Sr Staff Engineer Systems

Northrop Grumman; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 193,000 - 289,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Savings plan

Company holidays

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Sr Staff Engineer Systems to lead the architecture of next-generation OSA virtual training and ground test systems in San Diego, CA on-site. The role focuses on technical leadership across multi-site programs, with a requirement for advanced STEM degrees and extensive mission engineering experience.

The position involves enterprise-level training alignment, cross-program coordination, and mentorship.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD in STEM with 10–14+ years in systems/mission engineering.
• Experience with lifecycle SE, including planning, analysis, interfaces, V&V.
• Active Top Secret clearance with SAP access ability.

Responsibilities

• Lead systems architecture for next-gen OSA virtual training.
• Perform mission engineering for integrated ground/training environments.
• Translate gaps into TE scope; develop proposals and BOMs.
• Lead ground facilities from concept to test and integration.
• Manage risk, changes, and configuration across sites.
• CAM duties for large ground/training efforts with EVMS.
• Oversee verification, validation and field transitions.
• Provide enterprise-wide training alignment across programs.

Skills

Systems engineering

Technical planning

Requirements allocation

V&V

Ground segments

Mission engineering

Team leadership

CAM management

Education

Bachelor's in STEM

Master's in STEM

PhD in STEM

Tools

EVMS

CAM

OSA

Ground test environments

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
CLEARANCE TYPE: SAP
TRAVEL: Yes, 25% 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 Aeronautics Systems is seeking a Sr Staff Engineer Systems to serve as technical authority and architect for virtual training systems supporting advanced strategic capabilities. This role is full-time, on-site in San Diego, CA.
The selected candidate will lead cloud-based open system architecture (OSA) training systems, ground test environments, and integrated ground segments, and drive cross-program alignment.

Roles And Responsibilities

• Lead systems architecture for next-generation OSA virtual training systems, including technical planning, decomposition, interfaces, and requirements allocation.
• Perform mission engineering and system-of-systems analysis for integrated ground/training environments, including ground segment virtualization and multi-site architectures.
• Lead Taskable Engineering (TE): translate training gaps into TE scope, develop proposals/BOMs, and integrate results into OSA baselines and roadmaps.
• Act as technical lead for complex ground facilities and test environments from concept through installation and test of ground hardware, software, and infrastructure.
• Disposition Taskable Engineering packages, Deficiency Reports, Change Requests; manage risk/issue/opportunity tracking; enforce configuration management across sites.
• Execute Control Account Manager (CAM) duties for large ground/training efforts, including multiple control accounts, EVMS analysis, and corrective actions.
• Lead requirements gap analysis and 1-N capability trades and prioritization for virtual training and ground systems; translate customer needs into implementable requirements.
• Oversee integration, verification & validation and acceptance testing for virtual and hardware-in-the-loop training systems; drive transition from lab to fielded configurations and formal acceptance.
• Provide enterprise-level leadership for cross-program training alignment via working groups, coordination with engineering/product-support teams, and alignment roadmaps.
• Ensure that field feedback is evaluated and incorporated into the OSA baseline per priorities established in discussions with the customer.
• Provide technical mentorship and team development; support training plans and coach engineers and administrators; brief leadership and customers on architecture, risks, and execution.

This position requires full-time, on-site work; no remote/hybrid option. Travel is anticipated to be up to ~25%.

Basic Qualifications

• Must have a Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and at least 14 years of related systems/ mission engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and at least 12 years of related experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and at least 10 years of related experience.
• Demonstrated experience and proficiency of systems engineering across the lifecycle (concept through disposal), including technical planning, functional analysis, requirements allocation, interfaces, integration, V&V, and effectiveness analyses.
• Hands-on experience with airborne and/or strategic ground segments, including operational ground stations, flight line operations, and integrated mission systems.
• Experience leading multi-discipline engineering and sustainment teams across geographically separated locations.
• Active USG Top Secret clearance (with a background investigation within the past 5 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).
• Ability to obtain and maintain initial Special Access Program (SAP) access via a Program Access Request (PAR). This SAP/PAR must be obtained prior to commencement of employment and must be obtained within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
• Ability to obtain and maintain subsequent SAP PARs following commencement of employment to be able to completely support statement of work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active USG Top Secret SCI or higher/current applicable SAP access.
• Hands-on background in ground systems operations and networked mission systems (LAN/WAN, LOS/BLOS, satellite communications, RF systems, and Linux/Windows administration in secure environments).
• Prior sub-IPT lead (or equivalent) for complex ground test or training efforts with multi-discipline hardware/software integration and multi-site coordination.
• CAM experience managing multiple control accounts with substantial combined budgets, labor, and material content under EVMS.
• M.S. in Information Systems Engineering or related ABET discipline; CAM certification and Security+ (8570).
• Experience leading enterprise-wide training alignment, including training leadership working groups and multi-program engineering forums.
• Track record improving configuration management and baseline integrity for fielded training systems.
• Extensive field service and depot-level experience with ground stations and flight line operations.
• Proven leadership in architecting and delivering training systems (integrated training devices and virtual training systems) aligned with OSA or similar open architectures, with direct end-user/instructor engagement.

Primary Level Salary Range: $192,800.00 - $289,200.00
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.