Principal/Senior Principal Systems Engineer *
Northrop Grumman Systems
Listing collected from Northrop Grumman Systems's career site. NextChapter is independent of Northrop Grumman Systems.
Fairfax, VA · Posted November 4, 2026
Just laid off? Start here: a plan for the first weeks
See every open role at Northrop Grumman Systems
More in Virginia job market · Aerospace & Defense · Engineering jobs
More roles at Northrop Grumman Systems
- Principal or Sr. Principal Field Engineer - (NAS Lemoore CA) · Lemoore, CA
- Sentinel - Principal Systems Engineer - Support Systems Integration · Roy, UT
- Sr. Principal Communications/Co-site Electronics Engineer · Melbourne, FL
- Principal Flight Test Engineer - Unmanned Air Vehicles
- Principal Computer Systems Analyst - 20055 - Roy Utah · Roy, UT
- Principal/ Sr. Principal Electronic Network Engineer · San Diego, CA
Similar jobs
- Principal Solution Architect, AI & Data/Splunk · Iron BOW Technologies · Herndon, VA
- Senior Solutions Architect (Remote) · Hancock Whitney · New Orleans, LA
- Principal Engineer - Digital Platforms · Hancock Whitney · Gulfport, MS
- JSE Lead Cloud-Cyber Architect · Flightsafety Defense · Fort Worth, TX
- Staff IT Systems Engineer- Palmdale, Ca- Secret Required · Sikorsky Aircraft · Palmdale, CA
- Principal Machine Learning Engineer · Cisco Systems · Milpitas, CA
Where Fairfax, VA ranks
Where Fairfax, VA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #5Cities with the most jobs that need no experience in the Mid-Atlantic2.0% · of 84
- #6Cities with the most jobs that need no experience in the Southeast2.0% · of 84
- #8Cities with the most hybrid jobs in the Southeast15% · of 84
- #8Best cities for junior jobs in Virginia36% · of 26
- #9Cities with the most jobs that need no experience2.0% · of 100
- #12Best college towns for junior jobs in the Mid-Atlantic37% · of 55
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
How AI is used in this kind of work
Among computer occupations, all other, AI is already used for a large share of the tasks. Measured exposure for computer occupations, all other: 31% (high).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
Skills this job asks for
Say which you have and which you want to build. We use it to match you to jobs like this one.
About the job
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
CLEARANCE TYPE: SCI
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.
Our team is chartered with providing the skills, and innovative technologies to develop, design, produce, and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter. Come be a part of our mission!
Northrop Grumman Space Systems (NGSP) is seeking an experienced Principal/Senior Principal Systems Engineer supporting our Advanced Tactical Missions Business Unit (BU) to support a program out of our Linthicum, MD or Fairfax, VA locations.
What You'll Get to Do:
Performs system engineering, integration, verification and validation, for total systems. Work is performed at all levels of total system product to include: concept, design, test, installation, operation, and maintenance. Ensures the logical and systematic conversion of customer or product requirements into total systems solutions that acknowledge technical and schedule constraints. Maintain existing operations procedures up-to-date to also include lessons learned from real-time performance. Develop new procedures as required. Interface with program and customer personnel as required.
Basic Qualifications:
Principal Systems Engineer: Bachelor's degree and 5 years of relevant experience; 3 years of relevant experience with a Master's; 0 years of relevant experience with a PhD
Sr. Principal Systems Engineer: Bachelor's degree and 8 years of relevant experience; 6 years of relevant experience with a Master's; 4 years of relevant experience with a PhD
Proven experience with ground systems engineering, systems integrator or software engineer
Experience with requirements engineering, working knowledge of Verification and Validation and Model Based Systems Engineering
Experience working with customers and subcontractors
Excellent written and oral communications skills
Experience creating interface description documents.
Active Top Secret/SCI clearance at time of application and willingness to sit for a polygraph.
Preferred Qualifications:
Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with adjudicated polygraph
Experience using Jira/confluence to collaborate regarding tasking and work instructions inside a team
Experience using DOORs and/or Cameo for requirements management
Experience and knowledge working with Hardware integration
#SpaceEngJobs #SpaceSysEngJobs
#NoVASpace
#BaltimoreSpace
#SPEnhancedERAP
Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00
Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00
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.