Northrop Grumman logo

Principal/Sr Principal Software Engineer Engagement Ops

Northrop Grumman

Huntsville, ALJob$109–204K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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
$109–204K/yr
Location
Huntsville, AL
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 Software Engineers for its Global C2 Solutions Business Unit in Huntsville, supporting the Integrated Battle Command System program. The role involves developing and sustaining mission-critical command and control software on Agile teams, collaborating with software, systems, hardware, and IT engineers. Engineers will address complex logical and mathematical challenges and support software testing and delivery.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Object-Oriented DevelopmentJavaC++LinuxBashPythonConfiguration ManagementGitGitLabDevSecOpsCI/CDAgile DevelopmentSAFeJiraConfluenceRTI/DDS MiddlewareTactical Data LinksMIL-STD-6016Blue Force TrackerIBSADS-BTrack ManagementSensor ManagementComposite TracksIFF DevicesCombat IdentificationPATRIOTLTAMDSSENTINEL A3/A4M-SHORADEngagement PlanningEngagement ExecutionIndirect FiresModel-Based Systems EngineeringCameoJenkinsCompTIA Security+

Qualifications

Bachelor's in STEM or RelatedMaster's in STEM or RelatedPhD in STEM or Related5+ Years Relevant Experience3+ Years Relevant Experience1+ Year Relevant Experience8+ Years Relevant Experience6+ Years Relevant Experience4+ Years Relevant ExperienceActive Secret ClearanceU.S. Citizenship

Benefits

Medical Insurance
401(k) Match
Paid Time Off

Full job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance 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 Defense Systems is seeking Software Engineers to join the Global C2 Solutions Business Unit in Huntsville, Alabama. You will help design, develop, integrate, test, and sustain mission‑critical command and control (C2) software used by our warfighters and customers around the world.

In this role, you will support the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) program on Agile Software Teams, working closely with software, systems, hardware and IT engineers to build robust, secure, and scalable software solutions that address complex logical and mathematical challenges in support of Global C2 missions.

This position is ideal for engineers who enjoy hands‑on development, solving complex technical problems, and collaborating in a highly integrated, Agile environment.

Responsibilities / Essential Functions

  • Design, develop, document, test, and debug applications and software systems that implement logical and mathematical solutions for Global C2 missions.

  • Work in a fast-paced environment with high expectations, diverse assignments, and collaborative team settings across all levels of the organization.

  • Participate on Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Scrum teams to develop and maintain software products across multiple software baselines.

  • Provide technical solutions to a wide range of complex and difficult problems that are imaginative, thorough, practicable, and aligned with program objectives.

  • Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability; be willing to learn new technologies and operate outside of your comfort zone as mission and program needs evolve.

  • Perform software development and upgrades in multiple programming languages/versions while minimizing changes to the operational behavior of tactical software.

  • Support testing activities including unit and functional testing, code coverage analysis, and static code analysis.

Basic Qualifications

  • Principal Software Engineer: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field and at least 5 years of relevant experience; 3 years with a Master’s; 1 year with a PhD.

  • Senior Principal Software Engineer: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field and at least 8 years of relevant experience; 6 years with a Master’s; 4 years with a PhD.

  • Active Secret Clearance.

  • Strong object-oriented software development experience in Java and C++.

  • Proficiency in Linux-based development and runtime environments, including scripting with Bash and Python.

  • Experience with modern configuration management and source control tools (e.g., Git, GitLab).

  • Experience with DevSecOps practices and CI/CD pipelines to build, integrate, test, and deliver software.

  • Experience with Agile development using SAFe and Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence).

  • Experience supporting real-time or distributed systems using RTI/DDS publish/subscribe middleware.

  • Experience with tactical data links and external interfaces such as MIL-STD-6016 (Link 16), Blue Force Tracker (BFT), IBS, ADS-B, or similar systems.

  • Track management experience, including sensors, composite tracks, IFF devices, and Combat Identification.

  • Experience with U.S. Army systems such as PATRIOT, LTAMDS, SENTINEL A3/A4, IFF devices, and M-SHORAD, including engagement planning and execution (PAC-2/PAC-3, AIM-9X) and indirect fires.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), including Cameo or similar tools.

  • Experience with Jenkins or similar CI/CD pipelines.

  • CompTIA Security#HSVFall2026

Primary Level Salary Range: $108,800.00 - $163,200.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $135,800.00 - $203,600.00

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 34,885 open Software Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 29, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$109–204K/yr
  • Alabama median$108–210K/yr259 salary ranges
  • US median$140–222K/yr28,048 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $156K, is 3% above the Alabama median midpoint ($151K) — in the middle half of Software Engineer salary ranges in Alabama.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 347 open Software Engineer jobs in Alabama and 34,885 across the US. 7% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Alabama
Experience
This posting asks for at least 1 year of experience — less than three in four Software Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 28,135 postings).
Education
12,578 of the 34,885 open Software Engineer jobs (36%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 29, 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.

Similar jobs, posted recently

Open roles like this one, listed in the last 30 days.

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