Principal Systems Engineer - RQ4 FMS Co-CLS Field Facing Integrator
About The Position
Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is hiring a Principal Systems Engineer to support the RQ-4 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program as a Co-CLS Field Facing Integrator. Based in Rancho Bernardo, California, this role performs mission data analysis, integration activities, and field-facing investigations to resolve system issues and improve operational performance. The engineer works with CLS, the System Integration Lab (SIL), program engineering, and FMS customers, including the SPO, JASDF, and ROK, to provide timely, data-driven technical recommendations. The role requires strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills, along with effective written and verbal communication and the ability to present technical findings clearly. This opportunity is contingent on program funding; the start date will be determined after funding confirmation. The position requires an active U.S. Government Secret or higher clearance. It is based on-site in Rancho Bernardo and involves travel 10% of the time. Relocation assistance is not available.
Requirements
- 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.
- Experience analyzing data using Python, MATLAB, or similar tools and interpreting mission or test data.
- Experience with software scripting or coding to automate analysis or develop tools.
- Experience with system integration and test environments, such as labs, SIL, or HWIL.
- Ability to work on-site in Rancho Bernardo and collaborate with multidisciplinary, geographically dispersed teams.
- Active U.S. Government Secret or higher clearance, with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or current enrollment in Continuous Evaluation.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with RQ-4 or other UAS or mission systems, or with CLS or field support environments.
- Experience supporting FMS customers and associated stakeholders, including the SPO, JASDF, and ROK.
- Experience with mission planning or debrief tools, RVTs, or telemetry analysis.
- Familiarity with communications, datalinks, or networked mission systems.
- Experience with configuration management, requirements management, or defect-tracking tools.
Responsibilities
- Debug and execute RVTs, such as mission data re-runs and replay or validation tests, to investigate issues with fielded systems.
- Develop, code, and maintain mission data analysis tools, including scripts, utilities, and automated workflows.
- Analyze mission data to identify trends, characterize system performance, and investigate potential causes of anomalies or degradation.
- Support integration activities in the FMS System Integration Lab, including test planning, execution, data collection, and issue documentation.
- Support field-facing investigations and provide technically grounded recommendations to stakeholders, including the SPO, JASDF, and ROK.
- Document findings, analysis results, and corrective actions clearly and traceably for internal and external customers.
- Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to resolve deficiencies and implement corrective actions.
Benefits
- Health insurance coverage
- Life insurance
- Disability insurance
- Savings plan
- Company-paid holidays
- Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business
- Potential eligibility for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus, depending on the position
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
