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Pr./Sr. Pr. Spacecraft Payload Engineer- Top Secret Clearance Required (Space Systems)

Northrop Grumman
AZGI01, United States, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 21 Mar 2025
💰 $206,000/yr($95,300/yr$206,000/yr)

About the role

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top 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 — 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 Space Systems is seeking Spacecraft Payload Engineers to support the ESPAStarTM product line in our Gilbert, AZ or Dulles, VA location.

Spacecraft Payload Engineers are key members of a cross-disciplinary team helping drive the design, development, integration & test, launch, and on-orbit operations of ESPAStarTM space vehicles. As a Spacecraft Payload Engineer, you will have unique opportunities to witness and take part in the entire engineering lifecycle culminating in the on-orbit delivery of fully mission capable space vehicles to our customers! Come join our team and help us keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

The specific responsibilities of this position will be to manage the technical and functional interfaces of one or more hosted payload(s) to a spacecraft bus. Work products include development of payload port-specific interface control documents (ICDs), managing giver-receiver materials, review and approval of bus accommodation documents, development of functional and performance test scripts, and identification of mechanical, electrical, and environmental constraints and requirements. Analysis roles include supporting the science, experiment, and mission planning for the payload and evaluating mission performance and orbital operations.

Job Responsibilities:

  • Support program technical execution in accordance with Northrop Grumman Systems Engineering processes and best practices
  • Perform technical planning and analyses at all levels of total system product to include concept, design, fabrication, test, installation, operations, maintenance, and disposal
  • Develop system and subsystem architectures(s), system physical views including system elements (blocks) and critical interfaces (internal and external)
  • Generate both original and revised specification/interface definition documents
  • Produce requirements and manage changes using established Northrop Grumman guidelines and database tools
  • Leads and prepares trade studies, system sensitivity studies, design optimization studies, system performance assessments, CONOPS development, and mission analysis/planning
  • Support proposal writing, project planning and cost estimation efforts
  • Play a key role in major program milestone and readiness reviews
  • Help support critical test campaigns designed to exercise spacecraft & payload functionality, measure performance, and verify survivability in the extreme launch and space environments
  • Incorporate lessons learned to continue to strengthen the ESPAStarTM product line
  • Lead by example and be willing to mentor, coach, train, guide, direct and advise teammates

This position can be filled at level T3 or T4

Basic Qualifications:

Principal Engineer:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline with at least 5 years of experience or a master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of experience
  • Experience in systems engineering to include architectural studies, technical baseline definition, requirements & interface management, hardware/software integration, and test planning & execution
  • Must have U.S. Citizenship with active or current DoD Top Secret clearance at time of application

Senior Principal Engineer:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 8+ years of engineering experience OR Master’s Degree in a STEM discipline and 6+ years of engineering experience

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Advanced degree in engineering, physics, or computer science
  • Experience working on spacecraft or aircraft systems or payloads
  • Experience in system architecture, CONOPs developme

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Company

Northrop Grumman

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