Principal Mission Payload Systems Engineer

Northrop Grumman; Redondo Beach (CA); On-site; USD 110,300 - 165,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision coverage

401k

Educational Assistance

Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Space Systems in Redondo Beach, California seeks a Principal Mission Payload Systems Engineer to advance space systems through comprehensive systems engineering, architecture trade studies, and performance modeling.

You will define requirements, develop segment interfaces, and leverage cutting-edge optical sensing, RF, and microelectronics technologies while overseeing payload hardware development and integration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with 5+ or 3+ years of engineering experience, or a PhD.
• Active DoD Top Secret clearance and SCI eligibility at time of application.
• Strong leadership, verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support new business acquisition and IRAD/technology development initiatives.
• Define system architectures, conduct trade studies, and develop specifications.
• Allocate and validate requirements; contribute to payload performance analysis.
• Design modeling and simulation tools for system-level performance evaluation.
• Lead payload hardware development for space and ground systems integration.

Skills

OPIR systems

Electro-Optics

Sensor design

Remote sensing

High energy lasers

Lasercom systems

Spacecraft design

Image processing

RF hardware design

Control systems

Structures/Dynamics

Education

Bachelors in STEM

Masters in STEM

PhD in STEM

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: SCI

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 Space Systems is seeking a Principal Mission Payload Systems Engineer to join our team in Redondo Beach, California.

This role focuses on advancing space systems through comprehensive systems engineering efforts. The Principal Mission Payload Systems Engineer will contribute to architecture trade studies, system design analysis, and performance modeling through advanced simulations. In this capacity, you will define and manage requirements, develop segment interfaces, and leverage cutting‑edge technologies in optical sensing, communications, directed energy, RF systems, digital hardware, and microelectronics.

Key Responsibilities

• Supporting new business acquisition and IRAD/technology development initiatives.
• Defining system architectures, conducting trade studies, and developing specifications.
• Allocating and validating requirements and contributing to payload performance analysis.
• Designing modeling and simulation tools for system-level performance evaluation.
• Leading payload hardware development for space and ground systems integration.
• Managing subcontractor performance, hardware manufacturing, and integration processes.

By joining this team, you’ll play a critical role in delivering advanced integrated hardware and software systems that enable missions spanning Earth and beyond. If you have the pioneering spirit and technical expertise to develop groundbreaking systems, we invite you to help define the future of space exploration and innovation.

This position is contingent upon capturing program award(s) along with acquiring and maintaining customer and/or business funding. Furthermore, 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. Continued employment thereafter will be subject to maintenance of the level of clearance and program access required for the position in the future.

Essential Experience

• Overhead Infrared (OPIR) system
• Electro-Optics
• Sensor design
• Remote sensing
• High energy laser systems
• Lasercom systems
• Spacecraft system design
• Image processing
• RF and digital hardware design
• Signal detection and estimation
• Control Systems
• Structures/Dynamics

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelors of Science degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) discipline and 5+ years of engineering experience OR a Masters of Science degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) discipline and 3+ years of engineering experience OR a Phd in a STEM discipline
• Possesses strong leadership qualities, as well as strong verbal and written communication skills
• Experience designing, integrating, testing and operating optical and/or RF systems
• Must have active DoD Top Secret AND the ability and willingness to obtain SCI clearance at time of application.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate Degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Computer Science
• Experience with remote sensing, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), communications or directed energy
• Candidates have completed relevant coursework in optics, control systems, remote sensing, lasercom and/or DSP
• Experience with baseband and EO/IR sensors, high energy lasers, and/or remote sensing applications
• Active TS with SCI clearance at time of application.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
• 401k
• Educational Assistance
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions
• Paid Time Off
• Health & Wellness Resources
• Employee Discounts
• Flexible Schedules: For example, the ability to work a 9/80 work schedule, which allows an employee to work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday and take every other Friday off of work.
• For more details, please view Northrop Grumman Benefits.

Primary Level Salary Range: $110,300.00 - $165,500.00

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.