Staff Cyber Systems Engineer (S)

Northrop Grumman Corp.; Jessup (MD); On-site; USD 195,000 - 292,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan

Education assistance

9/80 work schedule

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking a Staff Cyber Systems Engineer to support the Sentinel program, implementing cybersecurity requirements throughout the systems engineering lifecycle and guiding architecture, risk management, and verification of cyber protections.

The role ensures compliance with applicable DoD cybersecurity standards and interacts with integrated product teams to deliver mission‑critical capabilities. Travel is around 10% with relocation not provided.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 12 years of experience, master’s degree with 10 years, PhD with 8 years, or 18 years of experience in Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity Engineering, or related technical fields.
• Direct experience utilizing NIST SP 800-160 system security engineering and the system development life cycle.
• Direct experience developing RMF assessment and authorization documentation.
• Current DoD 8570 certification for IASAE Level II (CISSP) and the ability to obtain IASAE Level III within 6 months of hire.
• Active Secret clearance with ability to obtain Top Secret with SAP access.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical decisions and guidance to enable timely product deliveries and flight test events meeting mission cyber requirements.
• Collaborate with program systems engineers across IPTs to meet program cyber requirements.
• Support development and enhancement of launch and missile defense systems as part of a cybersecurity team.
• Ensure weapon system compliance with contractually obligated cybersecurity standards and guidance (CNSSI 1253, DoD 8570/8510, AFI 17‑101).
• Propose and design cyber systems architecture changes with traceability to requirements.
• Provide cyber implementation guidance across technical teams.
• Document and improve technical standard engineering processes and procedures.
• Participate in engineering reviews of requirements, design and implementation plans.

Skills

Systems Engineering

RMF/DoD Cybersecurity

Cyber risk management

IASAE/CISSP

Clearance (Secret/TS)

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

DOORS

CAMEO

SonarQube

Fortify

Job description

Staff Cyber Systems Engineer

Location: Annapolis Junction, MD (additional sites include Roy, UT; San Antonio TX; Redondo Beach CA; Huntsville AL; San Diego CA; Colorado Springs CO). Relocation assistance: None. Travel: 10% of the time.

Job Summary

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking a Staff Cyber Systems Engineer to support the Sentinel program. The role involves implementing cybersecurity requirements throughout the systems engineering lifecycle, providing guidance on architecture, risk management, and verification of cyber protections, and ensuring compliance with applicable DoD cybersecurity standards.

Responsibilities

• Work within the Systems Engineering Group to provide technical decisions and guidance that enable timely, high‑quality product deliveries and flight test events that meet mission cyber requirements.
• Partner and collaborate with other program systems engineers across Integrated Product Teams to accomplish program cyber requirements and meet mission objectives.
• Support the development and enhancement of launch and missile defense systems as part of an extended team of cybersecurity practitioners.
• Ensure weapon system compliance with all contractually obligated cybersecurity standards and guidance, including CNSSI 1253, DoD 8570, DoD 8510, and AFI 17‑101.
• Propose and design cyber systems architecture changes with traceability to requirements.
• Provide cyber implementation guidance and oversight across technical teams.
• Develop and document technical standard engineering processes and procedures as needed.
• Participate in engineering reviews of technical requirements, design, and implementation plans prior to development of computer systems, digital communications systems, networking devices, and computer architectures.
• Perform cyber‑attack surface analysis of system designs with recommendations to mitigate and reduce risk.
• Participate in cybersecurity assessment activities and review assessment methods, plans, procedures, reports, and security penetration test planning and execution.
• Provide input to program milestones and metrics, adhering to cybersecurity‑relevant plans and schedules.
• Identify problems and research technical solutions to resolve these problems.
• Apply analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of cyber security implementation.
• Solve complex problems across disciplines in an Agile, DevSecOps environment.
• Support program engineering review boards.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 12 years of experience, master’s degree with 10 years, PhD with 8 years, or 18 years of experience in Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity Engineering, or related technical fields.
• Direct experience utilizing NIST SP 800‑160 system security engineering and the system development life cycle.
• Experience processing SOW, requirements, architecture, design, implementation, integration, verification & validation, and field test activities.
• Direct experience developing RMF assessment and authorization documentation.
• Current DoD 8570 certification for IASAE Level II (CISSP) and the ability to obtain IASAE Level III within 6 months of hire.
• Active Secret clearance with ability to obtain Top Secret with SAP access.

Preferred Qualifications

• System security architecture experience.
• Experience with DOORS and CAMEO.
• Familiarity with security tool suites in the DevSecOps pipeline (SonarQube, Fortify, etc.).
• Knowledge of SSE documentation (Cybersecurity Strategies, Information Support Plans, Program Protection Plans).
• Knowledge of anti‑tamper plans, counterintelligence support plans, integrated threat assessment reports, operations security plans, continuous monitoring plans, defensive cyberspace operations plans, and NIST SP 800‑160.
• DoD 8570 certification for IASAE III (ISSEP, ISSAP).
• Experience with Agile methodologies.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.

Benefits

Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package, including health plan, savings plan, paid time off, education assistance, training and development, and a 9/80 work schedule (where available). The primary level salary range for this position is $194,700.00 - $292,100.00, with potential eligibility for overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonuses, long‑term incentives, and other benefits such as paid holidays.

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 http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.