Staff Systems Architect Engineer – Solutions Architect PO (26-304)

Northrop Grumman • Huntsville, AL

47d • $161,000 - $253,600 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Space Systems—Missile Defense Integration offers an excellent opportunity for a Staff Systems Architect Engineer – Solutions Architect Product Owner (26-304) to join our team of skilled and diverse professionals. Based in Colorado Springs, CO, or Huntsville, AL, this role is essential to supporting the U.S. President, the Secretary of Defense, and combatant commanders at the strategic, regional, and operational levels.
This position does not provide relocation assistance and requires on-site work with no remote options.

The Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) program is a key component of the Missile Defense System. It is a vital operational system that enables the U.S. president, the secretary of defense, and combatant commanders at strategic, regional, and operational levels to systematically plan ballistic missile defense operations, collectively monitor the battle, and dynamically control networked sensors and weapon systems to achieve global and regional mission goals. C2BMC supports layered missile defense capabilities that enable an optimized response to threats across all ranges and flight phases. It serves as a force multiplier by networking, integrating, and synchronizing autonomous sensor and weapon systems and operations, both globally and regionally, to improve performance. C2BMC is essential for all ground and flight tests that verify and demonstrate the current and future capabilities of missile defense systems.
The role sits at the heart of an integrated solutions architecture and systems engineering effort, working on a multi-company team to define the operational, physical, functional, and technical architectures that will shape an evolving C2BMC (Command, Control, Battle Management, and Communications) capability. As the product owner for the architecture, you will own the backlog of architecture artifacts, prioritize capability delivery, and ensure that each increment aligns with stakeholder expectations. You will architect missile defense command-and-control and battle management systems, leveraging existing COTS/GOTS components while ensuring full DoD interoperability. A core responsibility is translating high-level mission needs into a cohesive hardware-software solution; analyzing requirements; articulating desired capabilities to developers, engineers, SMEs, and users; and producing and maintaining system models, interface control documents, and functional flow diagrams.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field from an accredited university, along with 12 years of experience; or a Master’s degree in a related field with 10 years of relevant work experience; or a PhD in a related discipline with 8 years of relevant work experience
• Applicants must have a current, active DoD 8140 certification at IAT Level II or higher (such as Security+ CE, CCNA-Security, CySA+, CND, etc.) at the time of application, which is required to start. The candidate is responsible for maintaining their DoD 8140 certification throughout the entire contract period
• Applicants must have a current, active in-scope DoD-issued Secret security clearance at the time of application, which is required to start
• Willingness to travel 10% of the time for business needs
• Will have an extensive track record of designing, developing, and integrating complex command and control or battle management solutions
• A solid grasp of systems architecture, using frameworks like DoDAF, MODAF, or TOGAF, allows you to turn mission requirements into comprehensive, technology-ready system solutions while adhering to TRL limitations
• Strong written and oral communication abilities; adept at delivering clear and persuasive technical presentations

Nice To Haves

• Deep understanding of DoD and missile defense C2BMC architectures, system concepts, and standard test and data-analysis techniques
• Ability to identify, define, and communicate desired capabilities to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Proficiency in creating architectural artifacts (functional diagrams, interface definitions, data models)
• Adopt a structured, logical, and analytical approach to transforming high-level needs into integrated hardware and software solutions
• Demonstrated capability to lead complex architectural activities, mentor junior team members, and drive cross-functional alignment
• Certified Product Owner, Certified Architect (such as TOGAF or Zachman), or an equivalent qualification
• Experience integrating COTS/GOTS components and applying DoD interoperability standards such as MAUD and STANAG
• Familiarity with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools like SysML, Enterprise Architect, MagicDraw
• Prior work in missile defense or other high-threat, high-availability command and control programs

Responsibilities

• Will design and develop new systems, modernize legacy platforms, drive the architectural evolution roadmap, lead portions of the design effort, and support internal and external design reviews through clear written and oral technical presentations
• Own the backlog of architecture artifacts, prioritize capability delivery, and ensure that each increment aligns with stakeholder expectations.
• Architect missile defense command-and-control and battle management systems, leveraging existing COTS/GOTS components while ensuring full DoD interoperability.
• Translate high-level mission needs into a cohesive hardware-software solution; analyze requirements; articulate desired capabilities to developers, engineers, SMEs, and users; and produce and maintain system models, interface control documents, and functional flow diagrams.
• Consistently engage in both internal and external design reviews, creating models and architectural guidelines that support ongoing projects and future growth.
• Manage stakeholder priorities and establish acceptance criteria for each architectural release.

Benefits

• Health Plan
• Savings Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Education Assistance
• Training and Development
• Flexible Work Arrangements
• health insurance coverage
• life and disability insurance
• Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business

What This Job Offers

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