Senior Principal Cyber Systems Engineer

Northrop Grumman; Fair Lakes (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid holidays

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Space Systems in the United States is seeking an experienced Cyber Systems Engineer to support advanced missions. You will help design baked‑in cybersecurity protections, guide technical teams, and ensure RMF compliance across the program lifecycle.

The role requires strong communication, rigorous analysis, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to meet DoD security objectives. Responsibilities include evaluating security controls, documenting RMF artifacts, and

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph willingness.
• Experience with RMF/NIST 800-37 accreditation and POAM management.
• Experience in RMF documentation and security packages.
• Ability to develop RMF assessment documentation and plans.

Responsibilities

• Support architecture and design of baked‑in cybersecurity requirements.
• Provide cybersecurity system engineering guidance to technical teams.
• Review stakeholder security objectives, protection needs and verification methods.
• Identify costs/benefits of security functions to inform trade‑offs.
• Author and maintain cybersecurity program documentation and RMF artifacts.
• Apply CSSE responsibilities to Cross Domain Solutions (CDS) and related areas.

Skills

RMF knowledge

Security governance

Cybersecurity requirements

Technical writing

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

DOORS

CAMEO

DevSecOps tools

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SCITRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescriptionAt 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.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 Space Systems (NGSP) is seeking an experienced Cyber Systems Engineer supporting our Advanced Tactical Missions Business Unit (BU) to support a program out of our Linthicum, MD, Fairfax, VA or Morrisville, NC locations.A Cyber Systems Engineer ensures cyber protection needs are implemented in system designs as it assesses/evaluates the customers’/stakeholders’ cybersecurity requirements to decompose, derive, and refine the system’s cybersecurity requirements at all levels to drive the built-in cybersecurity protections to the architecture and design. The CSSE also guides/supports the security layout / architecture and influences the security tools selection and development. The CSSE evaluates/assesses the proposed and realized implementations to identify security risks, attack surface, and verify the cybersecurity protections from the design are realized and integrated. The CSSE guides/supports the development of verification efforts to ensure the cybersecurity protections / capabilities are functional, effective, and complete. A CSSE supports the definition of security governance, and risk management.As a Cyber Systems Engineer on this team, you will have the following responsibilities:Support the architecture and design of baked-in cybersecurity requirements and protectionsProvide cybersecurity system engineering implementation guidance and oversight to technical teams/implementersReview and Assess stakeholder security objectives, protection needs and concerns, security requirements, and associated verification/validation methodsProvide security considerations to inform systems engineering efforts with the objective of reducing errors, flaws, and weaknesses that may constitute security vulnerability leading to unacceptable asset loss and consequencesIdentify, quantify, and evaluate the costs/benefits of security functions and considerations to inform analysis of alternatives, engineering trade-offs, and risk treatment decisionsAuthor, support and maintain cybersecurity program documentation & RMF package documentation: Cybersecurity Strategies, System Security Plans, Continuous Monitoring Plans, Risk Assessment Report, Security Control Traceability Matrix, Plan of Actions & Milestones, etc.Apply the above CSSE responsibilities to Cross Domain Solutions (CDS) and, where required, to other specific technical areas of the systemBasic Qualifications:Bachelor's degree and 8 years of relevant experience; 6 years of relevant experience with a Master's; 4 years of relevant experience with a PhDRequires an active U.S. Government TS/SCI clearance current and within scope at time of application must have willingness to sit for a polygraphDirect experience developing RMF assessment and authorization documentationExperience of RMF (NIST 800-37) accreditation functions, including documentation, scanning, assessment, Plan of Action and Milestones (POAM) management, and all steps of the RMF processDirect experience assessing the ProgramNulls system security posture in compliance with customer requirements and directives.Experience with requirements development from control listingsExperience with integrating Cyber Systems Engineering requirements with Program System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) initiativesExperience of adjusting commercial security methodologies and technologies within sensitive and proprietary customer environments in accordance with NIST 800-53Apply analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of Cybersecurity implementationDirect experience of strong written and oral communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills both with internal teams, internal management and external customersExperience of Department of War (DoW)/Intelligence Community (IC) System Security Engineering activitiesPossession of Security+ Certification or Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) CertificationExperience working in an Agile execution frameworkPreferred Qualifications:Active TS/SCI with an adjudicated polygraphExpertise with all aspects of Systems Security Engineering as defined in NIST SP 800-160System security architecture experienceExperience in configuring and deploying Cross Domain Solutions (CDS)Experience working with DOORS and CAMEOSecurity related tool suites in DevSecOps pipelinesExperience in Communications Security (COMSEC)Experience working on a multidisciplinary team and developing technical proposals. #NoVASpace#SpaceSysEngJobs#SpaceEngJobs#MorrisvilleSpace#SPEnhancedERAPPrimary Level Salary Range: $0.00 - $0.00The 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.