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Principal Cybersecurity Systems Engineer

Northrop Grumman

Palmdale, CAJob$125–188K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$125–188K/yr
Location
Palmdale, CA
Work Authorization
Citizenship required

Olive focuses on jobs in the United States, including remote roles you can work from there.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Secret clearance, required

Job overview

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems seeks a Principal Cybersecurity Systems Engineer for its Systems Engineering organization. The role assesses software and hardware for vulnerabilities, develops cybersecurity process automation, and investigates technical issues. Responsibilities include evaluating static code analysis, completing cybersecurity impact appraisals, preparing artifacts for Air Force authorization decisions, and conducting vulnerability scans and STIG verifications. The position is onsite in Rancho Bernardo, California.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Cybersecurity, requiredSystems Engineering, nice to haveRequirements Development, nice to haveRequirements Traceability, nice to haveVerification and Validation, nice to haveEngineering Change Processes, nice to haveCybersecurity Impact Assessments, nice to haveSystem Vulnerability Scanning, nice to haveACAS, nice to haveEvaluate STIG, nice to haveSecurity Compliance Checker, nice to haveNetworking Technologies, nice to haveRouter Configuration, nice to haveSwitch Configuration, nice to haveTroubleshooting, nice to haveSecurity Assessments, nice to haveVulnerability Assessments, nice to have

Qualifications

Bachelor's in STEM + 5 Yrs, Master's in STEM + 3 Yrs, or PhD + 1 Yr, requiredCSSLP, nice to haveCISSP, nice to haveCEH, nice to haveSecurity+, nice to haveSecret or Higher Clearance, requiredSAP 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, 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.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Principal Cybersecurity Systems Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals within our Systems Engineering organization. This role is located onsite in Rancho Bernardo, CA.

In this role as the Cybersecurity Systems Engineer (CSE), you will assess software and hardware for vulnerabilities, develops automation for cybersecurity processes, and investigates complex technical issues.

Some Responsibilities would include:

  • Solve complex technical problems involving cybersecurity concepts.

  • Assess software static code analysis results.

  • Complete Cybersecurity Impact Appraisals/Evaluations on hardware/software projects

  • Generating and maintaining appropriate artifacts for Air Force authorization decisions.

  • Performing system vulnerability scans utilizing tools such as ACAS and STIGs.

  • Performing manual STIG / SRG verifications on disparate types of equipment including collecting and evaluating findings.

Basic Qualifications :

  • Must have a Bachelors degree in a STEM field and at least 5 years of relevant military / professional experience, OR a Master's Degree in a STEM field and at least 3 relevant military / professional experience OR a PhD and at least 1 year of relevant military / professional / academic experience.

  • Must have experience in Cybersecurity.

  • Must have the ability to obtain or maintain a U.S. Government Secret or higher clearance (with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).

  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • CSSLP, CISSP, CEH, Security+ Foundational knowledge and experience with core systems engineering principles, including:

  • Requirements development, allocation, and traceability

  • Verification and validation planning and execution

  • Engineering Change Processes

  • Experience performing cybersecurity impact assessments during design changes, capability upgrades, and/or baseline reviews.

  • Experience performing system vulnerability scans utilizing tools such ACAS, and automated STIG tools such as Evaluate STIG or Security Compliance Checker.

  • Experience with networking technologies, router and switch configurations, troubleshooting and security / vulnerability assessments.

  • An active U.S. government Secret clearance or higher (with background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).

Primary Level Salary Range: $125,300.00 - $187,900.00

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 1,769 open Cybersecurity Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 14, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$125–188K/yr
  • California median$125–201K/yr126 salary ranges
  • US median$113–198K/yr1,453 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $157K, is 7% below the California median midpoint ($168K) — in the middle half of Cybersecurity Engineer salary ranges in California.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 134 open Cybersecurity Engineer jobs in California and 1,769 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
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 1,620 postings).
Education
517 of the 1,769 open Cybersecurity Engineer jobs (29%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 14, 2026. Figures based on too few postings are left out.

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