Principal Software Engineer/Sr. Principal Software Engineer
Quick Summary
• Design, develop, integrate, and verify/test software solutions for embedded/real-time systems and ground systems.• Understand system
This position description does not represent a current opening but may be used to identify candidates with skills and experience for positions within Northrop Grumman that frequently become available. Candidates who express an interest may be considered for future positions at Northrop Grumman.
Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector is seeking a Principal/Sr. Principal Software Engineer - Level 3 or 4 to join our team of highly qualified, diverse professionals within the Western Region Software Engineering Directorate. This position is located onsite in Azusa, CA.
The Western Region Software Engineering organization comprises over 800 highly skilled professionals, including Software Engineers, DevOps Engineers, Database Administrators, and Network Engineers, at all levels—ranging from early-career engineers to senior chief engineers and architects. This engineering organization supports numerous programs, and we have plenty of opportunities for career advancement into higher level technical roles or leadership positions. Our culture promotes cross-program collaboration, continuous professional development, and a strong sense of community.
Responsibilities
~1 min read• Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline with 5+ years of software or relevant engineering experience; Master's degree in a STEM discipline with 3+ years of stated experience; Ph.D. in a STEM discipline with 1+ years of stated experience
• Candidate must have an active SCI at time of application OR an active U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance (or equivalent) at time of application and prior to start date as well as the ability and willingness to obtain and maintain an active SCI prior to start date. Continued employment thereafter will be subject to the candidate’s maintenance of the level of clearance and program access required for the position in the future.
• Strong background in C/C++ development with emphasis in object-oriented and thread-safe programming
• Strong background in integrating and troubleshooting software in a lab environment
• Proficiency with Python
• Prior experience executing in an RTOS environment (i.e., VxWorks, FreeRTOS, RT-Linux, GH Integrity)
• Experience working in Agile software development using the Atlassian Tool Suite (Bitbucket, Jira, Confluence) and Git version control
Requirements
~2 min read• Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline with 8+ years of software or relevant engineering experience; Master's degree in a STEM discipline with 6+ years of stated experience; Ph.D. in a STEM discipline with 4+ years of stated experience
• Candidate must have an active SCI at time of application OR an active U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance (or equivalent) at time of application and prior to start date as well as the ability and willingness to obtain and maintain an active SCI prior to start date. Continued employment thereafter will be subject to the candidate’s maintenance of the level of clearance and program access required for the position in the future.
• Strong background in C/C++ development with emphasis in object-oriented and thread-safe programming
• Strong background in integrating and troubleshooting software in a lab environment
• Proficiency with Python
• Prior experience executing in an RTOS environment (i.e., VxWorks, FreeRTOS, RT-Linux, GH Integrity)
• Experience working in Agile software development using the Atlassian Tool Suite (Bitbucket, Jira, Confluence) and Git version control
- Experience with software development in Docker containerized environment
- Experience with Shell scripting
- Experience with CCSDS Space Packet Protocol
- Experience with software development leveraging CI/CD pipeline tools such as Jenkins
- Experience developing or interfacing with Optical, RF, or IR payloads
Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:
https://www.northropgrumman.com/space.
Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site: Northrop Grumman Total Rewards.
-Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
-401k
-Educational Assistance
-Life Insurance
-Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions
-Paid Time Off
-Health & Wellness Resources
-Employee Discounts
-Flexible Schedules: for example, the ability to work a 9/80 work schedule, which allows an employee to work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday and take every other Friday off of work.
#LosAngelesSpace
#SpaceEngJobs
#SpaceSoftwareJobs
Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00The 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 http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.
Location & Eligibility
About this job
- Posted
- 3 days ago
Listing Details
- Posted
- October 12, 2026
- First seen
- October 13, 2026
- Last seen
- October 15, 2026
Posting Health
- Days active
- 1
- Repost count
- 0
- Trust Level
- 51%
- Scored at
- October 15, 2026
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