Sr Principal Systems Engineer - Automation Engr (26-450)

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: 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 Space Systems—Missile Defense Integration offers an excellent opportunity for a Sr Principal Systems Engineer – Automation Engr (26-450) to join our team of skilled and diverse professionals. Based in Colorado Springs, CO, this role is essential to supporting the U.S. President, the Secretary of Defense, and combatant commanders at the strategic, regional, and operational levels.

This position does not provide relocation assistance and requires on-site work with no remote options.

Position Overview:

The Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) program is a vital operational system that enables the U.S. president, the Secretary of Defense, and combatant commanders to plan ballistic missile defense operations, monitor the battle, and dynamically control networked sensors and weapon systems to achieve global and regional mission goals. C2BMC supports layered missile defense capabilities and serves as a force multiplier by networking, integrating, and synchronizing autonomous sensor and weapon systems and operations, both globally and regionally. C2BMC is essential for all ground and flight tests that verify and demonstrate the current and future capabilities of missile defense systems.

The Automation Engineer will architect, implement, and maintain automated test solutions and CI/CD pipelines that support end-to-end execution of C2BMC scenarios across Windows and Linux environments, ensuring high-quality, compliant, and repeatable test operations within a regulated DoD environment.

Essential Functions:

Innovate & Design Automation Solutions

• Architect and develop new automated test scripts, frameworks, and reusable libraries using PowerShell, Bash, Python , and/or Java to support end‑to‑end execution of C2BMC scenarios on Windows and Linux hosts

• Design CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI , or similar) that integrate automated builds, test execution, result collection, and reporting

• Develop proof‑of‑concept prototypes for emerging automation concepts, including container‑based test environments, model‑based test generation, and AI‑assisted test case generation

Lead Implementation & Execution

• Own the end‑to‑end delivery of automation features from requirements through design, development, testing, and deployment

• Execute and monitor automated test suites, analyze results, identify root causes of failures, and drive corrective actions

• Integrate automation solutions with applications running on both Windows and Unix/Linux platforms , including installation, configuration, and validation of software stacks

Ensure Compliance & Quality

• Apply Information Assurance ( IA ) requirements and practices to all automation assets; run IA scans, remediate findings, and maintain continuous compliance

• Ensure that automated scripts, frameworks, and pipelines align with DoD 8570 and program IA expectations

• Produce clear, concise technical documentation (design documents, runbooks, API guides) that enable reuse, supportability, and knowledge transfer

Mentorship & Collaboration

• Provide technical guidance and code review to junior engineers; conduct knowledge‑sharing sessions on scripting, automation, and CI/CD topics

• Collaborate with software developers, system administrators, test leads, and IA officers to refine test requirements and resolve integration issues

• Represent the automation team in program‑level meetings, presenting progress, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership and customer stakeholders

Continuous Improvement

• Identify bottlenecks in the test lifecycle and propose innovative solutions, such as parallel test execution, test‑environment automation, and automated environment provisioning

• Stay current with industry trends, DoD automation initiatives, and emerging tools; evaluate and recommend adoption where appropriate

• Support occasional travel to customer sites for installation, validation, or hand‑over activities and adapt to flexible work hours as mission demands dictate

Basic Qualifications:

Please list your current security clearance and IAT or relevant certifications on your resume, if applicable.

• A Bachelor’s Degree in STEM Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field from an accredited university, along with 8 years of experience; or a Master’s degree ( preferred ) in a STEM -related field with 6 years of relevant work experience; or a PhD in a related discipline with 4 years of relevant work experience
• Applicants must have a current, active Government-Issued 8140 certification at IAT Level II or higher (such as Security+ CE, CCNA-Security, CySA+, CND, etc.) at the time of application, which is required to start. The candidate is responsible for maintaining their 8140 certification throughout the entire contract period
• Applicants must have a current, active in-scope Government-issued Secret security clearance at the time of application, which is required to start

Technical Competence

• Proficiency with Linux command‑line administration and shell scripting (e.g., Bash, Zsh )

• Strong scripting/programming skills in PowerShell, Bash, Python , and/or Java , including writing, debugging, performance tuning, and ongoing maintenance

• Practical experience with Git (branching strategies, pull‑request reviews, conflict resolution, and signed commits)

• Experience integrating applications and automation solutions on both Windows and Unix/Linux platforms (installing, configuring, and validating software stacks)

• Experience designing, executing, and maintaining automated test suites and frameworks to support complex system‑of‑systems environments

Professional Skills

• Ability to write clear, concise technical documentation and communicate effectively with developers, system administrators, test engineers, IA personnel, and senior leadership.

• Demonstrated capability to work independently on complex problems, exercising sound judgment and seeking guidance only when necessary

Preferred Qualifications:

Certifications

• Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering is highly preferred

• Certification : INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) Certification

• Certification : Object Management Group Certified Systems Modeling Professional - Model Builder Fundamental (OCSMP - MBF)

Leadership & Process Expertise

• Proven track record of leading automation or DevOps initiatives that resulted in measurable improvements in test cycle time, defect detection, or release frequency

• Experience with Agile/Scrum and DevOps practices , including CI/CD pipelines , infrastructure‑as‑code , and automated environment provisioning

Domain & Tool Knowledge

• Familiarity with virtualization and container platforms such as VMWare/vSphere, Hyper‑V , and/or Docker/Kubernetes to create reproducible test environments

• Ability to read, debug, and modify application source code (e.g., C/C++, Java ) to support test hardness and automation development

• Working knowledge of the C2BMC Concept of Operations ( CONOPS ), user interface , and typical mission‑system workflows

Simulation & Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop

• Prior involvement integrating mission systems with simulation frameworks, hardware‑in‑the‑loop ( HWIL ) test beds, or virtual test environments

Documentation & Training

• Experience authoring installation manuals, release notes, or other technical deliverables for government customers

• History of mentoring junior engineers, conducting workshops, or creating training materials focused on automation, scripting, or CI/CD topics

What We Can Offer You:

Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a supportive work environment that encourages your growth, benefiting both employees and the company. The benefits are flexible and customizable, enabling you to choose options that suit your individual and family needs. Your benefits will include the following:

• Health Plan

• Savings Plan

• Paid Time Off

• Education Assistance

• Training and Development

• Flexible Work Arrangements

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Primary 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.