Modeling & Simulation Systems Engineer (3/4) (Principal or Sr. Principal)

Northrop Grumman • San Diego, CA

20h • $114,000 - $213,400 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is hiring a Modeling & Simulation Systems Engineer for its Research and Advanced Development organization to support a next-generation capabilities prototype effort. The role is based in Rancho Bernardo or El Segundo, California, and may be filled at the Principal Engineer or Senior Principal Engineer level. It is suited to a strong individual contributor who enjoys fast-paced environments and challenging technical work.

The engineer will model operational environments, conduct simulation-based trade studies, and analyze mission effectiveness using system-of-systems modeling tools. The role supports blue and red tactics, kill chains, CONOPS, and TTP modeling across security environments, programs, architectures, and platforms. The engineer will also perform mission engineering to connect desired operational capabilities with system performance, cost, and mission requirements, and will assess systems in representative operational environments.

The position involves gathering stakeholder input, synthesizing data, and communicating complex study results to company leadership and senior U.S. Government personnel. The engineer may lead project and capability development teams of up to six people. An active U.S. Government Secret or higher clearance is required, along with the ability to obtain and maintain Top Secret and SAP clearances.

Requirements

• Principal Engineer: Bachelor of Science in a STEM field and at least 5 years of relevant military or professional experience; or a master's degree in a STEM field and at least 3 years of relevant military or professional experience; or a Ph.D. and at least 1 year of relevant military, professional, or academic experience.
• Senior Principal Engineer: Bachelor of Science in a STEM field and at least 8 years of relevant military or professional experience; or a master's degree in a STEM field and at least 6 years of relevant military or professional experience; or a Ph.D. and at least 4 years of relevant military or professional experience.
• Proficiency in MATLAB.
• Project and analysis lead experience.
• Experience in at least one of the following: threat modeling and adversarial behavior analysis; survivability and lethality assessments; red and blue CONOPS and TTP development; or Navigation/Position, Navigation & Timing (PNT).
• Active U.S. Government Secret or higher clearance, with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or current enrollment in Continuous Evaluation.
• Ability to obtain and maintain U.S. Government Top Secret clearance within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.
• U.S. citizenship is required for positions requiring a government clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to develop physics-based models and simulations using object-oriented programming principles in MATLAB, Python, C++, or Java.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a rapid prototyping environment.
• Ability to develop models or software capabilities that accurately represent complex or abstract physical phenomena.
• Familiarity with Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and system architecture integration.
• Experience with operational military systems.
• Experience with version control tools such as GitHub or Bitbucket.
• Experience operating within CI/CD pipelines, including Git/TFS or Azure DevOps, and collaborating in version-controlled team environments.
• Proficiency in additional object-oriented languages such as C# or Java, and experience modeling or simulating radars, missiles, Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS), air platforms, or space platforms.

Responsibilities

• Model operational environments and conduct trade studies using computer simulation.
• Develop capabilities and perform mission effectiveness analysis using system-of-systems modeling tools such as AFSIM, Suppressor, or Brawler.
• Create and apply knowledge of Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) to support blue and red kill chains across security environments, programs, architectures, and platforms.
• Provide blue and red tactics and CONOPS modeling, simulation, and analysis in mission-level models to support program development, execution, and related R&D objectives.
• Perform mission engineering through the Systems Engineering “V,” linking desired operational capabilities with delivered system performance.
• Trade performance capabilities of new systems and architectures against cost and mission requirements.
• Develop operationally relevant mission scenarios and assess the effectiveness of existing and emerging systems in representative operational environments.
• Solicit stakeholder input, synthesize data, and communicate results to different levels of leadership.
• Present complex study results to internal leadership and higher-level U.S. Government personnel.
• Develop and integrate adversarial behavioral models in AFSIM.
• Lead project and capability development teams of up to six people.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Savings plan.
• Company-paid holidays.
• Paid time off for vacation and/or personal business.
• Employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus, depending on the position.
• Vice President or Director employees may be eligible for long-term incentives.
• Relocation assistance may be available.

What This Job Offers

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