Jobs › Companies › Northrop Grumman › Space Vehicle Chief Engineer – Staff Systems Engineer

About this Space Vehicle Chief Engineer – Staff Systems Engineer role at Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman · Onsite · United States-Virginia-Dulles
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret

TRAVEL: 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 Sector seeks a qualified Systems Engineer to serve as the Chief Engineer for a Space Vehicle development program within Space Superiority Division. The qualified candidate will lead a multi-disciplinary engineering team executing the design and development of a Space Vehicle and its associated Mission, as well as support related capture efforts.

 

In this leadership level role, the Chief Engineer is expected to be self-directed using previous experience to lead design, analysis, and execution efforts, while also recognizing and mitigating technical issues/risks that may impact capability, cost, or schedule. Regular interaction with senior business leadership and the Customer is expected, meaning that presentation skills and particularly the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to either technical or nontechnical audiences is required.


The Chief Engineer has technical oversight for the program, and primary duties include:  

 

  • Leading and supporting the spacecraft and mission engineering team.
  • Serving as the primary technical advisor to the program manager and being a trusted technical point of contact for the Customer.
  • Coordinating engineering activities across spacecraft, payload, GNC, software, communications, ground, and mission-operations teams.
  • Identifying and resolving technical issues and risks that could affect mission capability, cost, or schedule.
  • Supporting spacecraft integration and test, mission-readiness activities, launch preparation, commissioning, and on-orbit execution.
  • Developing and presenting engineering content at major technical reviews and program milestones.
  • Coordinating internal responses to cross-segment issues and providing high level briefings on major decision points to senior leadership
  • Ensuring that all engineering teams adhere to sound engineering processes, in accordance with company policies, procedures, and quality standards
  • Managing the integration of complex payloads.
  • Mentoring, training, and directing junior staff.

 

Basic Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s Degree STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) or related technical field, and 12 years of applicable experience; a Master’s Degree and 10 years of applicable experience; or a PhD and 8 years of applicable experience
  • Must have active Top Secret Clearance at time of application
  • Experience with spacecraft design, space mission architectures, or space systems development, integration, test, or operations.
  • Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams or complex technical efforts.
  • Demonstrated ability to identify and resolve complex technical issues and communicate effectively with technical teams, program leadership, customers, or mission partners.
  • Demonstrated strong communication skills (verbal and written) with experience briefing executive and customer leadership

 

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • An active or current TS/SCI Clearance.
  • Extensive experience with spacecraft development, integration and test, launch, commissioning, or on-orbit operations.
  • Experience in the Space Security Domain
  • Experience with Class B, C or D Space Programs
  • Knowledge of aerospace environmental testing standards
  • CAM / engineering project management experience

#NoVASpace

#SpaceSysEngJobs

#SpaceEngJobs

#SPEnhancedERAP

Primary Level Salary Range: $0.00 - $0.00

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 http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.
Ready to apply to Northrop Grumman?
Apply to Northrop Grumman

About Northrop Grumman

We are a pioneering company. With careers across all areas: air, cyber, land, sea and space – our 90,000 employees work as one to defend and define the future. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will give you every opportunity to do your best work. Working together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines, we share a drive to push the boundaries of science, technology and engineering to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide.

See all jobs at Northrop Grumman →

Similar jobs

Northrop Grumman
Senior Principal Systems Engineer (Level 4)
Northrop Grumman
⚡ Apply early United States-Maryland-Annapol... Onsite $135,800–$203,600
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 16h ago
Northrop Grumman
Principal/ Senior Principal Systems Engineer Integration and Test (SEIT) Lead
Northrop Grumman
⚡ Apply early United States-Maryland-Annapol... Onsite $108,800–$163,200
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 16h ago
Northrop Grumman
Civil/Structural Design Engineer / Principal Design Engineer- 17704
Northrop Grumman
⚡ Apply early United States-Utah-Roy Onsite $72,100–$108,100
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 16h ago
Northrop Grumman
Staff Systems Engineer (Lead) (26-449)
Northrop Grumman
⚡ Apply early United States-Colorado-Colorad... Onsite $161,000–$253,600
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 16h ago
Northrop Grumman
Sr Principal Material Process Engineer (EEEE parts)-17366
Northrop Grumman
⚡ Apply early United States-Utah-Roy Onsite $111,700–$167,500
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 16h ago
Northrop Grumman
Principal Software Engineer (26-422) Space AHT
Northrop Grumman
⚡ Apply early United States-Colorado-Colorad... Onsite $103,600–$155,400
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 16h ago
Northrop Grumman
Sentinel - Principal / Sr. Principal Design Engineer (16931)
Northrop Grumman
⚡ Apply early United States-Utah-Roy Onsite $89,400–$134,200
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 16h ago
Northrop Grumman
Sentinel - Staff Systems Safety Engineer - 17899
Northrop Grumman
⚡ Apply early United States-Utah-Roy Onsite $169,000–$253,600
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 16h ago
Northrop Grumman
2026 Manufacturing Mission Assurance Engineer – Level 1 or 2 - UT
Northrop Grumman
⚡ Apply early United States-Utah-Corinne Onsite $65,800–$98,800
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 16h ago

Sign up for suggestions tailored to the jobs you open and the searches you save.

More jobs at Northrop Grumman

See all jobs at Northrop Grumman →

Apply now
🤖

Whoa — hold up

JobsRadar was built for real people having a rough time in their job search — not for automated requests. You're clicking way too fast and you're now temporarily blocked.

Come back later. If you're genuinely job hunting, we've got your back — just act like a human.

Catch your next role the second it’s posted.

Create a free account and we’ll watch the boards for you — the instant a job matches your search, it lands in your inbox or Telegram. No digging, no refreshing.

Create free account

Free forever · takes 30 seconds · already have one?

Get an edge on your job hunt.

Join our Telegram channel for the stuff that helps you land the role — salary benchmarks, the weekly market pulse, and new-feature drops. No spam, just signal.

Join the channel — it's free