Pr. Systems Engineer/Sr. Principal Systems Engineer

Company: Northrop Grumman
Location: Colorado Springs
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available 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. If forging a secure future excites you, look no further! Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector provides an arena where your passion for innovation and quest for exploration are welcome. As a Principal Systems Engineer Level 3 or Sr. Principal Engineer Level 4 your role at Colorado Springs, CO will be pivotal in supporting missions critical to national and global security. This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work. Ready to join forces with our visionary team? This role focuses on advancing space systems through comprehensive systems engineering efforts. The Principal/Sr. Principal Systems Engineer will contribute to architecture trade studies, system design analysis, and performance modeling through advanced simulations. In this capacity, you will define and manage requirements, develop segment interfaces, and leverage cutting-edge technologies in system design. This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off. Your Role and Impact: Defining system architectures, conducting trade studies, and developing specifications. Allocating and validating requirements and contributing to payload performance analysis. Designing modeling and simulation tools for system-level performance evaluation. Leading payload hardware development for space and ground systems integration. Managing performance, hardware, and integration processes. This position is contingent upon the candidate obtaining final clearances and program access(es) within a reasonable period of time as determined by the company. This position can be filled at either a Level 3 or Level 4. Basic Qualifications for Level 3: Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 3 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 1 year of professional experience. Requires an active U.S. Government DoD Top-Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with the ability to obtain and maintain SCI approval/access Ground systems design (tasking, planning, C2) Experience with spacecraft system design Experience with system engineering processes Experience designing, integrating, testing and operating ground and space systems Basic Qualifications for Level 4: Bachelor’s degree with 8 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 6 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 4 years of professional experience. Requires an active U.S. Government DoD Top-Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with the ability to obtain and maintain SCI approval/access Ground systems design (tasking, planning, C2) Experience with spacecraft system design Experience with system engineering processes Experience designing, integrating, testing and operating ground and space systems Preferred Qualifications: Experience with RF and optical phenomenology Candidates have completed relevant coursework in space system life-cycle Experience with initial acquisition, checkout, disposal, and sensors Experience with RF signals Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below: https://www.northropgrumman.com/space COSPACE Primary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 - $155,400.00 Secondary Level Salary Range: $129,300.00 - $193,900.00 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.

Keywords: Northrop Grumman, Highlands Ranch , Pr. Systems Engineer/Sr. Principal Systems Engineer, Engineering , Colorado Springs, Colorado