Northrop Grumman
Software Engineer
Location
Los Angeles, CA, 90001
Job Type
Other
Date Posted
27 November 2025
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available
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 Space Systems - Launch and Missile Defense Systems has an exciting career opportunity for a Sr Principal Engineer Software - System Architecture SW Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position will be located in Huntsville, AL.
Position Overview:
The Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) program integrates the Missile Defense System. It is a vital operational system that enables the U.S. president, secretary of defense, and combatant commanders at strategic, regional, and operational levels to systematically plan ballistic missile defense operations, to see the battle develop collectively, and to dynamically manage designated networked sensors and weapons systems to achieve global and regional mission objectives. C2BMC supports a layered missile defense capability that enables an optimized response to threats of all ranges in all phases of flight. C2BMC is the force multiplier that globally and regionally networks integrate, synchronizing autonomous sensor and weapon systems and operations to optimize performance. C2BMC is integral to all system ground and flight tests, which verify and exercise all current and future missile defense system capabilities. The selected candidate will be a member of the C2BMC software architecture team on the Regional Applications Agile Release Train (ART).
Essential Functions:
- This position will be responsible for developing automated acceptance tests that verify functionality across the C2BMC system. This position's responsibilities include:
- Support architectural definition of the C2BMC system and then implement automated acceptance tests to integrate C2BMC products including tactical software development.
- Implement a pipeline that verified the architectural products.
- Support product teams pipeline development as necessary.
Basic Qualifications:
- Please note your updated security clearance and IAT/relevant certifications on your resume, if applicable.
- Bachelor's Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline preferred from an accredited university and 9 years of related work experience or a Master's degree in a related discipline and 7 years of related work experience, or a PhD and 5 years of related work experience, or 13 years of related work experience in lieu of a degree may be considered
- Applicants must have a current active in-scope DoD-issued Secret security clearance at the time of application, which is required to start with the ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance
- Current DoD 8140 certification at IAT Level II or higher (Security+ CE, CCNA-Security, CND, CySA+, CISSP, CISA, etc.) which is required to start
- The candidate must have an understanding of the full life-cycle software engineering practices and procedures applicable to large software systems to include:
- Recent hands on application development experience or coursework in the use of the Java programming language.
- Understanding of the difference between white box and black box testing
- Understanding of software unit testing strategies, automated software builds, continuous integration and continuous deployment.
- Knowledge of Test Driven Development (TDD) and Behavior Driven Development(BDD) required.
- Experience developing software on Linux platforms is required.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Hands on experience with software development and CM tools such as Eclipse, Maven, Gradle, Nexus, JUnit, Confluence, SonarQube, JIRA, Jenkins, XText, Git, GitHub, Cucumber, and Fortify highly desirable.
- Familiarity with automated unit and acceptance testing.
- Awareness of emerging technologies in the automated build, deployment and test areas.
- Understanding of Ballistic Missile Defense concepts, Battle Management and Command and Control (BM/C2) systems, defense communications systems, and the BMDS in general is desired.
What We Can Offer You:
- Health Plan
- Savings Plan
- Paid Time Off
- Education Assistance
- Training and Development
- Flexible Work Arrangements
Primary Level Salary Range: $152,000.00 - $169,700.00
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Northrop Grumman often looks for proficiency in languages like C++, Java, and Python for software engineers, especially on aerospace and defense projects. Candidates skilled in embedded systems or real-time operating systems tend to stand out in their Los Angeles offices.
Software Engineers at Northrop Grumman often engage in rigorous testing and integration phases due to the critical nature of aerospace projects. Unlike consumer tech firms, there's a strong emphasis on compliance, security, and collaboration with engineering teams on hardware-software interfaces.
Software Engineers at Northrop Grumman can advance towards roles such as Systems Architect, Project Lead, or specialized positions in software systems engineering. The company encourages growth through certifications and hands-on involvement in complex defense systems.
Employers in Los Angeles favor skills in C++, Python, and Java for software engineers, especially those with experience in software development lifecycle tools and Agile methodologies. Familiarity with aerospace-grade software standards can be a significant advantage.
Los Angeles shows steady growth in software engineering roles, particularly in aerospace, defense, and entertainment tech sectors. While not as saturated as Silicon Valley, LA offers ample opportunities with competitive hiring rates for skilled developers.
LA's traffic congestion can extend daily commutes, so many software engineers at Northrop Grumman consider flexible hours or remote days. Proximity to key tech corridors can help minimize travel time, enhancing work-life balance.
Northrop Grumman supports software engineers with access to certifications like CISSP, PMP, and domain-specific courses in defense software systems. Continuous learning is encouraged to keep pace with evolving aerospace and cybersecurity requirements.
Software Engineers at Northrop Grumman in Los Angeles typically earn between $95,000 and $125,000 annually, depending on experience and specialization. Compensation often includes benefits like bonuses and retirement plans aligned with industry standards.
Entry-level software engineers at Northrop Grumman focus on coding, debugging, and supporting project teams under supervision, while senior engineers lead design efforts, mentor juniors, and engage in system architecture decisions for critical aerospace software.
Northrop Grumman prioritizes problem-solving aptitude, attention to detail, and security awareness for software engineers. Experience with real-time systems and the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams are highly prized in their LA office.
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