Northrop Grumman logo

Sr Principal Engineer Systems - 1

Northrop Grumman

San Diego, CAJob$142–213K/yrSeen 3 days agoSeen in employer's feed 3 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
$142–213K/yr
Location
San Diego, 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.

Special Program AccessTS/SCI clearance

Job overview

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems seeks a Sr Principal Systems Engineer to apply the systems engineering lifecycle from concept and requirements definition through integration, verification, validation, and delivery. The role includes customer and leadership interaction, technical briefings, interface management, architecture support, and participation in design and readiness reviews. The position is based in Rancho Bernardo, El Segundo, or Palmdale, California.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Systems Engineering LifecycleRequirements DevelopmentRequirements ManagementRequirements TraceabilityVerification and ValidationRequirements Management ToolsInterface Control DocumentsInterface DefinitionTechnical PresentationsSystem ArchitectureModel-Based Systems EngineeringCONOPS DefinitionHardware/Software IntegrationTest Procedure DevelopmentDiscrepancy ResolutionAgile DevelopmentCI/CDSupplier Coordination

Qualifications

Bachelor's in STEM or EquivalentMaster's in STEM or EquivalentPhD in STEM or Equivalent8 Years Related Engineering Experience6 Years Related Engineering Experience4 Years Related Engineering ExperienceActive USG Top Secret SCI ClearanceSpecial Program AccessCurrent SAP Clearance

Benefits

Relocation Assistance
Medical Insurance
Paid Time Off

Full 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 Aeronautics Systems is looking to add a Sr Principal Systems Engineer (T4) to join our team in Rancho Bernardo, CA, El Segundo, CA, Palmdale, CA. The candidate will apply the full systems engineering lifecycle—from concept and requirements definition through integration, verification & validation (V&V), and delivery. The role includes regular interaction with customers and leadership, including preparation and delivery of technical briefings

Key Roles and Responsibilities

  • Apply the full systems engineering lifecycle, including Concept development and system definition, Requirements development, decomposition, and allocation, Interface definition and management, Integration, verification, and validation planning and execution

  • Develop Verification & Validation (V&V) strategies and plans, including Requirement Verification Plans and System Test & Verification Plans

  • Work closely with test and specialty engineering teams to ensure test procedures correctly interpret and verify requirements

  • Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs) for internal and external system interfaces through internal coordination with Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), suppliers, and customers, and through interface working groups

  • Support development and documentation of system architectures and Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) working with cross-functional teams to ensure the architecture supports performance, reliability, safety, and maintainability objectives

  • Provide systems engineering input to design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR) and integration/test readiness reviews

  • Prepare and deliver technical briefings to internal leadership and external customers.

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) and 8 years of related engineering experience before start of employment;

OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 6 years of related engineering experience;

OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and 4 years of related engineering experience

  • Demonstrated experience across the systems engineering lifecycle, including: Requirements development and decomposition, Requirements management and traceability, Verification & validation planning and execution

  • Experience with requirements management tools (e.g., DOORS, DOORS Next, or similar).

  • Experience with ICD development and interface definition

  • Experience preparing and delivering technical presentations to customers or leadership

  • Active USG Top Secret SCI clearance (with a background investigation within the past 5 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation)

  • Ability to obtain and maintain initial Special Program Access (SAP/PAR). This SAP/PAR must be obtained prior to commencement of employment and must be obtained within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs

Preferred Qualifications

  • Current applicable Special Access Program (SAP) clearance

  • Experience supporting major systems engineering milestones (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR).

  • Experience with system architecture development, model-based systems engineering (MBSE), and/or CONOPS definition

  • Hands-on experience with HW/SW integration and test, including test procedure development and discrepancy/anomaly resolution

  • Familiarity with Agile development methods and/or CI/CD environments

  • Experience coordinating with suppliers on technical requirements, interfaces, and verification expectations

Primary 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.

Job Category: Engineering

How this job compares

Set against the 2,957 open Systems Engineering jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 1, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$142–213K/yr
  • California median$161–231K/yr453 salary ranges
  • US median$135–209K/yr2,141 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $178K, is 10% below the California median midpoint ($198K) — in the middle half of Systems Engineering salary ranges in California.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 544 open Systems Engineering jobs in California and 2,957 across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
This posting asks for at least 4 years of experience — less than three in four Systems Engineering postings that state a minimum ask for (median 7 years, across 2,312 postings).
Education
982 of the 2,957 open Systems Engineering jobs (33%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 1, 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.