Employ Pine
Northrop Grumman
Principal Engineer
Location
Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Job Type
Full Time
Date Posted
27 November 2025
Position: Principal Engineer, System Test Analyst (25-356)
Location: Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation Assistance: No relocation assistance available
Clearance Type: Secret
Travel: Yes, 10% of the Time
Position Type/Standard Work Hours: Full-time, 40 hours
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 Space Systems-Launch and Missile Defense Systems provides an excellent opportunity for a Principal Engineer System Test - System Test Analyst (25-356) to join our team of skilled and diverse professionals. This role, based at Schriever Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, CO, is crucial in supporting the U.S. President, the Secretary of Defense, and combatant commanders at strategic, regional, and operational levels.
Position Overview:
The Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) program is a vital part of the Missile Defense System. It provides an essential operational platform that allows the U.S. president, the secretary of defense, and combatant commanders at strategic, regional, and tactical levels to systematically plan ballistic missile defense operations, monitor battle progress, and actively manage networked sensors and weapon systems to meet global and regional mission goals. C2BMC offers layered missile defense capabilities, delivering an optimized response to threats across all ranges and flight phases. It functions as a force multiplier by linking, integrating, and synchronizing autonomous sensor and weapon systems and operations both worldwide and locally to boost overall performance. Additionally, C2BMC is a crucial component of all ground and flight tests that verify and demonstrate the missile defense system's current and future capabilities.
Participate in developing metrics, statistics, and descriptive analyses to support evaluating the C2BMC system's performance. Conduct research and analysis to identify meaningful patterns and trends from test datasets, using statistical methods to validate or disprove hypotheses about the data. Use techniques like data visualization, simulation, and system modeling to achieve the desired analysis results.
Essential Functions:
- Assist in developing straightforward solutions to technical problems discovered and create actionable insights for the C2BMC test team and decision makers
- Collaborate with the development team to communicate key test findings and assist with anomaly resolution
- Aid in the development of new software tools and maintenance of the existing toolset
Basic Qualifications:
- A Bachelor's Degree in a STEM Computer Science, System Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field from an accredited university is preferred, along with 8 years of experience; or a Master's degree (preferred) in a STEM related field with 6 years of relevant work experience; or PhD in a related field with 4 years of relevant experience
- Applicants must have a current, active in-scope DoD-issued Secret security clearance at the time of application, which is required to start
- A DoD 8140 certification at IAT Level II or higher (such as Security+, GSEC, SCNP, SSCP, CISSP, CISA, GSE, SCNA, etc.) is required to start
- Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% to support business needs are required, with some non-standard work hours required for test event schedules
- Experience with object-oriented programming languages such as Python, Java, etc.
- Experience working with large data sets
- Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's Degree in Systems Engineering is highly preferred
- Certification: INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) Certification
- Certification: Object Management Group Certified Systems Modeling Professional - Model Builder Fundamental (OCSMP - MBF)
- Experience working in a Linux environment
- Strong background in Mathematics and Physics
- Working knowledge of ballistic or non-ballistic missile defense concepts, Command and Control (C2) systems, defense communication systems, the Missile Defense System (MDS) in general, and Space Domain Awareness
What We Can Offer You:
- Health Plan
- Savings Plan
- Paid Time Off
- Education Assistance
- Training and Development
- Flexible Work Arrangements
Primary Level Salary Range: $91,200.00 - $136,800.00
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 Incentive
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlottesville's tech and defense sectors have a moderate but growing appetite for Principal Engineers, especially those with systems and mechanical expertise. Local firms often seek professionals skilled in complex project leadership, making it a promising yet selective market for candidates.
In Virginia, including Charlottesville, certifications like PMP, PE (Professional Engineer), and security clearances can enhance your candidacy for Principal Engineer roles, particularly with government contractors such as Northrop Grumman, where compliance and specialized credentials matter.
Principal Engineers typically excel in strategic design leadership, cross-disciplinary systems integration, and mentoring engineering teams. Their role transcends technical tasks, focusing on driving innovation and aligning engineering execution with overarching project objectives.
Transitioning to Principal Engineer often opens pathways to senior management, chief engineer positions, or specialized technical leadership roles. It enhances visibility in project decision-making and fosters mastery over complex engineering challenges across multiple domains.
A Principal Mechanical Design Engineer typically leads design architecture, supervises junior engineers, and ensures compliance with standards. Unlike general Engineers, they also engage heavily in strategic planning, risk assessment, and liaising with cross-functional teams to drive project success.
Northrop Grumman often provides competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and access to cutting-edge aerospace projects. Principal Engineers benefit from advanced training programs, security clearance opportunities, and a culture emphasizing innovation within government contracts.
While Northrop Grumman prioritizes on-site presence for security and collaboration, some Principal Engineer positions may offer limited hybrid flexibility, especially for roles involving systems engineering or design tasks that can be performed remotely within compliance guidelines.
Principal Engineers in Charlottesville, particularly in aerospace and defense, generally earn between $125,000 and $160,000 annually. Factors influencing pay include experience, specialized skills in mechanical or systems engineering, and security clearance status.
Yes, people often conflate these roles, but Principal Civil Engineers focus on infrastructure design and compliance, while Principal Systems Engineers oversee integration and performance of complex technical systems. Each requires distinct expertise aligned with project demands.
Charlottesville’s collaborative and innovation-driven environment complements Northrop Grumman’s culture, fostering teamwork among Principal Engineers. The region’s moderate pace of life helps balance demanding project schedules with quality of life, attracting experienced engineering leaders.
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