Sr Principal Cyber Systems Engineer (S)

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 — 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 a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. Our Engineering and Sciences (E&S) organization pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team provides the skills and innovative technologies to develop, design, produce, and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter.

We are looking for a Sr Principal Cyber Systems Engineer to join our Mission Defense Cyber Team in Annapolis Junction, MD. This role supports the Sentinel program, with places of performance including Annapolis Junction MD, Roy UT, San Antonio TX, Redondo Beach CA, Huntsville AL, San Diego CA, and Colorado Springs CO.

Responsibilities

• Implement weapon system requirements to ensure cyber survivability attributes are incorporated into system designs.
• Assess, evaluate, and decompose customer/stakeholder cybersecurity requirements to derive and refine system-level cybersecurity requirements.
• Guide and support security architecture/layout and influence security tools selection and development.
• Evaluate proposed and realized implementations to identify security risks, attack surfaces, and verify cybersecurity protections.
• Support the development of verification efforts to ensure cybersecurity protections are functional, effective, and complete.
• Define security governance and risk management strategies.
• Provide technical decisions and guidance within the Systems Engineering Group to meet mission cyber requirements.
• Collaborate with Integrated Product Teams to accomplish program cyber requirements and objectives.
• Support the development and enhancement of Launch and Missile Defense systems as part of a specialized cyber systems engineering team.
• Ensure weapon system compliance with cybersecurity standards (e.g., CNSSI 1253, DoD 8570, DoD 8510, AFI 17-101).
• Propose and design cyber systems architecture changes with traceability to requirements.
• Provide cyber implementation guidance and oversight across technical teams.
• Develop and document technical standard engineering processes and procedures.
• Participate in engineering reviews of technical requirements, design, and implementation plans for computer systems, digital communications, networking devices, and architectures.
• Perform cyber-attack surface analysis and recommend risk mitigation strategies.
• Participate in cybersecurity assessment activities, including reviews of methods, plans, procedures, reports, and security penetration test planning/execution.
• Provide input to program milestones, metrics, and schedules, adhering to cybersecurity-relevant plans.
• Identify problems and research technical solutions to resolve complex issues spanning multiple engineering disciplines in an Agile, DevSecOps environment.
• Support program engineering review boards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with 8 years, Master’s degree with 6 years, or PhD with 4 years of experience in Systems Engineering, Cybersecurity Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or 14 years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• Comprehension of systems engineering principles, theories, and concepts.
• Ability to work semi-independently with general direction from senior leadership.
• Direct experience utilizing NIST 800-160 system security engineering and/or the system development life cycle.
• Direct experience in one or more Systems Engineering activities: system requirements decomposition/derivation/flow down/traceability, architecture, high-level/detail design, implementation, integration and test, and/or verification & validation.
• Direct experience supporting the development of RMF assessment authorization artifacts to satisfy NIST SP 800-37 requirements.
• Possession of an active Secret clearance; must be able to obtain a Top-Secret clearance and Special Access to the program.
• Able to obtain within six months of hire an IASAE II certification (CISSP preferred) in accordance with DoDI 8570/8140.

Preferred Qualifications

• IASAE level III certification (ISSEP, ISSAP) in accordance with DoDI 8570/8140.
• Active Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance.
• Software Assurance experience.
• Expertise with Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE) and tools such as Cameo.
• Experience with Requirement Management tools such as IBM DOORs.
• Knowledge of Cyber Security systems engineering practices, network technologies, DoD system development life cycles, and IT infrastructure management/monitoring.
• Expertise with containerized software systems in accordance with DoD DevSecOps Reference Design.
• Experience innovating in Cybersecurity Accreditation processes within a multi-certification (Cyber, Nuclear Surety, etc.) context in a Digital Engineering Environment.
• Experience authoring and maintaining critical program authorization documents (e.g., Cybersecurity Strategies, System Security Plans, Continuous Monitoring Plans, Security Assessment Plans).
• Experience in a Systems Engineering role with responsibilities in planning, designing, implementing, testing, and delivering systems with Cyber/Information Assurance requirements.
• Excellent communication (written and oral), negotiation, coordination, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven collaboration with program managers and customer representatives to meet program objectives.
• Experience managing and directing efforts following Agile and DevSecOps process models.
• Proven success analyzing, estimating, and implementing solutions to complex problems spanning multiple engineering disciplines.
• Ability to negotiate challenging program requirements, strategies, and conflicting constraints among diverse stakeholders.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health plan.
• Savings plan (401k).
• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays.
• Education assistance, training, and development.
• 9/80 work schedule (where available).

Pay

Primary level salary range: $156,400.00 - $234,600.00. The salary range represents a general guideline; actual offers consider factors such as scope, responsibilities, candidate experience, education, skills, and market conditions. Eligible employees may receive overtime, shift differential, and discretionary bonuses in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses reward individual contributions and company results. Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives.

Clearance required for start: Top Secret. Travel: 10% of the time. Relocation assistance: Not available.