Sr. Principal Systems Engineer - Co-CLS SW Sustainment Integration Lead

Northrop Grumman; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 213,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid holidays

PTO

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Rancho Bernardo, CA, seeks a Senior Principal Systems Engineer to lead software sustainment integration for the RQ‑4 FMS program. You will guide a team of integrations, manage requirements tracing, and develop RVTs to prevent regressions, coordinating with CLS, software, customers, and leadership.

The role demands strong data analysis, debugging, and communication skills, with collaboration across multi-disciplinary teams in a fast-paced sustainment environment.

Qualifications

• Requires a STEM degree with 8+ years (or MS with 6+ years, or PhD with 4+ years) of military/professional experience.
• Experience leading small technical teams or as a technical lead for integration/test.
• Proven experience in software/system integration and test, including SIL/HWIL lab-based work.
• Experience with defect/discrepancy management, requirements tracing, and test-case development.
• Active US Government Secret or higher clearance (or in Continuous Evaluation).

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of integrators performing software sustainment integration, verification, and field-driven investigations for the RQ-4 FMS program.
• Perform requirements tracing for defects, linking issues to system/segment requirements, design elements, and verification artifacts.
• Develop regression verification tests (RVTs) to validate defect fixes and prevent regression across software baselines.
• Perform debugging and execution of RVTs, including test planning, setup, execution, data review, and documentation of results.
• Support and coordinate integration activities within the FMS SIL, including new software drops, configuration management, and test readiness.
• Groom and manage the GHED backlog with priority and problem statements, coordinating with software, CLS, and program leadership.
• Provide clear, data-driven technical recommendations and status to program management and customer stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain integration plans, test procedures, and technical documentation for audits, reviews, and configuration control.
• Mentor junior engineers and promote best practices in integration, test, and defect management.

Skills

Leadership

Software integration

Defect management

Requirements tracing

Regression testing

Communication

Debugging/data analysis

Clearance (Secret)

Education

Bachelors in STEM

Master's in STEM

PhD in STEM

Tools

GHED

RVT development

SIL/HWIL

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: 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.

Please note that this opportunity is contingent on program funding. Start dates are determined after funding confirmation.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for Senior Principal Systems Engineer - Co-CLS Software Sustainment Integration Lead to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals within our Systems Engineering organization. This role is located in Rancho Bernardo, CA.

In this role as the Co‑CLS Software Sustainment Integration Lead, you will provide technical leadership for software sustainment integration activities on the RQ‑4 FMS program. You'll lead a team of integrators executing requirements tracing, RVT development and execution, and FMS SIL integration, while driving closure of software defects and managing the GHED backlog in coordination with CLS, software, and customer stakeholders.

Success in this role will require proficiency with data analysis and debugging, including interpreting logs, telemetry, or test results. Additionally, success will require conveying strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey complex technical status and recommendations to leadership and stakeholders. You will need to work collaboratively across multi‑disciplinary teams in a fast‑paced sustainment environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a team of integrators performing software sustainment integration, verification, and field‑driven investigations for the RQ‑4 FMS program.
• Perform requirements tracing for defects, ensuring issues are clearly linked to system/segment requirements, design elements, and verification artifacts.
• Develop regression verification tests (RVTs) to validate defect fixes and prevent regression across software baselines.
• Perform debugging and execution of RVTs, including test planning, setup, execution, data review, and documentation of results.
• Support and coordinate integration activities within the FMS System Integration Lab (SIL), including integration of new software drops, configuration management, and test readiness.
• Groom and manage the GHED backlog by assessing priority, clarifying problem statements, and coordinating with software, CLS, and program leadership to ensure timely disposition.
• Provide clear, data‑driven technical recommendations and status to program management and customer stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain integration plans, test procedures, and technical documentation in support of audits, reviews, and configuration control.
• Mentor junior engineers and promote best practices in integration, test, and defect management.

Basic Qualifications

• Must have a Bachelors of Science degree in a STEM field and at least 8 years of relevant military / professional experience, OR a Master's Degree in a STEM field and at least 6 years of relevant military / professional experience, OR a PhD and at least 4 years of relevant military / professional experience
• Experience leading small technical teams or acting as a technical lead for integration or test efforts.
• Must have experience in software/system integration and test, including lab‑based integration (SIL/HWIL or similar).
• Must have experience with defect / discrepancy management, requirements tracing, and test case development.
• Must have an active US Government Secret or higher clearance (with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience on RQ‑4, other UAS platforms, or mission systems in a CLS or sustainment environment.
• Experience with GHED (or similar defect/backlog management tools) and structured backlog grooming practices.
• Experience with regression test strategy, test automation, and continuous integration concepts.
• Familiarity with FMS customer environments and expectations.
• Experience mentoring junior engineers and shaping integration/test processes.

Primary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00

The 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.