Principal Engineer DevOps – SW Engr III (26-404)

Northrop Grumman Corp.; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 104,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan

Savings plan

Paid time off

Education assistance

Training and development

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Corp. in Colorado Springs is seeking a Principal Engineer DevOps—SW Engr III to design and operate CI/CD pipelines, develop software in Python and Java, and implement IaC for mission-critical missile defense systems. On-site work is required; travel may be needed.

Applicants must hold an active Secret clearance and be prepared for Top Secret eligibility. The role emphasizes collaboration across engineering teams, documentation, and KPI-driven performance improvements within a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/SE or related field with relevant experience
• 8140 certification at IAT Level II or higher required to start
• Active Secret clearance required to start; Top Secret clearance possible

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain scalable CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI, Jenkins)
• Develop software in Python and Java; write scripts (Bash/PowerShell)
• Apply Infrastructure as Code and SDN approaches for automated networks
• Create and maintain documentation for software assets and pipelines
• Develop automation scripts to streamline DevOps workflows
• Troubleshoot system/pipeline issues; improve reliability
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and present KPIs to leadership
• Support occasional after-hours activities as needed

Skills

Python

Java

Bash

PowerShell

CI/CD

GitLab

Jenkins

RESTful API

Git

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Software Engineering

8140 certification at IAT Level II or higher

Tools

GitLab

Job description

Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

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 Space Systems—Missile Defense Integration offers an excellent opportunity for a Principal Engineer DevOps – SW Engr III (26-404) to join our team of skilled and diverse professionals. Based in Colorado Springs, CO, this role is essential to supporting the U.S. President, the Secretary of Defense, and combatant commanders at the strategic, regional, and operational levels.

This position does not provide relocation assistance and requires on-site work with no remote options.

Position Overview:

• Systematically plan ballistic missile defense operations


• Collectively monitor the battle as it develops


• Dynamically manage designated, networked sensors and weapon systems to achieve global and regional mission objectives

C2BMC supports layered missile defense capabilities that enable an optimized response to threats across all ranges and phases of flight. It serves as a force multiplier by networking, integrating, and synchronizing autonomous sensor and weapon systems and operations—both globally and regionally—to improve performance. C2BMC is also essential for all ground and flight tests that verify and demonstrate current and future capabilities of missile defense systems.

As a Software Engineer III focused on DevOps and CI/CD, you will help drive modern software delivery practices and resilient infrastructure for this mission-critical enterprise.

Essential Functions:

• Design, build, implement, and maintain scalable CI/CD pipelines using tools such as GitLab CI and Jenkins to support efficient, reliable software delivery


• Develop and maintain complex software applications in languages such as Python, Java, and scripting languages including Bash and PowerShell


• Implement solutions for an enterprise-scale network, including Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and Software-defined Networking (SDN) approaches to optimize and automate network management


• Develop and maintain documentation for all software assets, including CI/CD pipelines, architecture diagrams, configuration details, and tooling guides


• Develop and enhance automation scripts and services (primarily in Python or Java) to improve DevOps workflows and reduce manual effort


• Troubleshoot and resolve issues across building systems, pipelines, and cloud-based or virtualized environments to restore services quickly and improve system reliability


• Collaborate closely with cross-functional engineering teams to refine deployment processes, improve system performance, and enhance operational efficiency


• Create, maintain, and present KPIs and other metrics related to Network Enterprise, providing clear, data-driven insights to leadership and stakeholders


• Support critical activities outside of standard business hours, including evenings and weekends, as required by mission needs


• Perform any other required tasks necessary to meet program objectives in a fast-paced, mission-focused environment

Basic Qualifications:

Please list your current security clearance and IAT or relevant certifications on your resume, if applicable.

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field from an accredited university, along with 5 years of experience; or a Master’s degree in a related field with 3 years of relevant work experience; or 9 years of relevant work experience may be considered as an alternative to a degree


• Applicants must have a current, active Government-Issued 8140 certification at IAT Level II or higher (such as Security+ CE, GSEC, SCNP, SSCP, CISSP, CISA, GSE, SCNA, etc.) at the time of application, which is required to start. The candidate is responsible for maintaining their 8140 certifications throughout the entire contract period


• Applicants must have a current, active in-scope Government-issued Secret security clearance at the time of application, which is required to start, with the ability to obtain Top Secret clearance


• Must be able to travel to alternate work locations to execute job duties such as deployments, test events, or operational support


• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create and present clear technical content using Microsoft PowerPoint and Visio


• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a high-performance team environment, as well as independently on large field or deployment projects


• Experience coding in Python and Java, and scripting in Bash and PowerShell


• Understanding of object-oriented programming principles, RESTful API integration, and Git-based version control practices


• Strong ability in scripting and test automation of software tools and services


• Experience with Git-based version control systems (e.g., GitLab)


• Experience building, maintaining, or supporting CI/CD pipelines utilizing DevOps practices (e.g., GitLab CI, Jenkins)


• Understanding of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and Agile methodologies


• Experience troubleshooting and resolving moderately complex system or pipeline issues


• Experience collaborating across teams to deliver features, automation, and process improvements

Preferred Qualifications:

• Applicants with a current, active in-scope Government-issued Top Secret security clearance at the time of application are highly preferred


• Prior C2BMC program experience or direct Missile Defense System experience


• Experience developing KPIs and tracking metrics, including creating clear reports and dashboards for technical and leadership audiences


• Front-end design experience, particularly in JavaScript (ideally React), TypeScript, HTML, and CSS


• Experience in cybersecurity, especially vulnerability management, monitoring, and remediation activities within mission or enterprise environments


• Experience with commercial automation and infrastructure tools such as Ansible, Terraform, and/or VMware Aria


• Experience with basic networking principles and configuration of networking equipment


• Familiarity with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker) and basic orchestration concepts


• Experience with major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)


• Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation)


• Exposure to Kubernetes or other container orchestration platforms

What We Can Offer You:

• Health Plan


• Savings Plan


• Paid Time Off


• Education Assistance


• Training and Development


• Flexible Work Arrangements

https://benefits.northropgrumman.com/us/en2/BenefitsOverview/Pages/default.aspx

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Primary Level Salary Range

$103,600.00 - $155,400.00

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.