Sr Staff Engineer Systems - Engineering Lead

0090 CORP-Corporate Office; United States; On-site; USD 192,800 - 289,200; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems in Rancho Bernardo, CA, seeks a Sr. Staff Systems Engineer for full‑time, on‑site work with a Top Secret clearance. The role leads SE functions within an Integrated Product Team and supports business pursuits, SOW shaping, and bids.

Relocation assistance may be available. Travel up to 25% may be required. Primary salary range: $192,800–$289,200. Final base salary depends on scope, responsibilities, education, and market conditions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM discipline with 14+ years of related engineering experience; or Master’s with 12+ years; or PhD with 10+ years.
• Active DoD Top Secret clearance (background check within last 6 years or ongoing Continuous Evaluation).
• Ability to obtain SAP clearance within business timelines.

Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough trade studies and analyses for networking in new development efforts.
• Manage the execution of SE functions including Safety, Human Factors, Operational Analysis, Cost Engineering, and CM/Data Management.
• Lead SRR and PDR reviews and coordinate execution status and risk briefs.
• Assess incoming changes for SEIT impacts and coordinate across engineering disciplines.
• Maintain SEIT process documentation and support capture, SOW shaping, and proposals.
• Manage baseline of new projects including labor planning and earned value management.

Skills

Systems engineering

Trade studies

Cross‑discipline leadership

EVM

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in STEM

Master’s degree in STEM

PhD in STEM

Tools

CAM Certification

Job description

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems invites applications for a Sr. Staff Systems Engineer located in Rancho Bernardo, CA. The role requires a Top Secret clearance and involves leading systems engineering functions within an Integrated Product Team.

Relocation Assistance

Relocation assistance may be available.

Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough trade studies and analyses to weigh the benefits and/or detriments related to networking associated with a new development effort.
• Manage the execution of all SE functions, including Safety, Human Factors, Operational Analysis, Cost Engineering, and Configuration & Data Management.
• Lead the successful completion of technical reviews such as System Requirements Review (SRR) and Preliminary Design Review (PDR).
• Prepare, coordinate, and brief execution status and risks at program meetings.
• Conduct technical assessments for incoming changes to evaluate SEIT impacts.
• Execute trade studies with coordination across engineering disciplines.
• Maintain and update SEIT process documentation.
• Support Program Management in new business pursuits, including capture, SOW shaping, technology evaluations, authoring white papers, trade studies, process improvement, and bidding & proposals.
• Manage the baseline of new engineering projects, including labor & non-labor planning & earned value management (EVM).

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM discipline and 14 years of related engineering experience; OR Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 12 years of related engineering experience; OR PhD in a STEM discipline and 10 years of related engineering experience.
• Active DoD Top Secret clearance (background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled in Continuous Evaluation).
• Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current applicable Special Access Program (SAP) clearance.
• Supplier Management experience.
• Experience leading cross‑discipline teams.
• Experience serving as a Control Account Manager (CAM) and current CAM certification.
• Experience serving as a proposal estimator.
• Experience in technical writing such as technical volumes and white papers.

Salary and Benefits

Primary Level Salary Range: $192,800.00 - $289,200.00. The range is a general guideline; final base salary will consider scope, responsibilities, experience, education, skills, and market conditions. Eligible employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonuses, and for certain positions Long Term Incentives. Northrop Grumman provides health insurance, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, paid holidays, and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and personal business.

EEO Statement

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 www.northropgrumman.com/EEO.

Other Information

Location: Rancho Bernardo, CA. This position is full‑time, on‑site. No remote, hybrid, or telework is available. Travel up to 25% may be required.