Northrop Grumman

Sr Principal Engineer - Software

Northrop Grumman$142K — $213K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM discipline and 8 years of relevant experience, or a Master’s with 6 years, or a PhD with 4 years of experience.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance & SCI.
  • Proficient in Enterprise Integration Patterns (EIP) such as Spring Integration or Apache Camel.
  • Skilled in Java 21+ for microservice development and front-end interfaces.
  • Experience with observability tools and technologies like Prometheus and Grafana.
  • Knowledge of data flow technologies including UDP and TCP.
  • Experience with Apache NiFi for data processing and integration.

Responsibilities

  • Engineer enterprise solutions to meet mission-critical needs.
  • Manage 1-3 mid- to large-scale projects at once as assigned.
  • Attend regular project design and status meetings to track progress.
  • Collaborate with teams to tackle usability issues and project goals.
  • Communicate effectively with multi-functional teams and stakeholders.

Benefits

  • Relocation assistance may be available.
  • Eligible for overtime, shift differential, and discretionary bonuses.
  • Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
  • Life and disability insurance provided.
  • Savings plan available for employees.
  • Paid holidays and personal time off.
Full Job Description
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret

TRAVEL: NoDescription

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems Sector is searching for a Sr. Principal Engineer in our Research and Advanced Design (R&AD) Division in support of R&D activities spanning multiple sectors The location for this opportunity can be in El Segundo or San Diego, CA.

Responsibilities:

  • Engineer enterprise solutions that align with best practices to support mission critical objectives.

  • Work on 1-3 mid- to large-scale projects concurrently, assigned from program and internal leadership.

  • Participate in regular project design and incremental status meetings.

  • Collaborate with different teams across the program to discuss, analyze or resolve usability issues and work on projects.

  • Provide effective communication across multi-functional teams, stakeholders and end-users.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Senior Principal level: Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 8 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 6 years of related engineering experience OR a PhD degree in a STEM discipline and 4 years of related engineering experience

  • Your ability to transfer and maintain the final adjudicated TopSecret clearance & SCI (DoD must be in-scope or enrolled in Continuous Evaluation) and any program access(es) required for the position within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the Company.

  • Enterprise Integration Patterns (EIP): Proficiency with Spring Integration or Apache Camel to build robust adapters and message routers.

  • Java 21+ Proficiency, microservice development and front-end interfaces

  • Experience with Observability technologies, health indicators, and dashboarding including Prometheus and Grafana

  • Experience with Apache Niagara Files (NiFi)

  • Deep knowledge of data flow technologies and networking, including UDP, TCP, and hybrid protocols

  • Hybrid S3 Integration: Ability to develop in Java 21+ using the AWS SDK for Java v2 for scenarios where a standalone microservice is more performant than a NiFi processor.

  • Dashboard Development:

  • Backend: Java 21+/Spring Boot service with a time-series or document-oriented store (e.g., MongoDB or Elasticsearch) for status history.

  • Frontend: Proficiency in Angular, React or Vue.js to build the custom "web app" for status display.

  • Real-time Updates: Implementation of WebSockets (via Spring WebSocket) or Server-Sent Events (SSE) to push prober status changes to the dashboard instantly.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Active SCI and SAP security clearance.

  • Java 21+ Mastery: Leverage Virtual Threads (Project Loom) for high-concurrency probing and file processing tasks.

  • Protocol Translation: Deep experience with Protobuf (Google Protocol Buffers), JAXB/Jackson for XML (UCI) processing, and JSON schema validation.

  • Asynchronous Messaging: Mastery of JMS (Java Message Service) specifically with ActiveMQ Classic. Candidates should understand connection pooling, message persistence, and dead-letter queue (DLQ) management.

  • Resiliency Patterns: Implementation of Circuit Breakers (e.g., Resilience4j) to handle "Relay" failures without cascading into the main effort.

  • Data Pipeline Orchestration: Advanced knowledge of Apache NiFi. Looking for ability to design custom FlowFiles, use ListS3/FetchS3, and implement complex routing logic.

  • Containerization: Proficiency in Docker/OCI image optimization and deploying standalone Spring Boot apps in resource-constrained environments.

  • Testing: Mastery of Test containers for local integration testing of S3 (LocalStack) and ActiveMQ brokers.

  • Stream Processing: Familiarity with Project Reactor or Java Streams to process large file metadata efficiently without memory overflows.

  • Custom Observability: Experience extending Spring Boot Actuator to expose non-standard health indicators and custom metrics via Micrometer.

  • Schema-Driven Monitoring: Ability to design Avro or Protobuf schemas for transmitting custom observability data to ensure cross-org compatibility.

Primary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00

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.

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is a security company that provides systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding, and technical services to government and commercial customers. They design, develop, and build everything from aircraft and spacecraft to cyber security systems. The company is involved in a wide range of defense and technology projects, including the development of aircraft, space systems, cybersecurity solutions, and advanced electronics.

Northrop Grumman Careers

Join the elite team at Northrop Grumman, a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products, and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, space, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. There has never been a more exciting time to advance your career with Northrop Grumman.

Work You’ll Do

At Northrop Grumman, your work will redefine the edges of technology and create a safer future. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity, and bringing your whole self to work. Our team is at the forefront of innovation, collaborating to make the impossible, possible.

Explore Job Opportunities and Growth

Whether you’re looking for an internship, an entry-level position, or a spot for seasoned professionals, Northrop Grumman offers a variety of career paths that encourage growth and development. Explore job opportunities that elevate your skills, and push your career to the next level.

Join Our Diverse and Inclusive Team

Diversity and inclusion are the foundations of our culture. Northrop Grumman is committed to building a diverse team that fosters an inclusive environment, where every team member is valued for their unique perspectives and contributions. We believe that diversity fuels innovation.

Professional Development and Benefits

Northrop Grumman is dedicated to your professional and personal growth. We offer unparalleled benefits, including comprehensive health coverage, generous time off, and family care resources. Additionally, we provide extensive leadership and diversity training to help you craft your career path.

Networking and Leadership

Enhance your career through our robust networking opportunities. Connect with leaders and peers within Northrop Grumman through various events, mentorship programs, and professional groups. Our leadership is deeply invested in nurturing talent and guiding team members through their career journey.

Innovation in Technology

Drive technological breakthroughs with a company at the cutting edge of innovation. Northrop Grumman is a place where you can work on projects that push the boundaries of what is possible.

How to Apply

Ready to join our team? Check out the open positions on our Careers page. Tailor your resume to highlight your relevant skills and experiences. Prepare for your interview with us by researching our projects and understanding our company’s mission and values.

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Northrop Grumman Jobs

Discover the impact you can make with a career at Northrop Grumman. We are actively hiring and looking for passionate, curious, and solution-driven team players. Search Northrop Grumman jobs today and find where your expertise is needed most. Join Northrop Grumman, and be part of a team that is dedicated to making a difference, not only within the company but in the world at large. Your journey to building a rewarding career starts here.
Learn more about Northrop Grumman
Size
88,000 employees
Market Cap
$82.7 billion
Industry
Net Income
$3.1 billion
Founded
1939
5 Year Trend
+7.6%
Revenue
$36.7 billion
NASDAQ

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