Northrop Grumman logo

Principal Systems Engineer

Northrop Grumman

On-site
Redondo Beach, CA
Full-time
Principal
3+ yrs
$114k–$171kPosted 2d ago

Real job — pulled straight from Northrop Grumman’s careers page · Verified August 11, 2026 · No reposts.

Job description

Northrop Grumman is hiring a Principal Systems Engineer — a full-time, based in Redondo Beach, CA role ($114k–$171k). Apply directly on Northrop Grumman's careers page below.

Principal Systems Engineer - CMDM

Location: United States-California-Redondo Beach

Time Type: Full time

Job Description

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 sector has an opening for a Principal Systems Engineer - CMDM to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals within our Systems Engineering organization. This position is located in Redondo Beach, CA.

Northrop Grumman’s Aeronautics Systems – Research & Advanced Design (R&AD) transforms breakthrough ideas into mission-ready capabilities through intelligent anticipation. We’re the front-end design engine, defining what comes next. From developing cutting-edge next-generation future aircraft to trailblazing collaborative autonomous platforms, we push the boundaries of technology and forge industry-leading partnerships that set new standards for what’s possible.

Our team owns the full lifecycle of advanced concept creation, from visionary early-stage designs and rapid prototyping to high-impact demonstrations and solving the toughest technical challenges in survivability, autonomy, and battle management. We seek curious, adaptable people who thrive on turning intuition into breakthrough solutions. If you’re driven to invent the future, build what’s next, and shape the landscape of national security, this is where you belong.

In this role, you will coordinate and administer configuration management and data management (CMDM) activities related to Systems Engineering, Modeling & Simulation programs including change management, software configuration, data management, networks system analysis, status accounting, and verification and audit.


Key Responsibilities:

  • Plan and coordinate the release and maintenance of Modeling and Simulation engineering Models, Software, Documentation, and Schedules to ensure program requirements are met.
  • Review organization level Statement of Work (SoW) to determine CMDM requirements for each Program Phase, applying knowledge of engineering and agile processes.
  • Execute Change Control Processes from high level Change Management Plan including Change Control Boards
  • Review and analyze released engineering change data and coordinates changes with engineering, quality, support, and engineering data control activities. Support program configuration and data management requirements.

We offer flexible work arrangements, 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off, phenomenal learning opportunities, exposure to a wide variety of projects and customers, and a very friendly team environment. We are looking for self-motivated, proactive, and goal-oriented people to help us grow our services and become even better at what we do.


Basic Qualifications:

  • Must have a Bachelors of Science degree in a STEM field and at least 5 years of relevant military / professional experience, OR a Master's Degree in a STEM field and at least 3 years of relevant military / professional experience, OR a PhD and at least 1 year of relevant military / professional / academic experience
  • Must have an active US Government Top Secret clearance (with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into Continuous Evaluation) .
  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Atlassian tools including JIRA, Confluence, and Bitbucket proficiency with demonstrated experience applying to Agile Project Management.
  • Knowledge of EIA-649 or MIL-HDBK-61A
  • Demonstrated experience applying principles of a Configuration Management Plan (CMP) including Change Boards, documents configuration, and release processes.
  • Demonstrated experience writing a Configuration Management Plan (CMP)
  • Previous employment in Management or Leadership role
  • Complete understanding and wide application of Information Technology principles including Computer Networking & Security, Data Management, Programming & Scripting in Python (preferred) or MATLAB, Software Development, System Analysis, and Hardware Configuration analysis
  • Solid written and verbal skills to effectively interact with program leadership and cross-functional organizations.

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.

Get Systems Engineer jobs like this

New roles from thousands of companies land hourly, straight from their careers pages. Get the freshest matches by email so you never miss one.

Email me new jobs
NEC Software Solutions logo

Product Owner - Health Screening Platform

Remote · UK-eligible
✓ From careers page· 9m ago
NEC Software Solutions logo

Product Owner

Remote · UK-eligible
✓ From careers page· 9m ago
NEC Software Solutions logo

Product Manager

Remote · UK-eligible
✓ From careers page· 9m ago

Frequently asked questions

What is the salary for Principal Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman?

The estimated salary range for Principal Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman is $114,000 - $171,000 USD per year.

What skills are required for Principal Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman?

The required skills for Principal Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman include: Agile, JIRA, Confluence, Bitbucket, Python, Matlab.

What is the seniority level for Principal Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman?

Principal Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman is a Principal level position.

How do I apply for Principal Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman?

You can view the full description and apply for Principal Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman on EchoJobs: https://echojobs.io/job/northrop-grumman-principal-systems-engineer-cmdm-oxhr7.