Northrop Grumman logo

Principal Cyber Systems Engineer

Northrop Grumman

Linthicum Heights, MDFull-time$120–179K/yrSeen 2 days agoSeen in employer's feed 2 days ago

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

Watch jobs like this.

Don't just apply. Show up ready.

Olive works from this exact posting.

At a glance

Compensation
$120–179K/yr
Location
Linthicum Heights, MD
Schedule
Full-time
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

Job overview

Northrop Grumman seeks a Principal Cyber Security Engineer to support the Mission Systems Sector Chief Information Security Office and cybersecurity organization in Linthicum, Maryland. The role focuses on protecting company networks, systems, data, and intellectual property through cybersecurity engineering, architecture, risk assessment, and compliance. The selected candidate will work on-site full-time and support the Mission Systems Mission Next division.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

NIST 800-171 or NIST 800-53Cybersecurity EngineeringCybersecurity ArchitectureArtificial IntelligencePromptingRisk ManagementGovernance Risk ComplianceCISSPCISMCCSPSecurity PlusAWS Certified Security SpecialtyAWS Solutions ArchitectAzure Security EngineerAzure Solutions ArchitectGovernment 8570 IAT/IAMSystem SecurityNetwork SecurityApplication SecurityCybersecurity ThreatsVulnerability AssessmentSecurity ControlsRisk AssessmentCloud ServicesLinuxWindowsAgile DevOpsScriptingCybersecurity PrinciplesNetworkingServersSystems DesignIdentity and Access ManagementVerbal CommunicationWritten CommunicationAdaptabilityTeamworkAttention to DetailCollaborative Decision-MakingConflict Resolution

Qualifications

High School Diploma or GEDAssociate DegreeBachelor's in ScienceMaster's DegreePhD9+ Years Experience With High School Diploma or GED; 7+ With Associate; 5+ With Bachelor's; 3+ With Master's; 1+ With PhDSecret Clearance EligibilityCISSP or CISM or CCSP or Security Plus or AWS Certified Security Specialty or AWS Solutions Architect or Azure Security Engineer or Azure Solutions ArchitectGovernment 8570 IAT/IAM Level II or III Certification

Benefits

Medical Insurance
401(k) Match
Paid Time Off

Full job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

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.

At the heart of Defining Possible is our commitment to missions. In rapidly changing global security environments, Northrop Grumman brings informed insights and secure technological solutions to enable strategic objectives. 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 will 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 will have the resources, support, and team to do some of the best work of your career.

Cybersecurity Professionals, We Want You!

Cyber assets everywhere are under siege from a wide spectrum of threats. Almost daily, these threats grow in sophistication, breadth and speed. At Northrop Grumman, we take a holistic approach to cybersecurity, looking at the whole cyber landscape of people, processes and technology and the whole security realm of offense, defense, and exploitation. Thought leadership demands nothing less.

Northrop Grumman’s Corporate Sector's Chief Information & Digital Office (CIDO) is seeking a Principal Cyber Security Engineer t o support the Mission Systems Sector Chief Information Security Office & Cybersecurity organization. The selected candidate will support its mission of defending and protecting the company’s networks, systems, data, and intellectual property wherever it resides. Experience with cybersecurity engineering is key for this role

.

This position will be located in Linthicum, MD providing cybersecurity support to the Mission Systems Mission Next division . Please note that the selected candidate will be required to work on-site, full-time at our Linthicum, MD campus - this is NOT a remote work opportunity

Key Responsibilities:

  • Design and engineer solutions that meets business requirements, cyber security practices, and compliance regulations.

  • Provide security guidance in compliance with NIST 800-171 and Cyber Maturity Model Certification (CMMC).

  • Assessment of technical designs and identify security design gaps in existing and proposed architectures.

  • Identify and communicate current and emerging security threats.

  • Identify risks and provide guidance regarding remediation of gaps to facilitate a hardened and sustainable solutions.

  • Take ownership of solutions, assignments, actions items and issues, and remain accountable for their completion.

  • Lead effectively especially with other team members, customers and key stakeholders and foster team success.

  • Communicate and collaborate with leadership and technical teams to include systems and network administrators, security engineers, and IT Support teams.

  • Security and risk assessments for services, applications, hardware, and systems.

  • Work with the Sector Chief Information Security Officer on a regular basis to provide security recommendations and lead cross functional initiatives.

Basic Qualifications:

  • 9 Years of relevant experience with a High School Diploma or GED; 7 Years and Associates Degree; 5 Years with Bachelors in Science; 3 Years with a Masters; 1 Year with a PhD.

  • Must have experience with the following Security Frameworks: NIST 800-171 or NIST 800-53.

  • Candidates must have the ability to obtain a U.S. Government Secret level security clearance as a condition of continued employment.

  • Cyber security engineering and architecture experience is a must.

  • Knowledge of Artificial Intelligence, prompts, and usage

  • Knowledge of risk management principles, including use of a risk-based approach.

  • Experience with interpreting and implementing security industry compliance standards and guidance including Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) policies and procedures.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Professional/technical certifications: CISSP, CISM, CCSP, Security Plus, AWS Certified Security - Specialty, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Azure Security Engineer, Azure Solutions Architect.

  • Government 8570 IAT/IAM Level II or III certification

  • Experience in areas such as system security, network, and application security.

  • Knowledge of current and emerging cyber security threats, vulnerabilities, and controls.

  • Contributor for architectural/industry changes in the area of cyber security.

  • Experience performing risk assessments of both internally and externally hosted solutions.

  • Experience with evaluating, designing, configuring, implementing cloud services models such as SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS.

  • Experience with Linux and Windows operating systems.

  • Experience with operating in an Agile/DevOps environment.

  • Experience with Scripting.

  • Advanced knowledge in cybersecurity principles, networking, architecture, servers, systems design, Identity and Access Management.

  • Exceptional verbal and written communications.

  • Quickly learn and adapt to new and changing business/technical concepts, requirements, skills, tools.

  • Goal-oriented team player committed to quality and detail.

  • Proven track record of driving decisions collaboratively, resolving conflicts and ensuring follow-through.

  • Innovative and strategic thinker who is positive, proactive and readily embraces change.

  • Demonstrated ability to explain technical details to a non-technical audience.

We offer flexible work arrangements, phenomenal learning opportunities, exposure to a wide variety of projects and customers, and a very friendly team environment. Our diverse portfolio of programs means there are endless paths to cultivate your career. We also offer exceptional benefits/healthcare, a 9/80 work schedule, and a great 401k matching program. Come join us!

Primary Level Salary Range: $119,600.00 - $179,400.00

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: Information Technology

How this job compares

Set against the 1,697 open Cybersecurity Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 31, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$120–179K/yr
  • Maryland median$122–205K/yr75 salary ranges
  • US median$120–200K/yr1,346 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $150K, is 8% below the Maryland median midpoint ($162K) — in the middle half of Cybersecurity Engineer salary ranges in Maryland.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 103 open Cybersecurity Engineer jobs in Maryland and 1,697 across the US. 3% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Maryland
Experience
This posting asks for at least 1 year of experience — less than three in four Cybersecurity Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 1,578 postings).
Education
560 of the 1,697 open Cybersecurity Engineer jobs (33%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 31, 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.

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