Principal Software Engineer/ Sr. Principal Software Engineer

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 Defense Systems is seeking experienced software engineering professionals for potential future opportunities. Successful candidates will bring strong technical, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills and will contribute throughout the software development lifecycle.

Responsibilities may include:

• Working independently and as part of an Agile team
• Supporting or leading software development activities to meet schedule commitments
• Developing innovative solutions to complex technical challenges
• Collaborating in the planning, design, development, and implementation of software systems
• Demonstrating progress and communicating effectively with stakeholders

This description does not represent a current opening. It may be used to identify candidates whose skills and experience align with positions that frequently become available. Individuals who express interest may be considered for future opportunities.

Basic Qualifications:

• Principal Engineer Software (level 3): A high school diploma with a minimum of 9 years of software development experience, a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field with a minimum of 5 years, a master’s degree in a STEM field with a minimum of 3 years, or a PhD in a STEM field with a minimum of 1 year.
• Sr. Principal Engineer Software (level 4): A high school diploma with a minimum of 12 years of software development experience, a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field with a minimum of 8 years, a master’s degree in a STEM field with a minimum of 6 years, or a PhD in a STEM field with a minimum of 4 years.

• Full Stack Web Development or Object Oriented programming experience
• Working knowledge of the Agile development processes
• Experience designing and developing full-stack web applications in microservices and/or cloud-based architecture
• Experience integrating and extending internal developer portals such as Spotify’s Backstage to improve developer experience and delivery workflows
• Hands-on experience with front-end frameworks such as Angular, React, or TypeScript
• Hands-on experience with back-end development in Java, including Spring Boot for building REST APIs and microservices

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with small technical teams
• Ability to prioritize and adjust tasks to accomplish project results
• Ability to comprehend and analyze complex problems and develop solutions
• Ability to obtain a U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a prerequisite)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with one or more of the following technologies:
  • Angular
  • React
  • TypeScript
  • Java (including Spring Boot)
  • Python
  • Docker
  • Kubernetes
  • Elastic
  • jQuery
  • Bootstrap
  • Jira
  • GitLab Pipelines
• Experience with relational, graph, or document databases
• Demonstrated use of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) and configuration management tools (e.g., Git, Bitbucket)
• Experience working with Jira and GitLab
• Experience working in an Agile software development environment
• Demonstrated ability to debug, optimize code, and automate routine tasks
• Experience developing full‑stack applications with TypeScript + React
• Experience integrating with Spotify’s Backstage or similar internal developer portals
• Experience in AWS and/or Azure cloud environments

Primary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 - $155,400.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $129,300.00 - $193,900.00The 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.