Ground Software Integration Engineer (Level 3 or 4) - AHT

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Description

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.

Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector is seeking a Ground Software Integration Engineer (Level 3 or 4) to join our team of highly qualified, diverse professionals within the Western Region Software Engineering Directorate. This position is located onsite in Redondo Beach, CA.
 
*Please be aware that this position will be contingent upon obtaining and maintaining customer and/or business funding*
The Western Region Software Engineering organization comprises over 800 skilled professionals—including Software Engineers, DevOps Engineers, Database Administrators, and Network Engineers—at every career stage, from early‑career engineers to senior chief engineers and architects. The organization supports numerous programs and offers ample opportunities for advancement into higher‑level technical roles or leadership positions. Our culture promotes cross‑program collaboration, continuous professional development, and a strong sense of community.
 

Job responsibilities of the Ground Software Integration Engineer (Level 3 or 4) include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Leading and supporting Ground Entry Point (GEP) services integration, developing and managing Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and acting as the primary technical interface with commercial GEP providers.  
• Ensuring seamless interoperability for mission operations, ground communications, and secure data flows.
• Applying strong problem‑solving skills to quickly understand and address complex technical concepts.
• Preparing charts, presenting data, and providing recommendations to internal teams, program leadership, and external customers, demonstrating excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Managing tasking and mentoring team members across multiple program schedules with tight deadlines.
   

*Please be aware that this position will be contingent upon obtaining and maintaining customer and/or business funding*
This requisition may be filled at a higher grade based on the qualifications listed below.
Basic Qualifications:

• Principal Software Engineer (Level 3)
  • Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 5+ years of relevant software engineering experience or Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with 3+ years of stated experience or Ph.D. in a STEM discipline with 1+ years of stated experience.
• Sr. Principal Software Engineer (Level 4)
  • Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 8+ years of relevant software engineering experience or Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with 6+ years of stated experience or Ph.D. in a STEM discipline with 4+ years of stated experience.
• Active DoD Secret clearance at the time of application.
• Experience with ground system interfaces and integration (preferably with GEPs, Telemetry, Tracking, & Command (TT&C), SATCOM, or other ground communication assets).
• Demonstrated experience developing, interpreting, or maintaining Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Strong understanding of network protocols, data formats, and ground communications architectures.
• Experience coordinating technical requirements and issue resolution with external service providers or vendors.
   

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience integrating with commercial GEP service providers or equivalent commercial ground stations.
• Familiarity with automated ground contact scheduling, data routing, and mission data flows.
• Experience with secure data exchange (encryption, IPsec, cross-domain/data diode integration).
• Strong knowledge of protocol standards (CCSDS, SLE, TCP/IP, Ka/S-band satellite comms).
• Experience with mission operations tools, network planning, or orchestration software.
• Ability to support ICD update cycles, participate in technical interchange meetings (TIMs), and drive interface verification/test campaigns.

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00 Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00 The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions. 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. The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.