Systems Engineer - Level 2/3 - East Hartford

Northrop Grumman • Hartford, CT

1d • $91,800 - $171,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector is seeking a Level 2 or Level 3 Systems Engineer to join the Thermal, Optics, & Power Systems (TOPS) Operating Unit in East Hartford, Connecticut. Highly qualified candidates based near Hanover, Maryland may be considered for the Hanover site. The position supports the Optics product area, including thermal heat pipes, opto-mechanical systems, and electrical power systems, and reports to the Structural Engineering Manager. The role is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommuting. It follows a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off, and requires travel approximately 10% of the time.

The Systems Engineer will lead Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) architecture development for advanced concept and campaign efforts. The role translates mission needs into architectures, requirements, behaviors, interfaces, and traceable model artifacts, and helps engineering teams make decisions, reduce iteration cycles, and deliver high-confidence solutions. The engineer will work across systems, software, hardware, integration, and mission teams and communicate technical concepts to both engineering groups and senior leadership.

The role may be filled at Level 2 or Level 3. Level 2 requires a STEM bachelor’s degree and two years of professional experience, or a master’s degree and no professional experience. Level 3 requires a STEM bachelor’s degree and five years of professional experience, a master’s degree and three years of experience, or a PhD and one year of experience. Both levels require the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance.

The position is onsite and involves sitting and/or standing for extended periods, with light physical effort as required. The posted primary-level salary range is $91,800–$137,600, and the secondary-level salary range is $108,800–$171,000. Candidates may also be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus. Northrop Grumman offers health insurance, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, company-paid holidays, and paid time off, among other benefits.

Requirements

• For Level 2: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field and 2 years of professional experience, or a master’s degree and 0 years of professional experience.
• For Level 3: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field and 5 years of professional experience, or a master’s degree and 3 years of professional experience, or a PhD and 1 year of professional experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance.
• Hands-on MBSE experience on complex aerospace, defense, or advanced technology programs.
• Strength in system architecture, requirements analysis, interface definition, and technical decomposition of complex systems.
• Analytical problem-solving ability and strong technical skills; results- and deadline-driven approach.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including presentation skills.
• Proficiency with MS Office software.
• Ability to work independently with minimal direction while contributing effectively in a team environment.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in Systems Engineering or a related technical field.
• Experience supporting advanced development, campaign planning, or early-phase concept definition activities for Space applications.
• Experience influencing technical direction across cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to solve difficult problems with urgency, creativity, and discipline.
• Experience with MBSE software tools such as CATIA Magic/Cameo Modeler.
• Familiarity with digital engineering toolchains, model-based methods, and model-centric architecture development.
• Active Top Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead MBSE architecture development for advanced concept and campaign efforts.
• Translate high-level mission needs into coherent architectures, requirements, behaviors, interfaces, and traceable model artifacts.
• Organize and define system-level requirements; derive and allocate requirements to subsystems, performing or coordinating analyses as needed.
• Manage requirements baselines in a relational database such as DOORS; write requirement specifications; create Requirements Traceability and Verification Matrices (RTVMs); and collect objective quality evidence (OQE) that verifies requirements are met.
• Develop system modeling, simulation, analysis, trade studies, system capability analysis, and system performance/effectiveness analysis to ensure capabilities are consistent with mission requirements.
• Identify internal and external interfaces, define interface parameters, develop interface control documents and deliverables, and participate in architecture and design development to resolve interface issues and ensure compliance.
• Collaborate across systems, software, hardware, integration, and mission teams to align technical solutions and execution.
• Communicate complex technical ideas clearly to engineering teams and senior leadership.
• Conduct peer reviews of engineering work products to ensure quality, consistency, and technical integrity.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

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

What This Job Offers

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