Space Vehicle Systems Engineer

0909 SP - Orbital Space Systems; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Total Rewards

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Space Vehicle Systems Engineer in Gilbert, AZ. You will join a cross‑disciplinary team responsible for design, integration, and testing of space payloads and spacecraft buses, moving concepts through launch and on‑orbit operations.

The role blends systems engineering with on‑the‑floor support, requiring a STEM degree with 2+ years of experience or a Master’s degree, strong problem‑solving, and excellent communication. U.S. Top Secret clearance is required/desired.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 2+ years of engineering experience, or a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline.
• Demonstrated problem‑solving skills and an aptitude for understanding how systems and subsystems interact.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Prior engineering experience, preferably on space, aerospace, or related hardware/software programs.
• Basic understanding of systems engineering concepts (requirements, interfaces, verification/validation).
• Ability and willingness to obtain a U.S. Government Top Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Provide on‑floor support to the integration, testing, and operational readiness of spacecraft and payloads.
• Develop and manage system and subsystem requirements, allocations, and verification/validation plans.
• Contribute to interface definition and write interface control documents, technical specifications and engineering reports.
• Coordinate with program, functional, and subsystem leads to resolve technical issues.
• Assist with trade studies, design and sensitivity analyses, system performance assessments, mission timelines, and CONOPS development.
• Prepare review and briefing material for working groups, technical reviews, and program status meetings.
• Support tasks such as electrical harness interface design, integration and test procedure development, mechanical systems support, command and telemetry database updates, and space vehicle configuration modeling.

Skills

Problem solving

Communication

Space engineering experience

Systems engineering basics

Security clearance readiness

Education

Bachelor's in STEM

Master's in STEM

Tools

MATLAB

DOORS

CAMEO

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

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’s Space Systems Sector is seeking a Space Vehicle Systems Engineer to join our team in Gilbert, Arizona. Successful candidates for this position will play a key role as Space Vehicle Systems Engineers on a national security space program. This role blends classic systems engineering with on‑the‑floor support to integration, build, and test—putting you directly at the heart of assembling and bringing our spacecraft to life. You will be part of a cross‑disciplinary team that takes space vehicles from early concept through launch and on‑orbit operations. You don’t just hand off a design—you help guide it from concept through countdown and into orbit, contributing to fully mission‑capable space vehicles for our customers. This Systems Engineer role is an individual‑contributor position on a multi‑disciplinary team. You will work on design, development, integration, and testing of space payloads, spacecraft buses, and complete mission space vehicles. If you’re excited to see your work on the factory floor and ultimately on orbit, we invite you to join our team and help push the boundaries of what is possible.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide on‑floor support to the integration, testing, and operational readiness of spacecraft and payloads
• Develop and manage system and subsystem requirements, allocations, and verification/validation plans
• Contribute to interface definition and write interface control documents, technical specifications and engineering reports
• Coordinate with program, functional, and subsystem leads to resolve technical issues
• Assist with trade studies, design and sensitivity analyses, system performance assessments, mission timelines, and CONOPS development
• Prepare review and briefing material for working groups, technical reviews, and program status meetings
• Support tasks such as electrical harness interface design, integration and test procedure development, mechanical systems support, command and telemetry database updates, and space vehicle configuration modeling
• Learn to synthesize key concepts from technical data (ground and space hardware) and communicate them clearly to peers and stakeholders

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) discipline with 2+ years of engineering experience, or a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline
• Demonstrated problem‑solving skills and an aptitude for understanding how systems and subsystems interact
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Prior engineering experience, preferably on space, aerospace, or related hardware/software programs
• Basic understanding of systems engineering concepts (requirements, interfaces, verification/validation)
• Ability and willingness to obtain a U.S. Government Top Secret clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in space systems, spacecraft design, or mission operations
• Exposure to requirements development and allocation, or system architecture/CONOPS work
• Familiarity with spacecraft or space system integration and test, launch, and/or mission operations
• Experience with one or more tools such as MATLAB, DOORS, or CAMEO
• Background in one or more areas such as orbital mechanics, spacecraft attitude control, power systems, avionics/digital electronics, risk analysis, optics, communications, thermal design, or spacecraft/payload integration and testing
• Active or current U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance

Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector?

Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site: Northrop Grumman Total Rewards

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
• 401k
• Educational Assistance
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions
• Paid Time Off