Principal Software Engineer - Integration and Test
Northrop Grumman
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San Diego, CA · Posted October 13, 2026
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About the job
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
CLEARANCE TYPE: Top 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 Aeronautics Systems is looking to add a Principal Engineer Software (T03) –Integration & Test Automation to join our team on site in San Diego, CA or Palmdale, CA.
The candidate should be a self-starter with familiarity working in an Integrated Product Team (IPT) construct. Candidates will work on software supporting various systems in all phases of the software development lifecycle including design, development and test.
Roles and Responsibilities will include:
•Analyze requirements allocated to computer software configuration items.
•Design, develop, maintain and execute automated software tests for qualification of embedded software products
•Develop and execute software installation, integration, and acceptance test procedures in an automated test environment.
•Develop detailed, clear, and quality technical documentation.
•Work with software developers and other engineers, as needed, to help diagnose and identify the root cause of problems found during software installation, integration, acceptance test, and operational events.
•Submit detailed problem reports for errors found.
•Perform statement of work within development, lab, and operational environments
•Collaborate closely with system engineers, hardware designers, integration/test engineers, and program leadership.
The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility. There is no remote / hybrid / telework available for this position. Travel up to 25% may be required.
Basic Qualifications:
•Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 5 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and1 years of related engineering experience.
•Experience in software integration, software testing, test automation, and debugging.
•Experience with the full formal SW Dev Life Cycle (SDLC) methodologies and requirements through test.
•Must be able to independently determine and develop approach to solutions.
•Professional Experience with Agile Framework and methodologies
•Skilled in software integration planning and execution of separate software components into a single system
•Professional Experience Implementing software and scripts in one or more Object Oriented Programming languages: C/C++, C#, OR Java, AND Python OR JavaScript within the last 3 years
•Professional Experience with Software Change Control, Change Management, and CI/CD tools such as: Atlassian tool suite, GitHub, GitLab, AND/OR Jenkins within the last 3 years
•Excellent communication, interpersonal skills, and the ability to interface with all levels of employees and management
•Active U.S. Government Top Secret SCI clearance (with a background investigation within the past 5 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).
•Ability to obtain and maintain initial Special Access Program (SAP) access via a Program Access Request (PAR). This SAP/PAR must be obtained prior to commencement of employment and must be obtained within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
•Note: SAP/PAR will be upgraded once selected candidate is in role. Therefore, candidate must also be able to obtain and maintain upgraded SAP/PAR.)
Preferred Qualifications :
•Current applicable Special Access Program (SAP) clearance.
•Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or Electrical Engineering.
•2 + years of Experience back-end development specifically using Node.js in production environment.
•Demonstrated Professional Experience with developing, integrating, and/or Testing on multi-threaded SW used for one of the following real-time applications: flight critical SW, Safety critical SW, medical SW, or mission critical SW.
•Experience with Testing Methodologies, Frameworks, and Automated Testing using: GoogleTest, TestComplete, Cucumber, Atlas, Eggplant, Unit Test Factory, ATF (Automated Test Framework), Robot, AQT or similar.
•Professional Experience Architecting, Designing, Modeling (Rhapsody or Cameo), Implementing, Maintaining, Integrating, Debugging, Verifying and Qualifying Safety-Critical Embedded Real Time Software OR Command & Control Software written in OO C++ running on Real-Time Operating Systems such as: VxWorks, Integrity, AND/OR Real Time Embedded Linux.
•Ability to brief technical presentations to stakeholders.
•Demonstrated communication and technical writing skills.
•Experience with Confluence and JIRA.
•Differentiating characteristics include demonstrated leadership, teamwork capabilities, strong time management, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
•Recent Professional Experience with DOORs AND/OR Software Requirement Specification Testing using Simulators, automated scripting languages such as Python, MATLAB, JavaScript, QSA/QT AND/OR Bash.
Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00
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.