelor's degree with 8 years of professional experience or Master's degree with 6 years of professional experience or PhD with 4 years of professional experience


• Requires an active U.S. Government DoD Top-Secret/SCI security clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with an ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time


• Prior aerospace-related work experience with a U.S. Government Agency or Contractor


• Familiarity with systems engineering principles and practices, including requirements management, modeling, simulation, and analysis of complex systems


• Proven track record of managing multi-disciplinary technical teams and interfacing with senior leaders and government customers


• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working on space security programs, including mission design, satellite ground software, and space vehicle integration


• Demonstrated experience in system-of-systems trades and risk management in support of launch and mission performance.


• Ability to propose creative solutions to optimize mission architecture and address inefficiencies in integration processes.


• Familiarity with agile methodologies and the use of modeling and simulation tools (e.g., Python, STK, or similar) to support technical decision-making.

Salary and Benefits:

• Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00


• Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00


• 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.


• Health insurance coverage


• Life and disability insurance


• Savings plan


• Company paid holidays


• 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.

We are a pioneering company. With careers across all areas: air, cyber, land, sea and space – our 90,000 employees work as one to defend and define the future. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will give you every opportunity to do your best work. Working together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines, we share a drive to push the boundaries of science, technology and engineering to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide.