Sr Principal Embedded Software Engineer (level 4)
This posting asks for U.S. citizenship. It also names a Top Secret clearance.
The posting offers relocation and a 9/80, 4/10 or other compressed week. More space jobs with relocationMore with a 9/80 schedule
About the role
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.
Come join Northrop Grumman – Xetron, part of the Mission Systems sector, where we develop new capabilities for our military and intelligence customers around the globe. At Xetron we design systems that only science fiction writers could imagine, because they’re that cool!
Xetron is an operating unit of the Northrop Grumman Corporation, located in Cincinnati, Ohio where employees have the chance to know everyone on site while working on cutting‑edge technologies and high‑impact products. You’ll tackle the next generation of challenging problems, share expertise, and learn from world‑class teammates. Remember when you were excited about the challenge of the problem, the importance of the solution, and the fun you had with your team? You’ll experience that at Xetron! See why we receive comments on our YouTube Videos like “This company is insanely advanced” and “Wow. This is mind blowing.” See some of our recent Awards and Recognition and read about some of the reasons to live in Cincinnati .
We are seeking cleared or clearable, Sr. Principal Embedded Software Engineersto lead development of our sensor, communication, and cyber systems onsite in Cincinnati, OH.
Engineers here are part of multi-disciplinary program teams implementing next-generation, specialized communication systems and sensing systems critical to US intelligence customers and allies. Team members conduct all phases of these programs, including requirements generation, hardware-selection, software development, and system integration and test.
Programs at Northrop Grumman in Cincinnati are engineering intensive, rapid-schedule jobs for diverse SIGINT/EW and Cyber applications. Research and solve problems in the areas of advanced waveform development, low size, weight, and power (low SWaP) processing systems, specialized space communication payloads, and persistent signal surveillance systems.
Our employees take advantage of Northrop Grumman’s flexible work arrangements, including 9/80 schedules and 4/10 schedules. We offer training and learning opportunities supporting technical and personal growth in al business areas that benefit our customers. Northrop Grumman offers competitive benefits including 401k matching!
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in science, engineering, or related field with 8 Years of experience; or 6 years with a Masters (MS) degree; or 4 years with a PhD
- Technical leadership experience of small teams of 3+ engineers
- Experience with C, C++, and embedded assembly languages such as ARM, PIC, and AVR
- Experience with embedded systems development environments such as Xilinx SDK, TI Code Composer Studio, IAR Embedded Workbench, and the GNU compiler collection (GCC) and associated tools
- Experience with embedded systems debugging and system analysis tools such as. JTAG emulators, remote GDB servers, USB or benchtop logic analyzers)
- Experience with scripting languages (Python, Bash, Batch, etc)
- Experience with full lifecycle of development from requirements through design, implementation, integration, test and product release
- Familiarity with various version control systems (Git, GitLab, GitHub, Bitbucket, etc) and Agile software planning tools (Jira, Rally, etc)
- US Citizenship is required
- The ability to obtain a DoD Top Secret security clearance prior to starting employment (we will sponsor).
Preferred Qualifications
- Active Top Secret Clearance
- Experience with embedded communications protocols such as SPI, I2C, RS-232, CAN, SpaceWire, and MIL-STD-1553B
- Interest in digital signal processing (DSP)
- Experience with GNU Radio or other software-defined radio (SDR) platforms
- Proficient with MATLAB/Octave
- Experience with embedded real-time operating systems (RTOS) such as FreeRTOS, Zephyr, VxWorks, or Linux with PREEMPT_RT
Primary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,200.00
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.
Copied from the listing Northrop Grumman published, verified 30 Oct 2026.
About Northrop Grumman
Satellites, space telescopes, cargo spacecraft and rocket boosters, inside a defense prime.
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