Skip to main content
Northrop Grumman logo

Embedded Software Engineer-Level 3/4 (AHT)

Northrop Grumman

Los Angeles, CAJob$114–171K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

Most applications go out cold — see where you stand first. No sign-up to start.

You apply on the employer's site, with no Olive account needed.

Watch jobs like this.

Don't just apply. Show up ready.

Olive works from this exact posting.

At a glance

Compensation
$114–171K/yr
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Work Authorization
US work authorization required

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Secret clearance, required

Job overview

Northrop Grumman’s Advanced Weapons Division seeks an Embedded Software Engineer for its Stand-in Attack Weapon program in Northridge, California. The role supports the Operational Flight Program team and develops, integrates, and tests software on lab assets. The position is 100% on-site with no hybrid opportunities and requires a current U.S. Government DoW Secret security clearance.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Embedded Software, requiredRTOS Development, requiredCode Reading, requiredRequirements Verification, requiredEmbedded Communication Protocols, requiredHardware-Software Integration, requiredAerospace and Defense Technologies, nice to haveMIL-STD-1553, nice to haveSoftware-Hardware Integration Leadership, nice to haveLegacy System Architecture Assessment, nice to have

Qualifications

BS Engineering + 5 or MS + 3 Years, requiredBS Engineering + 8 or MS + 6 Years, requiredSecret Security Clearance, required

Benefits

Relocation Assistance
Medical Insurance
401(k) Match
Paid Time Off

Full job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: 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 Defense System's, Advanced Weapons Division is looking for an Embedded Software Engineer-Level 3/4, located in Northridge, CA. This role will be 100% on-site with no hybrid opportunities.

This position supports our Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) Program. As a member of the Software team, you will work in a fast-paced environment as part of the Operational Flight Program (OFP) team. The ideal candidate has strong embedded software engineering expertise and a solid background in real-time systems, and will be responsible for developing, integrating, and testing software on lab assets.

Responsibilities:

  • Implement software based on software-level requirements and defect reports.

  • Collaborate with systems and software engineers to develop and maintain software architecture models.

  • Develop, integrate, and test software on lab assets.

  • Support verification and validation activities to ensure all integrated CSCIs function as intended.

  • Participate in embedded software development activities, including implementation, unit/integration testing, system-level integration, field integration testing, and requirements verification.

  • Develop software in real-time operating systems (RTOS), such as VxWorks.

Basic Qualifications Principal Embedded Software Engineer (Level 3):

  • Bachelor of Science in an Engineering discipline and a minimum of five (5) years of software engineering experience with any exposure embedded systems; will consider Master of Science in an Engineering discipline and a minimum of three (3) years of software engineering experience with any exposure embedded systems.

  • Experience in developing RTOS such as vxWorks

  • Experience in Embedded Software, and ability to read code and verify the implementation per Software Requirements Specifications

  • Experience developing and troubleshooting embedded communication interfaces and protocols such as UART, RS-232/422, CAN, ARINC 429, or similar standards

  • Experience integrating embedded software systems with hardware, including troubleshooting and resolution of hardware/software interface issues.

  • Current US Government DoW Secret security clearance

Sr. Principal Embedded Software Engineer (Level 4):

  • Bachelor of Science in an Engineering discipline and a minimum of eight (8) years of software engineering experience with any exposure embedded systems; will consider Master of Science in an Engineering discipline and a minimum of six (6 years of software engineering experience with any exposure embedded systems.

  • Experience in developing RTOS such as vxWorks

  • Experience in Embedded Software, and ability to read code and verify the implementation per Software Requirements Specifications

  • Experience developing and troubleshooting embedded communication interfaces and protocols such as UART, RS-232/422, CAN, ARINC 429, or similar standards

  • Experience integrating embedded software systems with hardware, including troubleshooting and resolution of hardware/software interface issues.

  • Current US Government DoW Secret security clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience in multiple aerospace and defense technologies (e.g., sensors, navigation aids, guidance electronics, controls, propulsion, structures, platforms).

  • Experience with MIL-STD-1553, including system architecture, software/hardware integration, verification, testing, and troubleshooting.

  • Experience leading software/hardware integration activities (system bring-up, root-cause analysis, and troubleshooting using laboratory test and diagnostic equipment).

  • Experience in assessing legacy system architecture and innovation for future potential technology development.

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

Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,000.00 - $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.

Job Category: Engineering

How this job compares

Set against the 1,312 open Embedded Software Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 12, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$114–171K/yr
  • California median$144–220K/yr326 salary ranges
  • US median$127–194K/yr982 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $143K, is 21% below the California median midpoint ($181K) — in the lowest quarter of Embedded Software Engineer salary ranges in California.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 412 open Embedded Software Engineer jobs in California and 1,312 across the US. 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
This posting asks for at least 3 years of experience; Embedded Software Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (1,088 postings).
Education
536 of the 1,312 open Embedded Software Engineer jobs (41%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 12, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

Prepare for this role

You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.