Senior Principal Systems Engineer - COMMS

0090 CORP-Corporate Office; United States; On-site; USD 135,800 - 203,600; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Plan

PTO

Education Assistance

Training and Development

9/80 Work Schedule

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Sr. Principal Systems Engineer (Comms) for an on-site role in Linthicum, MD. The position requires a U.S.

citizenship and a current Secret clearance, with 8+ years of relevant experience (or 6+ with a Master’s or 4+ with a PhD). The candidate will lead COMMS waveform design, models, and system integration across multiple programs. The role emphasizes coordination with stakeholders, proposal support, and mentoring of engineers, with opportunities for advancement and

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Active U.S. Government Secret clearance is required.
• Experience in COMMS applications and modeling in MATLAB, Python, or C/C++.
• Experience in developing and implementing novel systems.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical SME for COMMS waveforms, capabilities, and CONOPS across programs.
• Provide technical consultation and guidance to internal stakeholders and external customers.
• Develop and maintain COMMS technology roadmaps aligned with customer needs and enterprise strategies.
• Coordinate and integrate COMMS activities with adjacent systems for end-to-end solution coherence.
• Lead and/or support technical trades, architecture development, and design reviews for COMMS solutions.
• Supervise, mentor, and provide technical oversight to junior and mid-level engineers in COMMS.
• Review, supervise, and validate performance models, link budgets, and system-level estimates.
• Support proposal development, including technical volumes, BOEs, and customer briefings.
• Represent the COMMS product area in forums and customer engagements.
• Identify technical risks and opportunities and propose mitigation.

Skills

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

Systems engineering

Education

Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of experience; Master’s with 6+ years; Ph.D. with 4+ years

Tools

Visio

Catia

Test equipment

Job description

About the Company

Northrop Grumman is a leading innovator in defense technology, designing and producing secure, affordable, integrated systems that help protect people worldwide. Our pioneering spirit has driven achievements from the first flight across the Atlantic to deploying stealth bombers and landing on the moon. We seek bold thinkers who bring new ideas, courage, and a pioneering spirit to invent the future and have fun along the way.

Position Overview

Sr. Principal Systems Engineer (Comms)Location: Linthicum, MD – 100% on‑siteClearance Required: U.S. Government Secret (transfer of active clearance required)

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical SME for COMMS waveforms, capabilities, and CONOPS across multiple programs and pursuits.
• Provide technical consultation and guidance to internal stakeholders (engineering, business development, program management) and external customers.
• Develop and maintain COMMS technology roadmaps aligned with emerging customer needs, mission threads, and enterprise strategies.
• Coordinate and integrate COMMS activities with adjacent systems and technologies to ensure end‑to‑end solution coherence.
• Lead and/or support technical trades, architecture development, and design reviews related to COMMS solutions.
• Supervise, mentor, and provide technical oversight to junior and mid‑level engineers working in the COMMS domain.
• Review, supervise, and validate performance models, link budgets, and system‑level estimates.
• Support proposal development, including technical volumes, basis‑of‑estimate inputs, and customer briefings.
• Represent the COMMS product area in internal and external technical forums, working groups, and customer engagements.
• Identify technical risks, gaps, and opportunities within the COMMS product area and propose mitigation and investment strategies.
• Develop and maintain comms‑related requirements within systems using existing military radios.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 8 years of experience, Master’s degree with 6 years of experience, or Ph.D. with 4 years of experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or related technical fields; an additional 4 years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Current/active U.S. Government Secret clearance.
• Experience in Comms applications, including developing and applying models in MATLAB, Python, and/or C/C++.
• Experience in developing and implementing novel systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics or other related technical fields.
• Strong understanding of networking strategies including TCP/IP & WAN architectures.
• Familiarity with current network products and technologies such as routers, firewalls, and switches.
• RF and digital system design & analysis.
• Antenna theory and operation.
• Comms integration and testing.
• System Performance Verification and Component qualifications for Flight System Engineering.
• Requirements derivation, design documentation (e.g., Visio, Catia), interconnects and rack elevations.
• Experience using simulators and test equipment to verify integration of radio within mission system.
• Knowledge of message formats for common DoD radio links (e.g., Link16).

Compensation and Benefits

• Primary Level Salary Range: $135,800.00 – $203,600.00. Compensation is based on scope of duties, experience, education, and market conditions.
• Eligible for overtime, shift differential, and discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.
• Annual bonuses reward individual contributions and share company results.
• Potential eligibility for Long Term Incentives for Vice President or Director level positions.
• Health Plan.
• Savings Plan.
• Paid Time Off (PTO).
• Additional benefits including Education Assistance, Training and Development.
• 9/80 Work Schedule (where available).
• Other benefits such as life and disability insurance, company paid holidays, and more.

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 http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO.