Staff Software Systems Architect

0090 CORP-Corporate Office; United States; On-site; USD 169,000 - 254,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems seeks a Staff Software Engineer / System Architect to lead architecture of IBCS Engagement Operations within the EO Agile Release Team in Huntsville, AL. You will guide complex, distributed software across sensors, C2, and mission apps, combining Java and C++ with robust systems engineering.

The role demands deep architectural expertise, collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams, and mentoring of engineers to ensure scalable, reliable solutions in a defense

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related STEM. 10+ years experience or Master’s with 8+ years.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Active DoD Secret clearance required, ability to obtain higher clearance.
• Extensive hands-on Java and C++ development experience.
• Experience designing and implementing complex distributed software systems.
• Strong systems architecture background with data/interface modeling.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical leader and staff-level architect for IBCS Engagement Operations software.
• Define, evolve, and maintain architectures for complex, distributed mission systems.
• Lead requirements analysis, allocation, and traceability from mission needs to software components.
• Develop and maintain architecture artifacts, including ICDs and data models.
• Perform architectural trade studies balancing capability, cost, schedule, and risk.
• Collaborate across systems and software teams to define interfaces and data flows.
• Guide implementation teams on Java/C++ design patterns and integration approaches.
• Support integration and testing; verify architecture compliance with requirements.
• Lead technical reviews and present decisions to leadership and customers.
• Translate operational concepts into architectural decisions with stakeholders.
• Mentor junior engineers and promote architectural discipline.

Skills

Java

C++

System Architecture

Leadership

Requirements Traceability

Distributed Systems

Engagement Operations

Architecture Documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering or related STEM

Master’s degree in related STEM

Tools

SysML

Cameo

Rhapsody

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

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. At Northrop Grumman, employees work on revolutionary systems that shape lives around the world today and for generations to come. Our inventive spirit has placed us at the forefront of major technological advances in our nation’s history—from early transatlantic flight to stealth bombers and lunar missions. We seek people with bold ideas, courage, and a pioneering mindset to help invent the future. Our culture values intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity, and bringing your whole self to work, with an unrelenting drive to achieve what others consider impossible. Our employees aren’t just part of history—they’re making it.

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a Staff Software Engineer / System Architect to join the Global C2 Solutions Business Unit in Huntsville, Alabama, supporting the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) Engagement Operations (EO) Agile Release Team. In this role, you will lead the architecture, design, and technical direction of complex, distributed software systems that enable EO capabilities such as engagement planning and scheduling, threat evaluation, target selection, battlespace prediction, and sensor resource management. The ideal candidate combines deep Java and C++ expertise with IAMD Engagement Operations experience and a strong systems engineering background. You will work closely with systems, software, test, and operations teams to ensure the architecture meets mission needs and supports future growth.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical leader and staff‑level architect for IBCS Engagement Operations software.
• Define, evolve, and maintain system and software architectures for complex, distributed mission systems.
• Lead requirements analysis, allocation, and traceability from mission and user needs to software components and interfaces.
• Develop and maintain architecture artifacts, including system views, data models, and Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Perform architectural trade studies and analyses of alternatives to balance capability, performance, cost, schedule, and risk.
• Partner with systems and software teams to define interfaces, data flows, and integration patterns across sensors, C2, and mission applications.
• Guide implementation teams on Java and C++ design patterns, coding practices, and integration approaches aligned with the architecture.
• Support integration and test by helping define configurations, troubleshoot complex issues, and verify system behavior against the architecture and requirements.
• Lead and participate in technical reviews, presenting architecture, design decisions, and trade-offs to leadership and customers.
• Work with operators, analysts, and other stakeholders to translate operational concepts and CONOPS into architectural decisions and system capabilities.
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers, fostering strong systems thinking and architectural discipline.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related STEM discipline and typically 10+ years of relevant experience; or
• Master’s degree in a related STEM discipline and typically 8+ years of relevant experience.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Active DoD Secret security clearance required, with the ability to obtain and maintain higher-level clearance as program needs dictate.
• Extensive hands‑on software development experience in both Java and C++.
• Experience designing and implementing complex, distributed software systems.
• Strong background in system architecture, including system decomposition, data and interface modeling, and architectural trade studies.
• Experience with software integration and testing, including diagnosing and resolving complex system‑level issues.
• Experience supporting Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) or comparable complex defense or command‑and‑control systems.
• Demonstrated experience with Engagement Operations (EO), including one or more of: engagement planning and scheduling, threat evaluation, target selection, battlespace prediction, sensor resource management.
• Experience with requirements analysis, allocation, and traceability from mission needs down to software components.
• Ability to develop and maintain architecture documentation, ICDs, and technical specifications.
• Experience working collaboratively across multi-disciplinary teams (systems, software, test, operations).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant STEM field.
• Prior experience as a staff‑level architect or technical lead on large, mission‑critical software systems.
• End‑to‑end experience in IAMD Engagement Operations, including: multi‑sensor and multi‑weapon engagement planning and scheduling; threat evaluation and prioritization; target selection logic and associated algorithms; battlespace prediction and situational assessment; sensor resource management, tasking, and performance trade‑offs.
• Experience with the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS).
• Experience with joint or coalition battle management / command‑and‑control systems.
• Experience with designing modular, service‑oriented or microservice architectures for distributed mission systems.
• Experience with model‑based systems engineering (MBSE) and tools/languages such as SysML, Cameo, Rhapsody, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated ability to define and design to non‑functional requirements (scalability, availability, resiliency, performance).
• Experience with RESTful services, APIs, and data exchange (e.g., JSON, XML, gRPC).
• Familiarity with message‑oriented middleware or data distribution technologies (e.g., DDS, JMS, Kafka).
• Experience with modern DevOps practices (CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, configuration management, and Git‑based version control).
• Experience working directly with operators, analysts, or warfighters to translate operational needs into architectural and design decisions.
• Familiarity with DoD/aerospace development frameworks and technical reviews (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR).
• Experience leading and mentoring engineering teams, and preparing and delivering technical briefings to program leadership and customers.

Primary Level Salary Range: $169,000.00 - $253,600.00

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.

We are a pioneering company. With careers across all areas: air, cyber, land, sea and space – our 90,000 employees work as one to defend and define the future. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will give you every opportunity to do your best work. Working together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines, we share a drive to push the boundaries of science, technology and engineering to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide.