Sr Principal Software Engineer – SW Product Owner (26-435)

Northrop Grumman Corp.; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 129,000 - 194,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Space Systems—Missile Defense Integration in Colorado Springs, CO, seeks a Sr Principal Software Engineer – SW Product Owner to lead a large, distributed Java-based system. You will guide a cross-functional Agile team, translate stakeholder needs into clear requirements, and own product backlog and acceptance criteria.

Required/Preferred: Top Secret clearance, strong Java and Unix/Linux skills, and experience as a software leader in Scrum Master or Product Owner roles.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or related field with 8 years of experience; or Master’s degree with 6 years; or 12 years alternative.
• Active Top Secret clearance required to start.
• Experience as software leader in Scrum Master/Product Owner roles with strong Java and Unix/Linux skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Product Owner and technical lead for Global software development team.
• Lead a cross-functional Agile team, refine backlog, and define acceptance criteria.
• Collaborate with Government customers and stakeholders to translate capabilities into requirements.

Skills

Java

Unix/Linux

Agile

Product Owner

Scrum Master

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Software Eng/Math/Physics

Master's degree in related field

Tools

Eclipse IDE

Maven

Git

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: Top SecretTRAVEL: 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.Northrop Grumman Space Systems—Missile Defense Integration offers an excellent opportunity for an Internal Only: Sr Principal Software Engineer – SW Product Owner (26-435) to join our team of skilled and diverse professionals. Based in Colorado Springs, CO, this role is essential to supporting the U.S. President, the Secretary of Defense, and combatant commanders at the strategic, regional, and operational levels.NOTE: This position is only available to current and active C2BMC personnelThis position does not provide relocation assistance and requires on-site work with no remote options.Position Overview:The Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) program is a critical element of the Missile Defense System (MDS). It provides an operational platform that enables the U.S. President, the Secretary of Defense, and Combatant Commanders at strategic, regional, and tactical levels to plan missile defense operations, monitor battle progress, and actively control networked sensors and weapon systems to achieve global and regional mission objectives. C2BMC supports layered missile defense capabilities by providing optimized responses to threats across all ranges and flight phases. It also acts as a force multiplier by connecting, integrating, and synchronizing autonomous systems and operations worldwide.As the Global Battle Management Product Owner – Software Engineer, you will lead a high-performing software development team to design, implement, and test innovative solutions that support MDA projects and experiments. You will combine strong software engineering skills (with a focus on Java and Unix/Linux) with product ownership responsibilities, ensuring that stakeholder needs are translated into clear, actionable requirements and that delivered capabilities meet those needs.Essential Functions:Serve as the Product Owner and technical lead for the Global software development team, guiding the design, development, integration, and test of a large, distributed Java-based systemProvide day-to-day leadership, direction, and mentorship to a cross-functional Agile software team, ensuring alignment to program priorities and mission needsPerform in-depth analysis and technical support of a large, distributed system written in Java, including complex problem resolution and performance optimizationProvide technical consulting to the regional team and other stakeholders, helping to align Global and Regional capabilities and ensuring architectural and interface consistencyGather and refine requirements from stakeholders and other teams, ensuring timely and accurate deliveries that meet mission, operational, and test objectivesDefine and maintain acceptance criteria for team stories and product backlog items, ensuring the team has a clear understanding of what is required to complete work and demonstrate valueActively remove blockers at any level—technical, process, or coordination-related—to support team progress and maintain iteration and release commitmentsAssist the software team in design, implementation, testing, integration, and user support for a large and evolving code baselineFollow specifications and program priorities to develop, refine, and prioritize stories and tasks for the software team; maintain a well‑groomed and transparent product backlogInterface with other system support groups and software leadership to resolve problems, set standards, and improve the overall efficiency, performance, and maintainability of the systemSupport planning and execution of MDA projects and experiments, including non-standard work hours during event execution when requiredCollaborate closely with Government customers, subject matter experts, and system users to understand desired capabilities and communicate technical approaches, trade-offs, and resultsAdapt to rapidly changing requirements and design challenges, delivering high-quality solutions in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlinesBasic Qualifications:Please list your current security clearance and IAT or relevant certifications on your resume, if applicable.A Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field from an accredited university, along with 8 years of experience; or a Master’s degree in a related field with 6 years of relevant work experience; or 12 years of relevant work experience may be considered as an alternative to a degreeApplicants must have a current, active in-scope Government-issued Top Secret security clearance at the time of application, which is required to startExperience working as a software leader on a team in a role such as Scrum Master, Product Owner, or similar technical leadership positionKnowledge of Agile principles, roles, and practices, with demonstrated experience applying Agile methods to software developmentProficiency in Java, including the ability to design, develop, and test Java applications in a large-scale, distributed environmentExperience developing in a Unix/Linux environmentStrong understanding of software development principles, including object-oriented programming (OOP), design patterns, and testing/debugging techniquesEffective oral and written communication skills, with the ability to interact with developers, engineers, subject matter experts, and customersAbility to work effectively in a rapid-paced, team-oriented environment and within a structured development and configuration management frameworkKnowledge of software practices and coding standards, and the discipline to apply them consistentlyStrong problem-solving skills, including the ability to review performance issues, identify root causes, recommend solutions, and drive implementation.Preferred Qualifications:The following knowledge and skills are highly desired for the Software Engineer / Product Owner:Experience with test-driven development (TDD) and continuous integration practicesBackground in software architecture design for complex, distributed systemsFamiliarity with Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) development principlesAbility to refactor code for reusability, readability, and maintainability in an object-oriented codebaseExperience with application deployment, integration, and troubleshooting in operational or mission-critical environmentsOperating systems experience with both Windows and Unix/Linux platformsExperience with common development tools such as Eclipse IDE, Maven, and Git (or comparable tools)Experience conducting and participating in peer reviews for code, design, and documentationAbility to extract and analyze data to support system and performance analysisStrong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to clearly convey complex technical information to both technical and non-technical audiencesExperience implementing algorithms and developing messaging interface solutions in distributed systemsHands-on experience using Agile methodology for software development, including planning, backlog refinement, sprint execution, and retrospectivesWhat We Can Offer You:Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a supportive work environment that encourages your growth, benefiting both employees and the company. The benefits are flexible and customizable, enabling you to choose options that suit your individual and family needs. Your benefits will include the following:Health PlanSavings PlanPaid Time OffEducation AssistanceTraining and DevelopmentFlexible Work Arrangementshttps://benefits.northropgrumman.com/us/en2/BenefitsOverview/Pages/default.aspx#NGSpace#COSpace#NGFeaturedJobs#C2BMC#SoftwareEngineering#Product OwnerPrimary Level Salary Range: $129,300.00 - $193,900.00The 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.