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Updated 2026-06-19 22:00 UTC·© 2025–2026 RoleSuite
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Principal Subsystems Engineer

Northrop Grumman · United States-California-San Diego

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 25% 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 Aeronautics Systems has an opening for Principal Subsystems Engineer to join the team of qualified individuals on our Global Surveillance team. This role is located onsite in Rancho Bernardo, California.

This candidate will be responsible for the installation, integration and troubleshooting of aviation related Subsystems, component sub-systems, Sensor Management Units, Vehicle Test Controller and Data Recorders.

Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • System integration, test development and execution of various types of complex avionics systems
  • Create and develop documentation for system requirements and interfaces, including system engineering drawings and diagrams
  • Troubleshoot systems to resolve complex issues, interact and coordinate with responsible Subsystems engineers responsible for sustaining subsystems
  • Serve as an interface between the Operations & Test organization and the engineers
  • Ensure Subsystems performance meets specified levels
  • Proactively maintain overall system performance of deployed Subsystems
  • Perform troubleshooting, document issues and coordinate field replacements/upgrades of Subsystems
  • Contribute to improvement of processes, design and future sustainment efforts
  • Actively participate in Program Risk and Opportunity Management
  • Must be a self-directed technical performer with strong communication skills, demonstrated experience leading multi-disciplinary technical trades, and ability to develop & execute to a strategy

Hybrid: The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility. Once established in role, the position could potentially offer a hybrid work environment. Scheduled telework days are approved at manager's discretion. This position requires the ability to travel up to 25% of the time.

Basic Qualifications Principal Subsystems Engineer T03:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 5 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline
  • Must have systems engineering processes experience at the sub-system, system and system-of-systems levels
  • Must have experience with installation, integration and troubleshooting of aviation related subsystems
  • Must have experience releasing engineering drawings
  • Experience adding command line OS like Linux or red hat or VXWorks
  • Experience taking engineering changes through boards CCB/TRB
  • Experience with Ethernet of TCP/IP
  • At minimum, an active U.S. Government Secret Clearance Secret level clearance is required to apply and to start the role

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Familiarity with Atlassian software development and collaboration tool set (Jira and Confluence)
  • Experience with concurrent hardware and software development
  • Experience with component selection for system development

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00

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.

Software pay context

Based on 7,704 disclosed Software salaries on RoleSuite, the role pays a median of $157K/year, with most offers between $123K and $198K (10th–90th percentile: $101K–$235K).

This posting lists $114K–$171K, in line with the $157K market median.

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