Principal Systems Engineer

Systems Engineer (T02/T03)

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 Aeronautics Systems is seeking a Systems Engineer (T02/T03) to support fielded airborne ISR systems and associated data center, network, and communication infrastructures at Oklahoma City, OK. This role is a key technical interface between operations, field users, engineering Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), and customer representatives. The selected engineer will apply systems thinking to sustain and improve mission systems, help resolve field issues, and support configuration changes from concept through implementation in support of 24/7 operations.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Serve as an on-site systems engineering liaison between operations, engineering IPTs, and customer stakeholders to help resolve field issues, escalations, and installations.

• Sustain and provide real-time support for mission systems, including operating systems (e.g., Windows and/or Linux), data center hardware (compute, storage, network), and ground communication/network infrastructure (routers, switches, firewalls, SATCOM/RF) with guidance from senior engineers.

• Perform system-level troubleshooting and assist with root cause analysis across avionics, data center, network, and communication subsystems in field and control room environments.

• Support planning, configuration, integration, and testing of hardware/software changes in lab and operational environments; help ensure interoperability across compute, storage, and network components.

• Coordinate and track cross-functional action items and change requests; help maintain status and basic performance metrics for field modifications and fixes.

• Develop and execute test plans, integration procedures, and verification/validation activities for new or modified payloads, instrumentation, and network configurations, under the direction of senior engineers.

• Prepare and deliver technical briefings and written status updates to customers, program leadership, and internal stakeholders.

• Support mission operations, including shift work, weekends, holidays, and occasional overtime.

Basic Qualifications

T02 (Engineer Systems)

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 2 years of related systems engineering or related engineering experience; OR a Master's degree in a STEM discipline and 0 years of related systems engineering or related engineering experience.

T03 (Principal Engineer Systems)

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 5 years of related systems engineering or related engineering experience; OR a Master's degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of related systems engineering or related engineering experience.

• Experience with system integration, troubleshooting, or technical support across hardware and/or software boundaries (e.g., mechanical, electrical, or IT systems).

• Experience reading and interpreting mechanical or electrical drawings, wiring diagrams, and technical documentation.

• Experience working cross-functionally with engineering teams, technicians, suppliers, or program stakeholders to implement system changes and resolve issues under schedule pressure.

• Demonstrated ability to perform data analysis, reliability or lifecycle assessments, or cost/schedule trade studies to support engineering decisions.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of clear technical documentation and technical briefings or presentations to stakeholders.

• Active US Government Top Secret clearance with the ability to obtain SCI and Special Access Program (SAP) access as required.

• Ability to work non-standard hours (shift work, nights, weekends, holidays) and support occasional travel (up to ~25%).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting airborne ISR platforms, aerospace/defense systems, or complex industrial systems in field, depot, or test environments.

• Familiarity with modern operating systems and basic networking concepts (e.g., Windows and/or Linux administration, TCP/IP fundamentals, VLANs, routing basics, VPN connectivity).

• Experience configuring and troubleshooting network or data center equipment (e.g., switches/routers, basic firewall rules, storage devices) or virtualized environments (such as VMware ESXi or similar), with support from senior staff.

• Experience developing or maintaining technical documentation, including test procedures, integration plans, and system status reports.

• Familiarity with engineering change processes and tools (e.g., JIRA or similar) for managing engineering actions and tracking configuration changes.

• Prior military, flight test, field service, or depot-level engineering support experience.

Primary Level Salary Range: $93,300.00 - $139,900.00The 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.