Staff Systems Engineer - Passive Sensing Lead

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

Job summary

Northrop Grumman seeks a senior technical leader to define architectures for EOIR sensor programs. You will mentor teams, design, integrate, and test advanced sensors, and build physics-based models to quantify performance. You’ll collaborate with customers and internal leaders to ensure solutions meet mission needs across IRAD/CRAD initiatives.

The role emphasizes hands-on development of passive imaging sensors, data analysis, and strong leadership in a dynamic, multi-domain defense environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 12 years of experience in STEM or related field; 4 years may substitute.
• U.S. Citizenship required; current/active U.S. Government Secret Clearance and SAP access.
• Experience leading teams with strong customer interactions and mentoring junior members.
• Experience in technical computing languages (Python, MATLAB) and EOIR sensors.

Responsibilities

• Define architectures and lead implementations for IRAD, CRAD, and execution programs.
• Mentor and develop junior team members.
• Design, develop, integrate, test, and deploy EOIR sensors.
• Build and maintain physics-based sensor models.
• Develop and quantify performance metrics for system performance.
• Understand data quality and artifact impacts.
• Represent system performance in functional and analytical models.

Skills

Python

MATLAB

Team leadership

Customer engagement

EOIR sensors knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Advanced degree in STEM

Tools

MATLAB

Data analysis

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be 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 the heart of Defining Possible is our commitment to missions. In rapidly changing global security environments, Northrop Grumman brings informed insights and software-secure technology to enable strategic planning.

We’re looking for innovators who can help us keep building on our wide portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, and multi-domain systems and technologies that fuel those missions. By joining in our shared mission, we’ll support yours of expanding your personal network and developing skills, whether you are new to the field, or an industry thought leader. At Northrop Grumman, you’ll have the resources, support, and team to do some of the best work of your career.

What You’ll Get To Do:

The family of EOIR programs has a growing set of efforts on both the passive and active sides. This role will focus on system architecture and definition for passive systems. The ideal candidate would have experience in hardware selection for airborne sensors, including optics, dewars, focal planes, processors, and more; data processing and exploitation, including real-time analysis, ground tests, anomaly resolution, and algorithm development; integration and test experience, including brassboards, lab/ground tests, and flight tests; and software/firmware interactions, to understand how the system actually implements and realizes the work. The team has subject matter experts in these areas, so the candidate selected will need to be able to work with those SMEs to ensure the selected approach meets the customer’s and user’s needs. These are developmental systems and concepts, meaning that you will help develop the systems and methods that future generations will rely on. As part of your regular work, you will lead interactions with external customers and internal leaders, building trust through communicating the technical achievements and capabilities of the team A strong candidate for this role has experience in airborne and/or space-based EOIR sensors, experience developing and demonstrating passive imaging optical sensors, experience leading teams to successful program execution, and strength in customer engagements.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Define architectures and lead implementations for IRAD, CRAD, and execution programs
• Mentor and develop junior team members
• Design, develop, integrate, test, and deploy novel EOIR sensors
• Build and maintain physics-based sensor models
• Develop and quantify performance metrics for system performance
• Understand data quality and artifact impacts
• Represent system performance in functional and analytical models

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with 12 years of experience, Master's degree with 10 years of experience or Ph.D. with 8 years of experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or related technical fields; an additional 4 years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
• U.S Citizenship is required
• A current/active U.S. Government Secret Clearance
• Ability to obtain Special Program Access (SAP)
• Experience as a team lead with successful customer interactions
• Experience leading junior and peer team members
• Experience in technical computing languages, e.g. Python or MATLAB
• Experience with airborne and/or space-based EOIR sensors

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in STEM
• Prior radiometry experience
• Experience writing technical proposals
• Experience acting as principal investigator of team lead for R&D programs
• Experience developing and executing internal research and development projects
• Current Top Secret clearance, SAP access(es), and/or SCI access
• Strong communication skills, both for internal and external audiences

Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a work environment which encourages your growth and supports the mutual success of our people and our company. Northrop Grumman benefits give you the flexibility and control to choose the benefits that make the most sense for you and your family.

Your benefits will include the following:

• Health Plan
• Savings Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Additional Benefits including Education Assistance
• Training and Development
• 9/80 Work Schedule (where available)
• and much more!

Northrop Grumman has approximately 90,000 employees in all 50 states and in more than 27 countries. We strive to attract and retain the best employees by providing an inclusive work environment wherein employees are receptive to diverse ideas, perspectives, and talents to help solve our toughest customer challenges: to develop and maintain some of the most technically sophisticated products, programs, and services in the world.

Our Values. The women and men of Northrop Grumman Corporation are guided by Our Values. They describe our company as we want it to be. We want our decisions and actions to demonstrate these Values. We believe that putting Our Values into practice creates long-term benefits for shareholders, customers, employees, suppliers, and the communities we serve.

Our Responsibility. At Northrop Grumman, we are committed to maintaining the highest of ethical standards, embracing diversity and inclusion, protecting the environment, and striving to be an ideal corporate citizen in the community and in the world.

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.

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.