Northrop Grumman
Software Engineer
Location
Manhattan Beach, CA, 90266
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 typically looks for proficiency in languages like C++, Python, and Java for their Manhattan Beach software engineers. Familiarity with embedded systems, real-time operating systems, and aerospace-related software tools often gives candidates an edge in this defense-oriented environment.
Software engineers at Northrop Grumman often deal with highly secure, mission-critical systems requiring rigorous testing and compliance. Unlike typical commercial software roles in Manhattan Beach, engineers here focus on defense-grade reliability, which demands meticulous attention to detail and adherence to government standards.
Manhattan Beach's thriving tech scene means software engineering roles are competitive, with many candidates specializing in aerospace and defense sectors. Networking within local tech groups and understanding industry-specific technologies can improve chances amid this concentrated talent pool.
Traffic congestion on the Pacific Coast Highway and nearby freeways can significantly impact commute durations. Many software engineers optimize their schedules or choose remote options when possible to navigate Manhattan Beach's busy rush hours effectively.
Software Engineers in Manhattan Beach usually earn between $95,000 and $130,000 annually, reflecting the area's cost of living and aerospace industry demand. This range tends to be slightly above the national average due to California's tech market and defense sector premiums.
Software Engineers at Northrop Grumman often progress into specialized roles like Systems Engineering or Project Leadership, especially within aerospace projects. The company supports growth towards senior technical positions or managerial tracks with exposure to cutting-edge defense technologies.
Software engineers at Northrop Grumman actively collaborate with cross-functional teams including hardware and systems engineers. The integration emphasizes iterative development, rigorous testing, and compliance with military-grade standards, ensuring software aligns with complex aerospace product requirements.
Manhattan Beach software engineers at Northrop Grumman often focus on embedded systems and defense applications compared to typical Silicon Valley roles emphasizing consumer apps or cloud services. The technical depth and security clearance requirements add unique layers to these positions.
Graduates are attracted by Northrop Grumman's access to innovative aerospace projects and mentorship in a region with a strong defense presence. The company offers structured onboarding and career development tailored to new software engineers eager to enter high-impact technical roles.
Northrop Grumman promotes flexible work arrangements and wellness programs to accommodate the busy lifestyles of Manhattan Beach engineers. Their culture balances mission-driven work with employee well-being, often including remote work options and community engagement activities.
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