1,943,848open jobs
113,933companies
245,020added this week
Browse all
Salary
$114k – $171k per year
Location
In office (Azusa)
Seniority
Principal · 8+ years exp
Employment
Full-Time

Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 23, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 12, 2026. Northrop Grumman scores A on the Alion truth index.

Overview
Company
Impact
Profile match
Northrop Grumman is an American defence contractor whose oldest predecessor was founded in 1939, and which took its present form through the 1994 combination of Northrop and Grumman. It builds strategic systems including the B-21 Raider bomber and the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile programme, military and civil space systems, radars and electronic warfare equipment, autonomous aircraft, and mission systems and software for the United States armed forces and allied governments. Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia and listed on the New York Stock Exchange, it earns the large majority of its revenue from the American government and employs close to one hundred thousand people.
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SCITRAVEL: 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.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.

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 aPrincipal/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.

The job responsibilities of the Principal/Sr. Principal Software Engineer include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Design, develop, integrate, and verify/test software solutions for embedded/real-time systems and ground systems.
  • Understand system requirements, how they apply to system design, and implement and debug software to meet defined completion criteria.
  • Analyze system capabilities to troubleshoot and resolve issues related to program intent, output requirements, data acquisition, programming methods, and control strategies.
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams-including Systems Engineering, Digital Engineering, Hardware, and Integration & Test-in an Agile development environment.

The Software Engineer will work in a rapid, fast-paced program environment and must be a self-starter who can operate effectively in a team setting. Existing engineering and systems specialists will be available to assist with activities associated with executing primary tasking; however, the selected individual will be expected to prioritize work and make recommendations to Technical Leads, as required, to implement assigned tasking.

This requisition may be filled at a higher grade based on the qualifications listed below.

Basic Qualifications - Principal Software Engineer (Level 3):

  • 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

Basic Qualifications - Sr. Principal Flight Software Engineer (Level 4):

  • 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

Preferred Qualifications:

  • 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.

As a full-time employee of Northrop Grumman, you are eligible for:

-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.
Free account
Stop reading job ads. Get the ones that fit.
One free account turns this page into a shortlist built around your stack, your level and your pay.
Match on every job. Stack, seniority, pay and location, scored against your profile.
1,943,848 open roles. Read straight off company career pages, refreshed every day.
Unlimited applications. Every one you send is tracked in one place, on-site or on a company board.
3 tailored CVs a month. Rewritten for the exact job you are applying to. Included free.
Create a free account Continue with Google
Free forever. No card. Under a minute.

Your match

How well do you fit this role?
Two answers are enough for a real match. No account needed.
Check my fit
Answers stay in this browser until you create an account.

Recommended for you based on this role

Backend
Similar stack
Same company
Azusa
≈ $156k – $290k per year (Estimated) • In office • 5+ years exp • Cary
AI/ML
Fine-tuning
Apply
≈ $137k – $274k per year (Estimated) • In office • United States
Python
JavaScript
Java
Node JS
Databases
Amazon Aurora
Frontend
React.js
DevOps
Rest API
Terraform
CI/CD
AWS
GitLab
Analytics
AWS Glue
Apply
$170k – $250k per year • In office • Full-Time • 5+ years exp • Spokane
Python
C++
Bash
DevOps
OpenTelemetry
Consul
Prometheus
Grafana
Linux
Cybersecurity
PKI
Apply
$158k – $214k per year • Equity • In office • Full-Time • 3+ years exp • Bachelor's Degree • New York
JavaScript
Java
Kotlin
C#
C++
Perl
AI/ML
Machine Learning
Frontend
Next.js
React.js
DevOps
AWS
Apply
$230k – $311k per year • Equity • In office • Full-Time • Bachelor's Degree • Seattle • Arlington • Santa Clara • New York • Herndon
Java
C#
C++
AI/ML
AI Agents
DevOps
CI/CD
AWS
Apply
≈ $108k – $244k per year (Estimated) • Equity • In office • Bachelor's Degree • Pleasanton
Python
C++
MATLAB
DevOps
RTOS
Linux
Apply
$120k – $220k per year • Equity • In office • 3+ years exp • Bachelor's Degree • Pleasanton
Python
C++
DevOps
Linux
Apply
≈ $112k – $253k per year (Estimated) • Equity • In office • Pleasanton
Python
C++
MATLAB
AI/ML
Human-in-the-Loop
Apply
≈ $81k – $158k per year (Estimated) • In office • 3+ years exp • Bachelor's Degree • New York
JavaScript
Java
Kotlin
C#
Dart
Swift
C#
.NET
AI/ML
Machine Learning
Frontend
React.js
Mobile
Jetpack Compose
MVVM
Flutter
React Native
Firebase
Xamarin
MVC
MVP
ViewModel
DevOps
Rest API
CI/CD
Git
Management
Trello
Jira
Agile
Scrum
Apply
≈ $70k – $136k per year (Estimated) • In office • 3+ years exp • Bachelor's Degree • Dallas
JavaScript
Java
Kotlin
C#
Dart
Swift
C#
.NET
AI/ML
Machine Learning
Frontend
React.js
Mobile
Jetpack Compose
MVVM
Flutter
React Native
Firebase
Xamarin
MVC
MVP
ViewModel
DevOps
Rest API
CI/CD
Git
Management
Trello
Jira
Agile
Scrum
Apply
$70k – $105k per year • In office • Nationals only • Full-Time • Bachelor's Degree • McLean
Python
C++
DevOps
Linux
Windows
Unix
Apply
$104k – $155k per year • In office • Top Secret • Full-Time • 8+ years exp • High School Diploma • New York
Python
JavaScript
Java
TypeScript
Java
Spring Boot
Frontend
Angular
Bootstrap
JQuery
DevOps
Rest API
Azure
Git
AWS
Docker
Kubernetes
Bitbucket
GitLab
Management
Jira
Agile
Apply
$83k – $125k per year • In office • Top Secret • Full-Time • 5+ years exp • High School Diploma • New York
Python
JavaScript
Java
TypeScript
Java
Spring Boot
Frontend
Angular
Bootstrap
JQuery
DevOps
Helm
Azure
CI/CD
Git
AWS
Docker
Kubernetes
Bitbucket
GitLab
Management
Jira
Agile
QA
Swagger
Apply
$123k – $213k per year • In office • Top Secret • Full-Time • 12+ years exp • Bachelor's Degree • Manhattan Beach
DevOps
Windows
Management
Agile
SpaceTech
Cameo Systems Modeler
MBSE
Defense
EVMS
Apply
Engineer Data 9 days ago
$92k – $138k per year • Hybrid • Top Secret • Full-Time • 2+ years exp • Bachelor's Degree • El Segundo
Python
SQL
Python
SQLAlchemy
FastAPI
Databases
Databricks
Oracle
AI/ML
OpenCV
Dagster
Scikit-learn
PyTorch
Torchvision
DevOps
Azure
Analytics
Tableau
Power BI
ETL/ELT
Microsoft Excel
Apply
$92k – $138k per year • In office • TS/SCI • Full-Time • 2+ years exp • Bachelor's Degree • Azusa
Python
C++
DevOps
RTOS
CI/CD
Jenkins
Git
Docker
Bitbucket
Linux
IoT
FreeRTOS
Management
Confluence
Jira
Agile
SpaceTech
CCSDS
Apply
$48k – $56k per year • In office • Full-Time • High School Diploma • Azusa
Apply
$83k – $125k per year • In office • TS/SCI • Full-Time • 2+ years exp • High School Diploma • Azusa
DevOps
Splunk
Linux
Windows
Unix
Management
ServiceNow
Apply
$104k – $155k per year • In office • TS/SCI • Full-Time • 7+ years exp • High School Diploma • Azusa
DevOps
Splunk
Red Hat
VMWare
Docker
Kubernetes
Linux
Windows
Unix
Management
ServiceNow
Apply
$129k – $194k per year • In office • TS/SCI • Full-Time • 8+ years exp • High School Diploma • Azusa
DevOps
Windows
Cybersecurity
Zero Trust
Management
ServiceNow
Apply
See all jobs
This is one of many
1,943,848 more open roles from verified company boards, updated every day.