Space Vehicle Systems Engineer - Level 3

ngc; Gilbert (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Space Vehicle Systems Engineer (Level 3) in Gilbert, Arizona. This on‑site role combines systems engineering with hands‑on integration, build, and test of spacecraft and payloads within a national security program.

You will guide development from concept through launch, contributing to fully mission‑capable space vehicles and supporting on‑the‑floor integration and testing. A TS clearance is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 5+ years of engineering experience, or Master’s with 3+ years.
• Proven technical problem‑solving skills and demonstrated ability to understand and manage system and subsystem interactions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting technical content to leadership and/or customers.
• Previous engineering experience on space programs, spacecraft development, or satellite operations.
• Solid understanding of systems engineering functions (requirements, interfaces, verification/validation, risk, configuration management).
• Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Top Secret clearance

Responsibilities

• Lead and provide on‑floor support to the integration, testing, and operational readiness of spacecraft and payloads.
• Own and perform system and subsystem requirements development, allocation, and verification/validation planning, including traceability and closure.
• Lead interface definition activities and develop/maintain interface control documents, specifications, and engineering reports.
• Serve as a key technical point of contact with program, functional, and subsystem leads to resolve issues and drive decisions.
• Plan and execute trade studies, system sensitivity and design optimization studies, system performance assessments, mission timelines, and CONOPS development.
• Develop and present review and briefing materials for working groups, technical reviews, and program status meetings.
• Lead or support tasks such as electrical harness interface design, integration and test procedure development, mechanical systems support, command and telemetry database development, and space vehicle configuration modeling

Skills

Systems engineering

Technical problem solving

Written & verbal communication

Space program experience

Clearance readiness (Top Secret)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Master’s degree in STEM

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: NoCLEARANCE TYPE: Top SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Description

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 - Level 3 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

• Lead and provide on‑floor support to the integration, testing, and operational readiness of spacecraft and payloads
• Own and perform system and subsystem requirements development, allocation, and verification/validation planning, including traceability and closure
• Lead interface definition activities and develop/maintain interface control documents, specifications, and engineering reports
• Serve as a key technical point of contact with program, functional, and subsystem leads to resolve issues and drive decisions
• Plan and execute trade studies, system sensitivity and design optimization studies, system performance assessments, mission timelines, and CONOPS development
• Develop and present review and briefing materials for working groups, technical reviews, and program status meetings
• Lead or support tasks such as electrical harness interface design, integration and test procedure development, mechanical systems support, command and telemetry database development, and space vehicle configuration modeling

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) discipline with 5+ years of engineering experience, or Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with 3+ years of engineering experience
• Proven technical problem‑solving skills and demonstrated ability to understand and manage system and subsystem interactions
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting technical content to leadership and/or customers
• Previous engineering experience on space programs, spacecraft development, or satellite operations
• Solid understanding of systems engineering functions (requirements, interfaces, verification/validation, risk, configuration management)
• Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Top Secret clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience in space systems, spacecraft design, or mission operations (vehicle, payload, or mission‑level SE)
• Hands‑on experience with spacecraft/space system integration and test, launch, and/or mission operations
• Experience owning requirements development, decomposition, and allocation, and contributing to system architecture and CONOPS development
• Proficiency with one