Systems Engineer – EO/IR

Northrop Grumman; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 114,000 - 213,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

PTO

Paid holidays

Savings plan

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Principal/Sr. Principal Systems Engineer in the Space Sector, based in Dulles, VA. You will shape EO/Laser system requirements, work with mission engineers, and translate customer needs into actionable specs for hardware and software.

The role emphasizes cross-functional communication and systems-level thinking. Qualified candidates will have strong EO/laser experience, an active SCI clearance, and the ability to collaborate with subcontractors while guiding design

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with EO, Laser or other optical systems.
• Experience with EOIR sensor component design and performance analysis.
• Knowledge of system engineering design methods, including requirements analysis and flow-down, specification derivation and interface control documentation.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate technical understanding in EO/Laser Systems and Sensors.
• Develop, analyze, maturation and implementation of EO/Laser System requirements in hardware and software.
• Translate Customer needs into lower-level EO/Laser requirements for mission success.
• Model, develop and analyze sensor performance and predict results.
• Assess performance of new systems against cost and mission requirements in representative environments.
• Manage design, analysis, verification, testing and anomaly resolution.
• Coordinate with subcontractors through system development, implementation and test.
• Communicate technical approaches and findings to diverse audiences.

Skills

EO/Laser systems

Optical sensors

System engineering methods

Education

Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years experience

Master’s degree with 3+ years experience

PhD with 1 year experience

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: SCI

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.

Expand your horizons, advance your career, and contribute to a secure future for generations. Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector invites you to bring your pioneering spirit to our collaborative teams. As a Principal/Sr. Principal Systems Engineer Level 3 or Level 4 located in Dulles, VA, you’ll be a linchpin in missions of paramount importance, defining the art of the possible from day one.

The qualified candidate will support a program within the Space Superiority Sector, with a focus on Electro-Optical (EO) / Laser Systems.

This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.

Your Mission, Should You Choose To Accept

• Demonstrate technical understanding in the field of EO/Laser Systems and Sensors.
• Development, analysis, maturation and implementation of EO / Laser System requirements in both hardware and software
• Work with a mission engineering team to translate Customer needs into lower-level EO / Laser requirements that meet the mission
• Modeling/Developing / analyzing sensor performance, predicting performance
• Ensure performance capabilities of new systems traded against cost and mission requirements and assess operational effectiveness of existing and emerging systems and capabilities in representative operational environments.
• Manage aspects of system design, analysis, verification, testing, and failure/anomaly resolution
• Manage various subcontractors through system development, implementation, and test with a focus on mission-level requirements.
• Effectively communicate technical approaches and findings to audiences of various technical backgrounds

This position is contingent upon the candidate obtaining final clearances and program access(es) within a reasonable period of time as determined by the company.

This position can be filled at either a Level 3 or Level 4.

Basic Qualifications For Level 3

• Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of professional experience or Master’s degree with 3 years of professional experience or PhD with 1 year of professional experience
• Requires an active Top-Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with an ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time
• Demonstrated experience with EO, Laser or other optical systems
• Experience with EOIR sensor component design and performance analysis
• Knowledge of system engineering design methods, including requirements analysis and flow-down, specification derivation and interface control documentation.

Basic Qualifications For Level 4

• Bachelor’s degree with 8 years of professional experience or Master’s degree with 6 years of professional experience or PhD with 4 years of professional experience
• Requires an active Top-Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with an ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time
• Demonstrated experience with EO, Laser or other optical systems
• Experience with EOIR sensor component design and performance analysis
• Knowledge of system engineering design methods, including requirements analysis and flow-down, specification derivation and interface control documentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with EO, Laser or other optical systems for airborne or space platforms
• Work experience in one of the following areas related to EOIR and/or laser systems: laser communication, lasers, LiDAR, sensing, surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic protection, ID, or adaptive technique
• Work experience with build, integration, test, and verification approaches for EOIR systems
• Capable of mentoring and teaching peers and junior engineers on EOIR systems design and performance behaviors
• An understanding of the physical limitations to implementing complex algorithms in real hardware
• Experience working with free-space optics and characterizing optical/laser systems
• Understanding of optical metrology to measure parameters such as laser power, wavelength, pulse width, divergence and beam quality
• Experience collaborating with and presenting to external partners such as customers and other contractors

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00

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.