Principal Cyber Systems Engineer (S)

Northrop Grumman; Jessup (MD); On-site; USD 125,300 - 187,900; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Flexible work schedules

Education assistance and training

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Jessup, MD, is seeking a Principal Cyber Systems Engineer to design and secure cyber systems for the Sentinel program. The role requires an understanding of systems engineering principles and collaboration across engineering teams.

You will implement requirements ensuring compliance with cybersecurity standards, provide technical guidance, and participate in assessments and engineering reviews. The position has a salary range of $125,300.00 – $187,900.00, with comprehensive benefits and a focus on work-life balance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 5 years’ experience or Master’s with 3 years.
• Direct experience in systems engineering activities.
• Active Secret clearance and must obtain Top-Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Implement weapon system requirements for cyber survivability.
• Guide security architecture and influence tool selection.
• Evaluate implementations for security risks.

Skills

NIST 800-160 System Security Engineering

Systems Engineering Principles

Cybersecurity Practices

Agile Methodology

Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering or related field

Tools

IBM DOORS

Cameo

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Job Overview

Principal Cyber Systems Engineer – Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, Annapolis Junction, MD.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems provides mission‑enabling solutions for global security. This role involves designing, implementing, and securing cyber systems for the Sentinel program across multiple locations.

Responsibilities

A Cybersecurity Systems Engineer (CSSE) will implement weapon system requirements to ensure cyber survivability attributes are implemented in system designs, assess and evaluate customers’ and stakeholders’ cybersecurity requirements, decompose and refine the system’s cybersecurity requirements, guide security architecture, and influence security tool selection. The CSSE evaluates implementations to identify security risks and verify that protections are realized and integrated. The CSSE supports the definition of security governance and risk management.

• Work within the Systems Engineering Group to provide technical decisions and guidance to enable timely, high quality product deliveries and flight test events that meet mission cyber requirements
• Partner and collaborate with other program systems engineers across Integrated Product Teams to accomplish program cyber requirements and meet mission objectives
• Support the development and enhancement of launch and missile defense systems as a member of a specialized NGMS cyber systems engineering team
• Participate as part of an extended team of U.S. government, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, Northrop Grumman Space, and supplier cybersecurity practitioners across multiple program locations
• Ensure weapon system compliance with all contractually obligated cybersecurity standards and guidance, including CNSSI 1253, DoD 8570, DoD 8510, and AFI 17-101
• Propose and design cyber systems architecture changes with traceability to requirements
• Provide cyber implementation guidance and oversight across technical teams
• Develop and document technical standard engineering processes and procedures as needed
• Participate in engineering reviews of technical requirements, design and implementation plans prior to development of computer systems, digital communications systems, networking devices, computer architectures
• Perform cyber‑attack surface analysis of system designs and recommend mitigations
• Participate in cybersecurity assessment activities and review assessment methods, plans, procedures, reports and security penetration test planning and execution
• Provide input to program milestones and metrics, adhering to cybersecurity‑relevant plans and schedules
• Identify problems and research technical solutions to resolve these problems
• Apply analytical and evaluative methods to issues concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of cybersecurity implementation
• Solve complex problems across disciplines in an Agile, DevSecOps environment
• Support program engineering review boards

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 5 years’ experience, Master’s with 3 years, or PhD with 1 year in Systems Engineering, Cybersecurity Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or 9 years’ experience in a cyber systems engineering related field in lieu of a degree
• Comprehension of systems engineering principles, theories and concepts
• Able to work semi independently with general direction from senior leadership
• Direct experience utilizing NIST 800‑160 system security engineering or the system development life cycle
• Direct experience in systems engineering activities: requirements decomposition, architecture, high‑level/detail design, implementation, integration and test, and/or verification & validation
• Direct experience supporting RMF assessment authorization artifacts to satisfy NIST SP 800‑37 requirements
• Active Secret clearance
• Must be able to obtain Top‑Secret clearance
• Must be able to obtain Special Access
• Able to obtain within six months of hire an IASAE II certification (CISSP preferred)

Preferred Qualifications

• IASAE level III certified (ISSEP, ISSAP)
• Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance with preference for SAP briefing on the Sentinel program
• Software Assurance experience
• Expertise with Model‑Based System Engineering (MBSE) and tools such as Cameo
• Expertise with requirement management tools such as IBM DOORS
• Knowledge of cyber security systems engineering practices, network technologies, DoD system development life cycles and methodologies, and information technology infrastructure management/monitoring and applications
• Expertise with containerized software systems in accordance with DoD DevSecOps Reference Design
• Experience innovating in cybersecurity accreditation processes and procedures in a multi‑certification context as part of a Digital Engineering Environment
• Experience authoring and maintaining critical program authorization documents such as Cybersecurity Strategies, System Security Plans, Continuous Monitoring Plans, Security Assessment Plans
• Experience in a systems engineering role with responsibilities in planning, designing, implementing, testing, and delivering a system with cyber/IA requirements
• Excellent communication (written and oral), negotiation, coordination, and interpersonal skills
• Proven collaboration with program managers and customer representatives to meet program objectives
• Experience managing and directing efforts following an Agile and DevSecOps process model
• Proven success analyzing, estimating, and implementing solutions to complex problems across engineering disciplines
• Ability to calmly negotiate challenging program requirements, strategies, and conflicting constraints among a large diverse group of stakeholders

Benefits and Compensation

Primary Level Salary Range: $125,300.00 – $187,900.00

Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes health plan, savings plan, paid time off, education assistance, training and development, and additional benefits. Flexible work schedules such as a 9/80 work schedule are available where applicable. Employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonus, and long‑term incentives depending on the position.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 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 other restricted positions.