Staff Engineer Mission Architect Top Secret Clearance Required (Satellite/Space Systems)

Staff Engineer Mission Architect Top Secret Clearance Required (Satellite/Space Systems)

Redondo Beach, CA

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 is hiring a Staff Mission Architect Engineer in our Tactical Space Systems Division Mission Systems Engineering organization located in our Space Park campus at Redondo Beach, CA.

Duties/Responsibilities:

1. Perform system-of-system trades, modeling, simulation, and analysis to assess space mission architecture alternatives for delivering a Customer mission effect, data, or capability as it fits within a broader campaign.
2. Perform analysis-of-alternatives and synthesize mission elements to lead to a cohesive space mission solution. Space mission architecture trades may include orbits, launch vehicles, space vehicles, payloads, ground segment, mission planning, Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), Design Reference Missions (DRM), system security, and external interfaces.
3. Provide support to all segments for the SE Integrated Team.
4. Support the development of the spacecraft and mission design and analysis efforts.
5. Conceive and develop solutions to complex analytical, design, and test problems.
6. Support and provide value-added feedback within technical reviews.
7. Understand and communicate operational mission requirements to engineering teams, business executives, customers, suppliers, and teammate organizations.

Successful candidates will lead technical initiatives and be part of a team that demonstrates the following key characteristics:

1. Exhibits a high degree of ingenuity, creativity, and resourcefulness. Applies and/or develops highly advanced technologies, scientific principles, theories, and concepts.
2. Acts independently to uncover and resolve issues associated with the development and implementation of operational programs. Works under consultative direction toward predetermined long-range goals and objectives.
3. Develops advanced technological ideas and guides their development into a final product.

Basic Qualifications:

1. Must have U.S. Citizenship with a current or active Top Secret/SCI level clearance and have the ability to successfully complete a polygraph examination.
2. Bachelor's Degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) or related technical field and a minimum of 14 years of applicable experience, a Master's Degree and 12 years of applicable experience, or a PhD and 9 years of applicable experience.
3. Full space mission life cycle experience (development, preliminary design phase, critical design phase, manufacturing, integration, and test).
4. Full understanding of spacecraft subsystems (Attitude Control, Electric Power, Command & Data Handling, Structures and Mechanisms, Communications, Propulsion, and Thermal subsystems).
5. Excellent leadership and interpersonal communications skills, with the ability to interface with all levels of employees and management.
6. Strong troubleshooting skills - ability to find root cause from anomalous behavior within complex systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Experience interfacing and working within customer processes and procedures.
2. Experience working to develop innovative solutions to mission objectives within cost and schedule constraints.
3. Experience with Special Access Programs.
4. Experience in R&D (Research and Development) Programs.
5. Proactive, highly motivated, and adaptable, with excellent organizational skills including the ability to juggle multiple tasks, changing needs, and competing priorities.

Salary Range:

$165,000 - $247,600

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.

Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit