Senior Principal Cyber Software Test Engineer (TG)

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. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage, and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity, and bringing your whole self to work. Enjoy a culture where your voice is valued and start contributing to our team of passionate professionals providing real-life solutions to our world's biggest challenges.

About the role

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking a Sr. Principal Cyber Software Test Engineer. Places of performance for this position are Annapolis Junction, MD; San Antonio, TX; Aurora, CO; and Carey, NC.

Clearance required for start: Yes (Active and current TS/SCI with Polygraph). Travel: 10% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Analyze system requirements and concept of operations documents, acquisition plans, and system descriptions to develop evaluation and test plans and procedures, prepare for and conduct data collection and analysis, and report status and results.
• Support the development of Government test and evaluation documentation (e.g., Test & Evaluation (T&E) Strategy, Test & Evaluation Master Plan, Event Test Plan, Test Readiness Assessments, and T&E Reports).
• Work with other test organizations to support T&E program integration.
• Provide specialized T&E capabilities tailored to system functions, level, maturity, and performance area as assigned in the SOW.
• Review planned acquisition approaches to support T&E schedule alignment with decision-maker needs for T&E support.
• Analyze performance risk areas to focus T&E planning.
• Specify, validate, and adapt Modeling and Simulation for T&E use.
• Apply statistical analysis of variations in performance behavior to characterize confidence in performance estimates.
• Select, develop, and use analysis tools.
• Execute the evaluation plan on data collected by the Testing Tasks.
• Plan and execute performance data collection at program and event levels for data required for analysis and to synchronize T&E events with supported decision points.
• Establish and employ Data & Configuration Management capabilities.
• Support Data Authentication group functions and comply with program Discrepancy Reporting criteria and processes.
• Assess operational and system performance requirements for testability and criticality to frame and prioritize T&E objectives and enable evaluation planning.
• Coordinate with program Systems Engineering (SE) and review T&E-related SE information to leverage functional analysis, system descriptions, parameter selection and dependencies, Modeling and Simulation, and initial performance risk assessments to inform evaluation planning.
• Assess operational environments and priorities for evaluation attention and scenario selection, and coordinate user participation in T&E.
• Plan program and event-level risk-tailored performance estimation and analysis of system and operational effectiveness and suitability metrics and conditions.
• Design surveys for evaluation of Subject Matter Expert (SME) input and user assessments of performance.
• Participate in the T&E Working-level Integrated Product Team (WIPT) and/or Integrated Test Team for coordination of evaluation plans.
• Produce Evaluation Plans (metric framework, scenarios/threads, timelines, requirements/T&E crosswalk), Analysis Plans, Data Requirements, Risk Assessments, Evaluation Reports, and Status reports; provide input to Government T&E products (e.g., Technology Readiness Assessments, Test & Evaluation Strategy, Test & Evaluation Master Plan, T&E Plans & Procedures, and Test Readiness Reports).
• Design data sampling schemes to optimize the information/resource balance and control testing uncertainties.
• Select, coordinate, and calibrate instrumentation, collection and data management tools, targets, and facilities.
• Ensure test readiness including training of test event participants regarding conduct of the event, equipment readiness, and security, legal, and privacy compliance arrangements.
• Execute testing and data collection per plan.
• Produce associated Test Plans, Procedures, Reports/Briefings, and Data Management Plan.
• Define and provide technical direction and guidance for the Level 1 tasks to the Level 0 and Level 1 TEs assigned to the task.
• Recommend draft plans and reports from the Level 1 tasks for approval by the task leader.
• Work directly with the Government sponsor to coordinate task implementation.
• Maintain knowledge of current and evolving agency, national, and international standards applicable to the system development of interest.
• Provide overall leadership of the T&E task and serve as primary liaison to the government for supporting contract coordination and task execution.
• Communicate issues and solutions to the broader government and contract management structure as requested by leadership.
• Ensure the appropriate level of independence of the team from the solution provider to support government management of objectivity risk.
• Manage T&E resources and tasks; ensure quality assurance of test processes and products.
• Coordinate and integrate evaluation and testing tasks and products.
• Drive innovation and responsiveness to program changes and evolving T&E status to help manage program risk: develop alternative courses of action, work-arounds, and fall-back positions with a recommended course of action for each risk, and monitor and re-evaluate risks at appropriate milestones.

Requirements

• High School Diploma with 12 years of experience or a Bachelor's degree with 8 years of experience. Degree must be in a STEM field.
• Active and current TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance.
• Experience conducting research into and applying knowledge of Government test and evaluation concepts and related engineering, acquisition, and operations activities as needed to support T&E activities.
• Experience planning and executing performance analysis.
• Assist with any or all of the Level 1 tasks as constrained by technical training and previous testing experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience analyzing user requirements to derive software design and performance requirements.
• CNO (Computer Network Operations) development concepts.

Benefits

Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Health Plan
• Savings Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Additional benefits such as Education Assistance, Training and Development, 9/80 Work Schedule (where available), and more.

Pay

Primary level salary range: $123,400.00 - $193,900.00. 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.