Sr Staff Engineer Systems Architect

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available CLEARANCE TYPE: 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 u2014 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 Mission Systems is seeking a Sr Staff Engineer Systems Architect to lead the evolution of our advanced system designs. In this role, you will define key system capabilities, performance requirements, external interfaces, design constraints, and the overall implementation approach. Working on-site at our Rancho Carmel location in San Diego, CA, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that our architectures meet customer specifications and drive operational excellence. Key Responsibilities: u2022 Design and develop comprehensive system architectures, articulating key capabilities, performance parameters, and operational concepts. u2022 Define and manage system requirements, including technology maturity constraints, while aligning architectures with customer specifications. u2022 Develop detailed definitions of external system interfaces and implementation approaches in collaboration with software, hardware, and test engineers. u2022 Evaluate system performance, analyze customer feedback, and implement iterative enhancements to refine and optimize the design. u2022 Create and maintain clear, concise technical documentation covering architecture designs, test procedures, and performance assessments. u2022 Lead technical discussions and guide cross-disciplinary teams throughout the entire development lifecycleu2014from concept through production. u2022 Monitor emerging technologies and industry trends to continuously evolve system architectures and design methodologies. Basic Qualifications: 14 years of experience with a Bachelors in Science; 12 years with a Masters; 10 years with a PhD u2022 Demonstrated expertise in the design and development of complex system architectures, including the articulation and refinement of technical requirements and interface definitions. u2022 Strong analytical skills and a proven problem-solving mindset for translating complex system needs into robust architectural solutions. u2022 Proven ability to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams and translate technical discussions into deployable, verifiable designs. u2022 Working knowledge of requirements management software and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools. u2022 Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong aptitude for technical documentation. u2022 Previous experience in system integration, simulation, and performance evaluation. u2022 Must have active DoD Secret Clearance. Preferred Qualifications: u2022 Advanced degree in electrical engineering, systems engineering, or a related discipline. u2022 Prior experience in defense, aerospace, or telecommunications industries. u2022 Proficiency with advanced system modeling and simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB, Simulink). u2022 Demonstrated success in developing and delivering technical briefings to customers and senior organizational leadership. u2022 Active TS clearance with the ability to obtain DoD Special Program Access (SAP). Primary Level Salary Range: $192,800.00 - $289,200.00 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 U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Created: 2026-02-06