Software Engineers (Level 2 or 3)

0909 SP - Orbital Space Systems; United States; On-site; USD 91,800 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid holidays

Job summary

0909 SP - Orbital Space Systems in Dulles, VA, is seeking a Software Development Engineer to develop, integrate, deploy, and sustain satellite ground software. You will contribute across OS and platform layers, delivering first‑of‑a‑kind capabilities and services with Python, C++, and PostgreSQL.

The role requires U.S. citizenship and active Top Secret clearance (TS/SCI). You will work on a fast‑paced team, collaborating to ensure mission success and secure national security priorities.

Qualifications

• Degree in computer science or engineering with relevant software experience.
• Experience with Python, C++ and Bash scripting.
• U.S. citizenship and active TS/SCI clearance or ability to obtain.

Responsibilities

• Full‑stack development across operating system, platform, and mission‑specific software layers.
• Develop client and server applications and services using service‑ or object‑oriented architectures with message‑bus‑based data exchange.
• Work across languages and toolsets such as Python, C++, Postgres, Ansible, cloud infrastructure provisioning, PKI, and static code analysis.
• Operate as a self‑starter, making decisions with project budget and schedule in mind.
• Support operations ground software and related configurations, troubleshooting software and hardware errors.
• Assist with acceptance testing events, run tests, and automate test configuration of ground segment software.
• Resolve and remediate software defects and enhance software per customer change requests or mission needs.
• Provide ground software support during launch and launch rehearsal events, and install new ground‑segment software in operational, development, and test environments.

Skills

Python

C++

Bash scripting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Engineering

Master’s degree

PhD

Tools

PostgreSQL

Ansible

PKI

Static code analysis

Job description

Relocation assistance may be available. Clearance required at start: Yes. Clearance type: Top Secret. Travel: Yes, 10% of the time.

Role Focus

In this role, you will develop, integrate, deploy, and sustain satellite ground software on the Dulles, VA campus, supporting Northrop Grumman’s Space Systems East Engineering Software Controls Engineering (SCE) group.

Responsibilities

• Full‑stack development across operating system, platform, and mission‑specific software layers.
• Develop client and server applications and services using service‑ or object‑oriented architectures with message‑bus-based data exchange, including first‑of‑a‑kind capabilities.
• Work across languages and toolsets such as Python, C++, Postgres, Ansible, cloud infrastructure provisioning, PKI, and static code analysis.
• Operate as a self‑starter, making decisions with project budget and schedule in mind.
• Support operations ground software and related configurations, troubleshooting software and hardware errors.
• Assist with acceptance testing events, run tests, and automate test configuration of ground segment software.
• Resolve and remediate software defects and enhance software per customer change requests or mission needs.
• Provide ground software support during launch and launch rehearsal events, and install new ground‑segment software in operational, development, and test environments.

Success Criteria

• Active and integral team member.
• Channel enthusiasm to innovate.
• Contribute to technologies that matter to national security.
• Work with agility, flexibility, and collaboration to explore creative ideas.

Basic Qualifications

• Software Development Engineer Level 2:
• Bachelor’s degree (ideally Computer Science or Engineering) and 2 years of experience, or a master’s degree and 0 years.
• Software development experience in Python, C++, Bash scripting.
• U.S. citizenship and active Top‑Secret clearance (or ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI).
• Software Development Engineer Level 3:
• Bachelor’s degree (ideally Computer Science or Engineering) and 5 years of experience, or a master’s degree and 3 years, or a PhD and 1 year.
• Software development experience in Python, C++, Bash scripting.
• U.S. citizenship and active Top‑Secret clearance (or ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI).

Preferred Qualification

• Strong preference for candidates with Top Secret clearance with SCI.

Salary

Primary Level: $91,800.00 – $137,600.00. Secondary Level: $114,000.00 – $171,000.00.

Benefits

Health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, company‑paid holidays, paid time off for vacation and personal business, and inclusion in discretionary bonus programs.

EEO Statement

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.