Principal/Senior Principal Space Systems Engineer Mission Architect

Northrop Grumman • Chantilly, VA

1d • $114,000 - $213,400 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Space Systems is seeking an experienced Mission Architect for its Space Superiority Division in Chantilly, Virginia. The role serves as a technical and programmatic centerpiece for mission integration, bringing together ground systems, spacecraft hardware, and other system interfaces to enable capabilities in orbit. The position supports complex, operationally focused space missions and addresses spacecraft performance, mission design, on-orbit operations, and system integration.

The Mission Architect works across engineering and mission-operations disciplines to develop and evaluate mission architectures, operational concepts, analyses, requirements, interfaces, and technical deliverables. The role supports the development and modification of spacecraft, integration and testing, launch preparation, commissioning, on-orbit execution, and program milestones. This position is 100% on-site and requires an active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance at application; final clearances and program access must be obtained within a reasonable period determined by the company. Relocation assistance may be available, travel is 10% of the time, and external candidates may be eligible for a $10,000 sign-on bonus.

Requirements

• Level 3: Bachelor's degree and 5 years of professional experience, or a master's degree and 3 years, or a Ph.D. and 1 year.
• Level 4: Bachelor's degree and 8 years of professional experience, or a master's degree and 6 years, or a Ph.D. and 4 years.
• Active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance at the time of application.
• Demonstrated experience supporting development of a space or ground system.
• Demonstrated systems-engineering experience, such as requirements management, system architecture development, CONOPS development, mission engineering, or modeling and simulation.

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing technical briefings and communicating complex engineering information to senior technical, program, customer, or executive stakeholders.
• Experience collaborating across multiple engineering disciplines to resolve technical issues and develop integrated spacecraft or mission solutions.
• Experience in Space Superiority mission design, satellite ground software, or distributed modeling and simulation.
• Understanding of system-of-systems architecture designs and the interplay among national security customers and products.
• Experience with mission system requirements, verification and validation planning, mission planning and execution, mission analysis, modeling and simulation, or system trade studies.
• Proficiency with modeling and simulation tools such as Cameo, STK, MATLAB, AFSIM, or Python.

Responsibilities

• Develop and evaluate spacecraft and mission architectures, concepts of operations (CONOPS), design reference missions, and operational scenarios.
• Perform mission-level analyses and technical trade studies.
• Assess spacecraft day-in-the-life operations and develop mission sequences for launch, commissioning, on-orbit operations, and contingency scenarios.
• Collaborate with spacecraft, payload, guidance, navigation and control (GNC), software, communications, ground, and mission-operations teams to develop integrated spacecraft and mission solutions.
• Work with mission partners to model and mature mission elements, operational concepts, interfaces, and execution plans.
• Support development of new spacecraft and modification of existing spacecraft to accelerate the path from mission concept to launch and on-orbit operations.
• Develop analysis, modeling, and automation tools to evaluate mission concepts, operational scenarios, design alternatives, and spacecraft performance.
• Develop and manage mission, system, and subsystem requirements, including decomposition, allocation, traceability, verification, and validation.
• Define and manage internal and external interfaces among spacecraft, payloads, host vehicles, sensor suites, ground systems, and mission partners.
• Support spacecraft integration and test, mission-readiness activities, launch preparation, commissioning, and on-orbit execution.
• Support major program milestones, technical reviews, and mission-readiness reviews by preparing technical content and communicating assessments to customers, program leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Author and contribute to mission-engineering products, systems-engineering artifacts, technical reports, and other program deliverables.

Benefits

• Relocation assistance may be available.
• Eligible external candidates may receive a $10,000 sign-on bonus.
• Health insurance coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Savings plan.
• Company-paid holidays.
• Paid time off for vacation and/or personal business.
• Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level