Principal/ Sr. Principal Systems Engineer

Northrop Grumman Corp. (AU); San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 125,300 - 234,600; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking a Principal Cyber Systems Engineer to support the Sentinel program across multiple locations, including San Diego, CA. The CSSE will translate cybersecurity requirements into system design, guide security architecture, and ensure protections are integrated across weapon system designs.

Responsibilities include collaboration with cross‑functional teams, implementation guidance, and participation in cybersecurity assessment activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Cybersecurity Engineering, Computer Engineering or Computer Science.
• Experience with RMF assessment and authorization artifacts per NIST SP 800-37.
• Active Secret clearance with ability to obtain TS clearance.

Responsibilities

• Define cyber systems architecture and requirements with traceability.
• Guide security architecture and select security tools.
• Develop and document standard engineering processes and participate in reviews.
• Perform cyber-attack surface analysis and mitigate risks.
• Support governance, risk management, and verification efforts.

Skills

Excellent communication (written and

Agile & DevSecOps

Cyber systems engineering

MBSE (Model-Based Systems Engineering)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering / Cybersecurity / CS

Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant field

9+ years cyber systems engineering experience in lieu of degree

Tools

Cameo

IBM DOORS

Job description

Relocation assistance may be available.

Clearance required for start: Yes.
Clearance type: Secret.
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 Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission‑enabling solutions for global security. Our Engineering and Sciences (E&S) organization pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered with providing the skills and innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter. Come be a part of our mission!

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems Mission Defense Cyber Team has an opening for a systems engineer in the Cyber specialty discipline. As a Cybersecurity Systems Engineer (CSSE) supporting the Sentinel program based out of TBD (including Roy Annapolis Junction, MD; San Antonio, TX; Redondo Beach, CA; Huntsville, AL; San Diego, CA; and Colorado Springs, CO).

A CSSE will implement weapon system requirements to ensure cyber survivability attributes are implemented in system designs. The responsibilities include assessing and evaluating the customers’ and stakeholders’ cybersecurity requirements, decomposing and refining the system’s cybersecurity requirements at all levels, guiding security architecture, selecting security tools, evaluating implementations, identifying security risks, and ensuring cybersecurity protections are functional, effective, and complete. The CSSE supports security governance, risk management, and the development of verification efforts.

Cyber Systems Engineering Technical Support to Program

• 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.
• As a member of a team of specialized NGMS cyber systems engineers, support the development and enhancement of Launch and Missile Defense systems.
• Participate as part of an extended team of U.S. government, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, Northrop Grumman Space, and supplier of cybersecurity practitioners across multiple program locations.
• Ensure weapon system compliance with all contractually obligated cybersecurity standards and guidance, including but not limited to 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, and computer architectures.
• Perform cyber‑attack surface analysis of system designs with recommendations to mitigate and reduce risk.
• Participate in cybersecurity assessment activities and review cybersecurity 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 and techniques to issues or studies 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 for a Principal Cyber Systems Engineer

• Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of experience, Master’s degree with 3 years of experience, or a PhD with 1 year of experience in Systems Engineering, Cybersecurity Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or 9 years of experience in a cyber systems engineering related field in lieu of a degree.
• Comprehension of systems engineering principles, theories and concepts.
• Ability to work semi‑independently with general direction from senior leadership.
• Direct experience utilizing NIST 800‑160 system security engineer and/or the system development life cycle.
• Direct experience in one or more of the following Systems Engineering activities: system requirements decomposition/derivation/flow‑down/traceability, architecture, high‑level/detail design, implementation, integration and test, and/or verification & validation.
• Direct experience supporting the development of RMF assessment and authorization artifacts to satisfy NIST SP 800‑37 requirements.
• Possession of an active Secret clearance.
• Ability to obtain a Top‑Secret clearance within the required timeframe.
• Ability to obtain Special Access to the program within six months of hire.
• Ability to obtain within six months of hire an IASAE II certification (CISSP preferred) in accordance with DoDI 8570/8140.

Preferred Qualifications

• IASAE level III certified (ISSEP, ISSAP) in accordance with DoDI 8570/8140.
• Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance with additional preference for SAP briefing on the Sentinel program.
• Software Assurance experience.
• Expertise with Model‑Based System Engineering (MBSE) and related 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 insight into 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 (Cyber, Nuclear Surety, etc.) 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 the planning, designing, implementation, testing, and delivery of a system with Cyber/Information Assurance 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 by analyzing, estimating, and implementing solutions to complex problems spanning multiple engineering disciplines.
• Ability to calmly negotiate challenging program requirements, strategies, and conflicting constraints among a large and diverse group of program stakeholders.

Salary & Benefits

Primary Level Salary Range: $125,300.00 – $187,900.00.
Secondary Level Salary Range: $156,400.00 – $234,600.00.

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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 Northrop Grumman EEO. U.S. citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.