Employ Pine
Northrop Grumman
Principal Engineer
Location
Sykesville, MD, 21784
Job Type
Other
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
In aerospace hubs such as Sykesville, Principal Engineers at Northrop Grumman play pivotal roles by steering complex system designs and integrating interdisciplinary engineering efforts. Their expertise ensures critical project milestones are met, balancing innovation with stringent regulatory standards common in defense contracting.
Professional Engineer (PE) licensure remains highly valued in Maryland, especially for Principal Engineers engaged in civil and mechanical disciplines. Additionally, certifications like PMP or Systems Engineering Professional (SEP) can boost authority, reflecting mastery in project leadership and systems integration relevant to Northrop Grumman's defense projects.
Mechanical Design Engineers focus on physical system integrity and manufacturability, often addressing material stresses and thermal issues, whereas Electrical Engineers tackle circuitry, signal integrity, and power distribution complexities. Both roles demand cross-functional collaboration but differ in technical problem domains and testing protocols.
The ‘Principal’ designation signals a leadership and strategic influence beyond routine engineering tasks. It involves mentorship, high-level decision-making, and ownership of entire system architectures, distinguishing it from standard engineering roles by requiring broader vision and stakeholder engagement.
Sykesville's proximity to major aerospace and defense employers like Northrop Grumman increases demand for seasoned Principal Engineers, making competition keen but specialized. Compared to Baltimore or Annapolis, Sykesville offers niche opportunities, often favoring candidates with defense or government engineering experience.
Principal Engineers in Sykesville typically earn between $130,000 and $160,000 annually, reflecting the region’s cost of living and aerospace specialization. Variations depend on specific engineering discipline, years of experience, and Northrop Grumman’s compensation structure.
Northrop Grumman encourages Principal Engineers to lead cross-functional working groups combining systems, mechanical, and software expertise. This integration fosters innovation in defense systems, leveraging Principal Engineers’ broad industry knowledge and leadership to synchronize complex project elements efficiently.
Northrop Grumman emphasizes technical leadership and innovation, allowing Principal Engineers to progress into chief engineer roles or specialized systems architect positions. The company’s structured mentorship and cutting-edge projects provide distinct opportunities that blend managerial and technical career trajectories.
Sykesville’s suburban setting offers relatively short commutes for Northrop Grumman engineers, with access to major highways and public transit options. However, peak hours may affect travel times, so many engineers consider flexible schedules or remote work policies when possible to optimize work-life balance.
Candidates ought to emphasize deep knowledge of systems integration, risk management, and defense compliance standards. Proficiency with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and experience in multi-disciplinary project leadership are highly sought after in principal positions within Northrop Grumman’s Sykesville teams.
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