Principal Operations Systems Engineer – Level 3
- US citizenship
How this pay compares
This posting states $114k–$171k a year. Open systems engineer jobs in Colorado post a median of $152k a year, the middle half $131k–$171k, across 195 jobs that state their pay, so this one is within the middle half of what they post.
About the job
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: Polygraph 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’s Space Sector is seeking a Principal Operations Systems Engineer – Level 3 to join our team in Aurora, CO.
This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work. Please be aware that this position will be contingent upon capturing program award(s), obtaining and maintaining customer funding, and holding final clearances (if applicable) prior to start date. This role will support the operations of a 24x7 critical system located at a field site located in Aurora, CO.
This position will include a comprehensive, 20-week training course intended to provide “street to seat” knowledge of a complex operational system of systems.
At the completion of this training, the employee will perform a set of 12-hour crew shifts and complete and on-the-job (OJT) checklist to become a certified Senior System Controller (SSC). ## In this job, you will - Development of products and CONOPs for the 24x7 operation of a mission critical system - Troubleshooting of real-world operations issues - Trending of operational data and simulation of products and CONOPs prior to transition to operations - Returning systems to an operational state, ensuring the health and safety of the systems while maximizing mission availability - Review or development of standard operating procedures that are executed real time on the operational system for standard events and anomaly recoveries - Developing scripts and products to automate the operations of complex systems - Develop suites of operational products for newly delivered systems - Ability and willingness to work rotating 12-hour shifts which will be scheduled 5:30am to 5:30pm and 5:30pm to 5:30am 4 days on, 4 days off including weekends and holidays rotating days and nights. - Other duties as assigned This position is contingent upon the candidate obtaining final clearances and program access(es) within a reasonable period of time as determined by the company.
This position is contingent upon capturing program award(s), obtaining and maintaining customer funding, and holding final clearances (if applicable) prior to start date ## Basic Qualifications - Approved STEM Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of professional experience – OR – Approved STEM Master’s degree with 3 years of professional experience – OR – Approved STEM PhD with 1 year of professional experience. - Requires an active Top-Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance at time of application.
Counterintelligence (CI) Polygraph required prior to start. - Ability and willingness to work rotating 12-hour shifts which will be scheduled 5:30am to 5:30pm and 5:30pm to 5:30am 4 days on, 4 days off including weekends and holidays rotating days and nights. - Proven leadership experience on a project and/or team. - Experience in Linux ## Preferred Qualifications - Ability to work as an effective member of a badgeless team, be self-motivated, and work under general direction while independently determining and developing approaches to solutions ## 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 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.
From Northrop Grumman's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
Selected agencies hiring now
Contract Professionals Inc (CPI)Engineering and technical staffing agency
Aerospace and defense staffing firm in Waterford, Michigan, placing engineers, maintenance technicians, mechanics, welders and CNC machinists.
Places: Propulsion, Mechanical, Avionics, RF & Payloads
These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.
Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.
Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.
New launch and mission operations jobs in Colorado, by email
One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.
About Northrop Grumman
Satellites, space telescopes, cargo spacecraft and rocket boosters, inside a defense prime.
Pay on its listings: 98% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
How it pays: Paid as an employee on Northrop Grumman's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).
More open jobs at Northrop Grumman
- 2027 Associate Software Engineer - Boulder CO$76,200–$114,400/yr
- Business Admin Support
- IR Plume Mod/Sim Systems Engineer - Level 2 or 3$83,400–$125,200/yr
- Lead Automation Test Engineer - Level 4$117,500–$176,300/yr
- Network Engineer - Level 3$94,200–$141,200/yr
- Staff AI/ML Software Engineer - Level 5$194,700–$292,100/yr
More launch and mission operations jobs
- Mission Operations Engineer I$80,000–$95,000/yr
- 人工衛星 射場作業責任者(Launch Site Operations)
- Satellite Network Operations Engineer$130,000–$175,000/yr
- Space Vehicle and Operations Engineer
- Solution Platform Lead (M/F)
- System Development Engineer, Leo Network Services$122,600–$185,000/yr
Run launches or flown spacecraft?
One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.
Northrop Grumman openings, sent to you weekly
Each week we send the newest postings from Northrop Grumman's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.