Principal/Senior Principal Space Systems Engineer Interface Management

Northrop Grumman • Chantilly, VA

1d • $114,000 - $213,400 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Space Systems is seeking an experienced Space Systems Engineer to join the Space Superiority Division in Chantilly, Virginia. The role supports a cross-disciplinary team that develops, integrates, tests, and delivers advanced spacecraft and mission systems for space security missions. The engineer applies expertise in spacecraft engineering, space mission design, mission analysis, or mission operations to complex, operationally focused missions.

The position contributes across the mission lifecycle, from architecture and concept development through detailed analysis, integration, testing, launch, and on-orbit execution. Work includes solving spacecraft performance, mission design, on-orbit operations, and system integration challenges, and delivering resilient capabilities for demanding operational environments. The role focuses particularly on definition and management of interfaces across complex, multi-segment architectures and coordination with mission partners and stakeholders.

This position may be filled at Level 3 or Level 4. It is 100% on-site in Chantilly, Virginia, involves travel 10% of the time, and requires an active Top Secret/SCI clearance at application. Continued employment is contingent on obtaining final clearances and program access within a reasonable period determined by the company. Relocation assistance may be available, 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, master's degree and 3 years, or Ph.D. and 1 year.
• Level 4: Bachelor's degree and 8 years of professional experience, master's degree and 6 years, or 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 and managing Interface Control Documents (ICDs), interface requirements, and associated models across the system lifecycle.
• Experience with external interface integration, API onboarding, or modernization efforts, such as migrating to or integrating with new enterprise platforms or services.
• Experience with enterprise platforms or APIs for command and telemetry interfaces.
• Experience modeling and documenting interfaces and software designs using SysML/UML, sequence diagrams, data models, and API specifications.
• 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.
• Experience with mission system requirements, verification/validation planning, mission planning and execution, mission analysis, modeling and simulation, or system trade studies.

Responsibilities

• Own the definition, control, and management of external system interfaces across complex, multi-segment architectures.
• Develop, maintain, and baseline Interface Control Documents (ICDs), interface requirements, and associated models throughout the program lifecycle.
• Provide recurring stakeholder status updates, including metrics, execution health, and schedule adherence.
• Produce technical artifacts, including interface diagrams, sequence and flow diagrams, data models, and API/interface contracts.
• Work with mission partners to model and mature mission elements, operational concepts, interfaces, and execution plans.
• 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 program milestones, technical reviews, and mission-readiness reviews by preparing technical content and communicating engineering assessments to customers, program leadership, and stakeholders.
• Author and contribute to mission-engineering products, systems-engineering artifacts, technical reports, and other program deliverables.

Benefits

• Relocation assistance may be available.
• $10,000 sign-on bonus may be available to external candidates.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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