Staff Systems Engineer / IPT Lead (AHT)

Northrop Grumman • Colorado Springs, CO

35d • Onsite

About The Position

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history. The Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) program within Northrop Grumman Defense Systems was developed and built by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Army but has since transitioned to the USSF. JTAGS receives and processes data directly down-linked from the Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) constellation of satellites, including Defense Support Program (DSP) and Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) sensors, and other infrared satellite sensors. JTAGS then disseminates near-real-time warning, alerting and cueing information on ballistic missile launches and other tactical events of interest throughout the theater using multiple communications networks. Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a multi-skilled, self-motivated, energetic individual to work at our Colorado Springs, CO location as a Principal Engineer Systems supporting the JTAGS program. As a Systems Engineer/IPT Lead for the JTAGS program, you will play a pivotal role in developing and sustaining the program's systems and networks used for development, integration, test, training, and operations. This is a mid- to senior-level role and an integrated program team (IPT) leadership position, and it includes a balance of program-facing leadership duties (e.g., meetings, work product reviews, program status, schedule management, etc.) and hands-on technical work with your team. This position is an individual contributor position, not a functional management position with direct reports. You will be responsible for leading a team of systems engineers to on-schedule, on-budget completion of all efforts to achieve quality outcomes for the program and its stakeholders. These activities include but are not limited to: Participating in cross-functional team coordination meetings, including weekly program flow down, program management status, and daily technical scrum meetings Collaborating with other IPT leads and interfacing with program leadership to ensure the program satisfies all system specification requirements Leading development and maintenance of systems engineering team standard operating procedures (SOPs) and other documentation as needed to ensure reliable, repeatable task execution Balancing a variety of duties ranging from micro-level tasks to macro-level projects Reviewing program plans, procedures, reports, drawings, and other documentation for completeness, accuracy, and quality Delegating responsibilities and assignments to team members while maintaining accountability and appropriate oversight Evaluating and onboarding new members to the systems engineering team to support the needs of the program Developing, verifying, and validating system, sub-system, and component-level requirements, including tracking of verification status and artifacts Working closely with the Integration and Test IPTs to ensure the JTAGS system(s) are built and tested to the appropriate requirements Supporting development, evaluation, verification, and validation of system design changes, ranging from minor system fixes to large-scale system capability changes Leading execution of system and software performance analysis using Matlab-based tools to extract data from text files and compute technical performance measures Tracking problem/deficiency reports and leading investigation of root cause & corrective action in response to customer priorities Performing model-based systems engineering (MBSE) to document system architecture and its internal and external interfaces Working closely with the Chief Engineer, Chief Architect, CM/DM Lead, and other technical IPTs to develop and maintain robust, complete, and accurate documentation of the system baseline, to include drawings, diagrams, parts lists, software lists, etc. Providing mentorship and guidance to junior engineers on the program Identifying, assessing, and handling risks and opportunities that impact program schedule, budget, and/or technical performance Participating in future proposal work, including basis of estimate and statement of work development for systems engineering activities Developing and maintaining a close working relationship with our US Space Force customer Identifying and evaluating new processes, tools, capabilities, and/or resources that can be utilized to improve program execution of JTAGS systems engineering activities and all pertinent areas in the Systems Engineering “V” This role is full-time and in-person at the COCO-01 Northrop Grumman facility in a classified closed area environment. Duties may require infrequent travel to Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs, CO (about 15-20 mins drive from the NG facility). Travel is not anticipated for this role, but openness to potential future short-term CONUS and OCONUS travel assignments is preferred.

Requirements

• 12 years relevant experience with a Bachelors in Engineering or related STEM field, or 8 years relevant experience with a Masters degree in Engineering or related STEM field, or 4 years relevant experience with a PhD in Engineering or related STEM field
• Active Secret security clearance
• Working knowledge in RHEL OS command line for basic functions like navigation; file movement across networks, domains, or hosts; file reading/editing; changing permissions/ownership; etc.
• Proficiency in Matlab; can independently develop new scripts and troubleshoot malfunctioning code; is familiar with Matlab CVS for revision management
• Working knowledge in IBM DOORS for requirements management, including use of baselines to capture changes over time
• Proficient in deriving and/or developing technical requirements to meet original source requirements and CONOPS
• Experience with technical writing, such as reports, briefings, plans, procedures, and diagrams
• Possesses intermediate to advanced understanding and experience with the Systems Engineering “V”

Nice To Haves

• Experience with satellite communications ground system(s) and/or missile warning system(s)
• Experience in developing, integrating, or testing a GUI-based software product on a RHEL OS
• Knowledgeable/proficient with Cameo Systems Modeler (or similar tools) and DoDAF for MBSE
• Experience in Python or bash scripting in Linux
• Experience in team leadership or management of individual contributors
• Experience developing and managing a project schedule
• Experience and working knowledge of control account management (CAM)
• Experience or skillset with Microsoft Project for scheduling
• Experience supporting US Space Force development or sustainment program(s) as a defense contractor
• Working knowledge and/or experience with JIRA for task assignment, status tracking, and execution
• Experience implementing DevSecOps practices and principles
• US Passport

Responsibilities

• Participating in cross-functional team coordination meetings, including weekly program flow down, program management status, and daily technical scrum meetings
• Collaborating with other IPT leads and interfacing with program leadership to ensure the program satisfies all system specification requirements
• Leading development and maintenance of systems engineering team standard operating procedures (SOPs) and other documentation as needed to ensure reliable, repeatable task execution
• Balancing a variety of duties ranging from micro-level tasks to macro-level projects
• Reviewing program plans, procedures, reports, drawings, and other documentation for completeness, accuracy, and quality
• Delegating responsibilities and assignments to team members while maintaining accountability and appropriate oversight
• Evaluating and onboarding new members to the systems engineering team to support the needs of the program
• Developing, verifying, and validating system, sub-system, and component-level requirements, including tracking of verification status and artifacts
• Working closely with the Integration and Test IPTs to ensure the JTAGS system(s) are built and tested to the appropriate requirements
• Supporting development, evaluation, verification, and validation of system design changes, ranging from minor system fixes to large-scale system capability changes
• Leading execution of system and software performance analysis using Matlab-based tools to extract data from text files and compute technical performance measures
• Tracking problem/deficiency reports and leading investigation of root cause & corrective action in response to customer priorities
• Performing model-based systems engineering (MBSE) to document system architecture and its internal and external interfaces
• Working closely with the Chief Engineer, Chief Architect, CM/DM Lead, and other technical IPTs to develop and maintain robust, complete, and accurate documentation of the system baseline, to include drawings, diagrams, parts lists, software lists, etc.
• Providing mentorship and guidance to junior engineers on the program
• Identifying, assessing, and handling risks and opportunities that impact program schedule, budget, and/or technical performance
• Participating in future proposal work, including basis of estimate and statement of work development for systems engineering activities
• Developing and maintaining a close working relationship with our US Space Force customer
• Identifying and evaluating new processes, tools, capabilities, and/or resources that can be utilized to improve program execution of JTAGS systems engineering activities and all pertinent areas in the Systems Engineering “V”

Benefits

• Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.
• Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results.
• Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives.
• In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees