Principal Systems Engineer - Operations Analysis/ModSim

0090 CORP-Corporate Office; United States; On-site; USD 114,000 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance coverage

Paid vacation

Life and disability insurance

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer in Rancho Bernardo, CA, or El Segundo, CA. This role involves developing and delivering advanced systems engineering products, supporting analysis and modeling activities, and creating simulation tools.

The ideal candidate will possess strong programming skills in MATLAB and Python, have experience with military systems, and require a U.S. Government Top Secret clearance. A competitive salary range from $114,000 to $171,000 is offered, along with substantial benefits.

Qualifications

• 5 years of relevant military or professional experience.
• Experience developing physics-based models.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly.

Responsibilities

• Support Operations Analysis and M&S activities.
• Plan and execute studies and analyze results.
• Develop analytical models and simulation tools.

Skills

Object-oriented programming in MATLAB

Experience with C++

Experience with Python

Leadership and teamwork abilities

Excellent written and verbal communication

Education

Bachelor of Science in a STEM field

Master of Science in a STEM field

PhD in a STEM field

Tools

GitHub

Bitbucket

MATLAB

Simulink

Job description

Relocation Assistance

Relocation assistance may be available.

Clearance Requirements

Top Secret clearance is required at start.

Travel

Travel: Yes, 10% of the time.

Job Overview

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems seeks a Principal Systems Engineer in Rancho Bernardo, CA or El Segundo, CA. The successful candidate will develop and deliver systems engineering products.

Essential Functions

• Support Operations Analysis and Modeling and Simulation (M&S) activities to inform trade studies, concepts of operations, and requirements.
• Plan and execute studies (trade studies, sensitivity analyses, Monte Carlo), analyze results, and visualize findings to drive data-informed decisions.
• Develop complex algorithms and scripts for mission simulation tools.
• Develop, integrate, and maintain analytical models and simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB/Python/Simulink) to evaluate system performance and mission effectiveness.
• Develop and integrate physics‑based RF algorithms with front‑end GUI interfaces.
• Learn and understand tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to support blue/red kill chains across security environments, programs, architectures, and platforms.
• Synthesize data from stakeholders and communicate results to leadership.
• Prepare clear technical documentation, concise briefings, and present results to technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication, strong interpersonal skills, and a collaborative, detail‑oriented approach.
• Show leadership and teamwork abilities.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in a STEM field with 5 years of relevant military or professional experience, OR Master of Science with 3 years of relevant experience, OR PhD with 1 year of relevant academic or professional experience.
• Experience developing physics‑based models and simulations using object‑oriented programming in MATLAB, Python, C++, or Java.
• Experience with object‑oriented languages (C#, Java) and modeling/simulation of radars, missiles, integrated air defense systems (IADS), or air and space platforms.
• Active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance or higher, with background investigation completed within the last 6 years or enrollment in Continuous Evaluation.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current SAP clearance.
• Active Top Secret clearance with background investigation within 5 years or enrollment in Continuous Evaluation.
• Experience working in a rapid prototyping environment.
• Familiarity with Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and system architecture integration.
• Experience with version control tools such as GitHub or Bitbucket.
• Knowledge of parallel computing architecture.
• Experience developing CI/CD pipelines (Git/TFS, Azure DevOps) and collaborating in version‑controlled, team environments.
• Operational military experience.

Salary and Benefits

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 – $171,000.00. The range is a general guideline; pay is based on the scope, responsibilities, experience, education, and market conditions. Employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonuses, and long‑term incentives. Benefits include health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, company paid holidays, and paid time off for vacation or personal business.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Decisions are made 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 the full EEO and pay transparency statement, visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions requiring a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.