Systems Engineer Level 3 or Level 4

0909 SP - Orbital Space Systems; United States; On-site; USD 98,400 - 184,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Savings plan

Holidays and PTO

Job summary

Northrop Grumman’s Space Systems Sector seeks Spacecraft Payload Engineers (Level 3/4) to join cross-disciplinary teams in Gilbert, AZ or Dulles, VA. You will drive design, integration, test, and on-orbit operations of space vehicles, focusing on payload interfaces and mission performance.

Responsibilities include ICD development, interface management, and coordinating with customers on operational scenarios and testing—while ensuring readiness for launch and on-orbit phases.

Qualifications

• Bachelors in STEM with 5+ years of engineering experience; Masters with 3+ years; PhD with 1+ year.
• Strong systems engineering background: architecture studies, requirements & interfaces, hardware/software integration.
• Self-starter with initiative to drive product development to closure.

Responsibilities

• Manage technical interfaces of hosted payloads to spacecraft bus and develop ICDs.
• Develop and review bus accommodation documents and test scripts.
• Support mission planning, analysis, and on-orbit operations.

Skills

Systems engineering

Technical problem solving

Leadership experience

Interface management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Master’s degree in STEM

PhD in STEM

Tools

MATLAB

STK

DOORS

CAMEO

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 10% 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.

Northrop Grumman’s Space Systems Sector is seeking a Systems Engineer – Level 3 and Level 4 to join our team in either Gilbert, Arizona or Dulles, VA. Spacecraft Payload Engineers are key members of a cross-disciplinary team helping drive the design, development, integration & test, launch, and on-orbit operations of space vehicles. As a Spacecraft Payload Engineer, you will have unique opportunities to witness and take part in the entire engineering lifecycle culminating in the on-orbit delivery of fully mission capable space vehicles to our customers! Come join our team and help us keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

This Systems Engineer Level 3 and Level 4 position are for an individual contributor within a multi-disciplinary engineering team. The specific responsibilities of this position will be to manage the technical and functional interfaces of one or more hosted payload(s) to a spacecraft bus. Work products include the development of payload port-specific interface control documents (ICDs), managing giver-receiver materials, review and approval of bus accommodation documents, development of functional and performance test scripts, and identification of mechanical, electrical, and environmental constraints and requirements. Analysis roles include supporting science, experiment, and mission planning for the payload and evaluating mission performance and orbital operations.

Job Responsibilities

• Leverage your technical and leadership skills to help bring payload and platform Interfaces together to produce a spacecraft meeting contractual and mission requirements
• Develop payload specific Interface control documents governing all mechanical, electrical, and functional interfaces to the host space vehicle
• Recognize and mitigate payload related technical issues and risks
• Play a key role in major program milestone and readiness reviews
• Working with our customers, aid in the development of operational mission scenarios and payload concepts of operations
• Support the planning, design, and execution of testing strategies to exercise payload functionality, measure performance, and verify survivability in the extreme launch and space environments
• Provide on-floor support of integration, testing, and operational readiness of spacecraft and payloads.
• Directly support the Launch and On-orbit operations campaign for your designated mission at the launch site and Mission Operations Center
• Lead by example and be willing to mentor, coach, train, guide, direct and advise junior staff

Basic Qualifications

• Systems Engineer Level - 3 -Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 5 years of engineering experience or Masters degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of engineering experience or PhD in a STEM discipline and 1 year of engineering experience.
• Systems Engineer Level - 4 - Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 8 years of engineering experience or Masters degree in a STEM discipline and 6 years of engineering experience or PhD in a STEM discipline and 4 years of engineering experience.
• Have a strong background in systems engineering to include architectural studies, technical baseline definition, requirements & interface management, hardware/software integration, test planning & execution, or operational support
• Self-starter with strong technical problem-solving skills, an aptitude for understanding system and subsystem interactions and initiative to drive product development to closure
• Prior experience in technical or project leadership positions
• Must have active or current U.S. Government Top Secret Security Clearance and Ability to obtain TS/SCI Clearance at time of application.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active U.S. Government Top Secret Security clearance with SCI/SSBI at time of application.
• Experience in space systems, spacecraft design, payloads or mission operations
• Experience in system architecture, CONOPs development, or model-based system engineering
• Experience with various technical tools such as MATLAB, STK, CORE, DOORS, or CAMEO
• Experience in any of the following areas is also desired: orbital mechanics, orbital debris modeling, spacecraft attitude control, power systems and modeling, avionics or digital electronics design, risk analysis, optics, communications, rocket propulsion, thermal engineering, or spacecraft integration and testing
• Experience with Mission Operations for spacecraft Knowledge of Launch Vehicles, System Safety, System Reliability, Contamination Control, EMI, Space Environments (Radiation, Surface Charging, etc.), and Human Factors is also desired.
• Experience and/or training in Earned Value Management Systems

Primary Level Salary Range: $98,400.00 - $147,600.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $122,800.00 - $184,200.00

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.

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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.