Principal/Senior Principal Space Systems Engineer Mission Architect*

Northrop Grumman; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 114,000 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Space Systems in Chantilly, VA is seeking an experienced Mission Architect to join the Space Superiority Division. You will lead spacecraft and mission design, analyze operations, and coordinate across propulsion, guidance, and ground segments to enable advanced space missions.

The role emphasizes integration, system engineering, and translating complex concepts into clear program deliverables while supporting tests, launch prep, and mission execution in a fast-paced, on-site

Qualifications

• Requires active SCI clearance.
• Experience in space or ground systems.
• Experience in system architecture, CONOPs, mission engineering.
• Ability to work cross‑disciplinary with multiple engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop spacecraft and mission architectures, CONOPs, and operational scenarios.
• Perform mission analyses and trade studies.
• Define interfaces and ensure integration across subsystems.
• Support mission readiness reviews and customer briefings.

Skills

Systems engineering

CONOPS development

Mission analysis

Cross‑functional teaming

Education

Bachelor’s degree; 5+ years exp

Master’s degree; 3+ years exp

Tools

Cameo

STK

Matlab

Python

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.

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 in Chantilly, Virginia, is seeking an experienced Mission Architect to join the rapidly growing Space Superiority Division.

You’ll join a cross-disciplinary team that develops, integrates, tests, and delivers advanced spacecraft and mission systems for space security missions. The ideal candidate will bring substantial experience or demonstrated technical depth in spacecraft engineering, space mission design, mission analysis, or mission operations and apply that expertise to complex, operationally focused space missions. This team’s work is backed by hands‑on operational experience and a proven on‑orbit track record. Northrop Grumman leads the industry in advanced space mission capabilities, and joining this team means working alongside the people who helped make that true.

As a Mission Architect, you’ll serve as both the technical and programmatic centerpiece for mission integration, fusing together a ground system, Space Vehicle hardware, and various other system interfaces to enable new capabilities in orbit. You’ll solve challenging problems involving spacecraft performance, mission design, on‑orbit operations, and system integration while helping deliver resilient capabilities for demanding and dynamic operational environments.

Primary responsibilities may include:

• Developing and evaluating spacecraft and mission architectures, concepts of operations (CONOPS), design reference missions, and operational scenarios.
• Performing mission‑level analyses and technical trade studies.
• Assessing spacecraft day‑in‑the‑life operations and developing mission sequences for launch, commissioning, on‑orbit operations, and contingency scenarios.
• Collaborating across spacecraft, payload, guidance, navigation and control (GNC), software, communications, ground, and mission‑operations teams to develop an integrated spacecraft and mission solution.
• Working with mission partners to model and mature mission elements, operational concepts, interfaces, and execution plans.
• Supporting the development of new spacecraft and modification of existing spacecraft to enable an accelerated path from mission concept to launch and on‑orbit operations.
• Developing analysis, modeling, and automation tools to evaluate mission concepts, operational scenarios, design alternatives, and spacecraft performance.
• Developing and managing mission, system, and subsystem requirements, including decomposition, allocation, traceability, verification, and validation.
• Defining and managing internal and external interfaces among spacecraft, payloads, host vehicles, sensor suites, ground systems, and mission partners.
• Supporting spacecraft integration and test, mission‑readiness activities, launch preparation, commissioning, and on‑orbit execution.
• Supporting major program milestones, technical reviews, and mission‑readiness reviews by developing technical content and translating complex engineering information into clear assessments and briefings for customers, program leadership, and other key stakeholders.
• Authoring and contributing to mission‑engineering products, systems engineering artifacts, technical reports, and other critical program deliverables.

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

This position is 100% on-site and eligible for a $10,000 sign‑on bonus for external candidates.

Basic Qualifications:

• Level 3: 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
• Level 4: 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 Top-Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance at time of application
• Demonstrated experience supporting the development of a space or ground system
• Demonstrated Systems Engineering experience (e.g., requirements management, system architecture development, CONOPs development, mission engineering, modeling and simulation)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing technical briefings and communicating complex engineering information to senior technical, program, customer, or executive stakeholders.
• Experience collaborating across multiple engineering disciplines to resolve technical issues and develop integrated spacecraft or mission solutions.
• Experience in Space Superiority mission design, satellite ground software, distributed modeling & simulation
• Understanding of system of system architecture designs and the interplay between various national security customers and products
• Mission system requirements, verification/validation planning, mission planning/execution, mission analysis, modeling/simulation, system trade studies
• Proficiency in any modeling and simulation tools: Cameo, STK, Matlab, AFSIM, Python

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

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

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.