Staff Software Engineer (Top Secret)

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’s Space Sector is seeking a Staff Software Engineer to join our team of highly qualified, diverse professionals within the Western Region Software Engineering Directorate. This position is located onsite in Manhattan Beach, CA.

The Western Region Software Engineering organization comprises over 800 highly skilled professionals, including Software Engineers, DevOps Engineers, Database Administrators, and Network Engineers, at all levels—ranging from early-career engineers to senior chief engineers and architects. This engineering organization supports numerous programs, and we have plenty of opportunities for career advancement into higher level technical roles or leadership positions. Our culture promotes cross-program collaboration, continuous professional development, and a strong sense of community.

The job responsibilities of the Staff Software Engineer include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Design, develop, document, integrate, test, and debug software solutions for end‑user customers and internal business applications.
• Lead the architecture, development, and lifecycle management of embedded and real‑time systems.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams—including Systems Engineering, Digital Engineering, Hardware, and Integration & Test—within an Agile development environment.
• Analyze system capabilities to troubleshoot and resolve issues related to program intent, output requirements, data acquisition, programming methods, and control strategies.
• Apply strong problem‑solving skills to quickly grasp complex concepts.
• Perform on‑orbit data analysis and anomaly investigations, delivering timely resolutions.
• Provide full‑time onsite support and be on‑call for operational anomalies and investigations (including nights and weekends).
• Prepare charts, present data, and make recommendations to internal teams, program leadership, and external customers using excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 12+ years of relevant software engineering experience or Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with 10+ years of stated experience or Ph.D. in a STEM discipline with 8+ years of stated experience.
• Strong proficiency in C/C++.
• Experience with Windows and at least one of the following operating systems: Solaris, UNIX, or Linux.
• Extensive background developing and debugging large‑scale embedded payload software on Unix‑based platforms.
• Proven leadership experience, including guiding small teams, managing tasks, conducting detailed technical reviews, and delivering operational support under tight deadlines.
• Active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance at the time of application.
   

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with Agile practices and the Atlassian suite (Confluence, Jira, Kanban, Bamboo, BitBucket).
• Knowledge of VxWorks, PowerPC, and real‑time processing.
• Experience developing complex software systems that interface with hardware.
• Strong Python programming skills.
• Demonstrated expertise with the Simics Test Environment, including implementing Simics enhancements.
• Comprehensive understanding of payload systems and MilSatCom message protocols.
• Proven ability to conduct on‑orbit data analysis and resolve anomalies promptly
• Kanban, Bamboo, BitBucket)
• Knowledge of VxWorks, PowerPC, real-time processing
  
  
   

Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:

https://www.northropgrumman.com/space.

Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site: Northrop Grumman Total Rewards.
 

As a full-time employee of Northrop Grumman, you are eligible for:

-Medical, Dental & Vision coverage

-401k

-Educational Assistance

-Life Insurance

-Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions

-Paid Time Off

-Health & Wellness Resources

-Employee Discounts

-Flexible Schedules: for example, the ability to work a 9/80 work schedule, which allows an employee to work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday and take every other Friday off of work.
 

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Primary Level Salary Range: $177,000.00 - $265,600.00

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.