Staff Cyber Systems Engineer

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret
TRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the Time

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.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead and support Development and Sustainment cybersecurity execution by identifying risks and driving technical and programmatic remediation across engineering, cybersecurity, program, and customer stakeholders.
• Design, develop, integrate, test, verify, and validate system security solutions.
• Prepare, review, and defend accreditation packages as an Information Systems Security Engineer (ISSE) or Information Systems Security Manager (ISSM).
• Apply working knowledge of DoD RMF and JSIG requirements for SAP/SCI systems.
• Validate information system security posture, interpret and report findings, and support risk-acceptance recommendations related to security controls implementation.
• Translate RMF controls into system- and design-level requirements, including decomposition, verification planning, and traceability.
• Support vulnerability management, cybersecurity scanning and assessment, compliance package development, and requirements verification using approved tools (e.g., ACAS, Nessus).
• Support host and network hardening using DISA STIGs and SRGs for Windows, UNIX/Linux, hypervisor, and containerized environments.
• Coordinate with systems engineering, software, integration/test, configuration management, security, and program teams to support cybersecurity execution across the system lifecycle.
• Prepare and present cybersecurity and systems engineering materials for reviews, working groups, and stakeholder discussions.
• Apply systems thinking to assess cybersecurity impacts across architecture, operational constraints, program execution, and mission needs.
• Drive process improvements that strengthen cybersecurity planning, traceability, risk management, and closure discipline.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and coordination across multiple stakeholders and disciplines.

This role is full-time onsite at the Rancho Bernardo, CA facility. No remote/hybrid/telework. Travel up to 25% may be required.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline from an accredited university and at least 12 years of Engineering experience OR at least 10 years with Master’s Degree OR at least 8 years with PhD
• Active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance with a background investigation within the last 6 years or enrollment in Continuous Evaluation.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance within a timeframe determined by business needs.
• One of the following: DoD 8140 Cyber Workforce qualification, DoD 8570 IAM Level II, CompTIA SecurityX / CASP, CISSP, or CSSLP.
• Experience preparing and defending accreditation packages as an ISSE or ISSM.
• Working knowledge of DoD RMF and JSIG for SAP/SCI systems.
• Experience validating security posture, reporting findings, and supporting risk-acceptance recommendations.
• Strong organizational and communication skills with experience engaging stakeholders at multiple levels.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current SAP access.
• Advanced cybersecurity certifications (e.g., CISSP-ISSEP, CISSP-ISSAP, CSSLP).
• Experience with vulnerability management, cybersecurity assessment and scanning, compliance/authorization packages, and ATO documentation.
• Experience with NIST publications, federal regulations, DoD RMF controls, and cybersecurity authorization requirements.
• Experience with IT principles and practices, including software design, test, and integration.
• Familiarity with Windows and UNIX/Linux platforms (e.g., RedHat), hypervisor, and containerized environments.
• Experience designing/reviewing hardening using DISA STIGs/SRGs.
• Experience developing and evaluating information systems across the systems development lifecycle in a secure environment.
• Experience working in an Integrated Product Team with engineering, cybersecurity, software, integration/test, configuration management, security, customer, and program stakeholders.

Primary Level Salary Range: $194,700.00 - $292,100.00

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.