Skip to content

RF & Payloads

Space Payload Systems/Principal Systems Engineer

Northrop Grumman logoNorthrop Grumman$87,600–$131,400/yrLinthicum, MD, United StatesFull timePosted 1mo ago
  • US citizenship
  • Top Secret clearance

How this pay compares

This posting states $87.6k–$131k a year. Open systems engineer jobs in Maryland post a median of $152k a year, the middle half $133k–$169k, across 22 jobs that state their pay, so this one is below the middle half of what they post.

Systems engineers in Maryland: pay by town and employer

About the job

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes 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 a strategic partner specializing in delivering intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance solutions for classified and unclassified missions in space. As part of Eastern Region Systems Engineering, Integration and Test (ER-SEIT), you will have the opportunity to experience the entire space design lifecycle.

We do it all here, on-site, from sensors to payloads to full up spacecraft, supporting Class A to Class D missions. All the way from early mission and concept design to on-orbit operational support. This position is for a Systems/Principal Systems Engineer to join our Eastern Region Systems Engineering team.

As a member of this team, you will have the opportunity to support efforts on both concept and product development to deliver key solutions to our customers. We cover a wide variety expertise within the systems engineering domain. This includes mission engineering, requirements, architecture, modeling and simulation, integration and test, verification and validation, and many more!

The position will be responsible for supporting and leading systems engineering tasks for space subsystems, payloads and/or vehicles.

These may include, but are not limited to: - Requirements analysis, derivation, and management - Mission Engineering, modeling, and analysis - Architecture and CONOPs development - Systems modeling and simulation - Functional analysis - Timeline analysis - Trade studies - Technical planning - Cost and risk analysis - Interface definition - System design - System integration and test - Verification and Validation planning and execution - Supportability and effectiveness analyses for total systems. - Some tools you could expect to use are: DOORS, STK, Cameo, Rhapsody, MATLAB, python This position can be staffed at a Principal or Sr.

Principal level, based on the basic qualifications below: ## Basic Qualifications - Systems Engineer: Bachelor Degree in STEM curriculum with 2 years relevant experience; or a MS Degree - Principal Systems Engineer: Bachelor Degree in STEM curriculum with 5 years relevant experience; 3 years with MS Degree; or PhD with 0 years of experience. - Must have an active Top Secret security clearance a time of application, current and within scope, with the ability to obtain and maintain SCI approval/access. - Systems engineering experience (i.e. requirements, mission engineering, architecture, modeling and simulation, integration and test, verification and validation) ## Preferred Qualifications - Space experience - Sensor/payload experience: - Antennas - Radar - EO/IR - Communications - Processing, specifically On-Board Processing - Space vehicle experience - Space ground systems architecture and design experience - Mission engineering, modeling and simulation - Space Mission CONOPS - Assembly, Integration and Test (AI&T) #SpaceEngJobs #SpaceSysEngJobs #BaltimoreSpace Primary Level Salary Range: $87,600.00 - $131,400.00 Secondary Level Salary Range: $105,400.00 - $158,000.00 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

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

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 RF, communications and payload jobs in space in Maryland, 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

More RF, communications and payload jobs in space

An RF or communications engineer?

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.

Create my profile

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.