Spacecraft Vehicle Systems Engineer

Company: Northrop Grumman
Location: Gilbert
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 25% 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 seeking a Senior Principal Spacecraft Vehicle Engineer to help lead programs in Gilbert, Arizona. Spacecraft Vehicle Engineers function as the systems technical lead for their mission specific spacecraft, reporting up to the program Chief Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, and Mission Program Manager. They lead a cross-disciplinary team and are responsible for technical execution throughout the entire program lifecycle culminating in the on-orbit delivery of a fully mission-capable spacecraft to our customers! Come join our team and help us keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Job Responsibilities: Be self-directed while leveraging your technical and leadership skills to bring Platform, Payload, and Launch Vehicle Interfaces together to produce a spacecraft meeting contractual and mission requirements Function as the primary technical interface for customers, program management, product line engineering leadership, mission assurance, subsystem engineering, payload engineering, and launch vehicle integration teams Perform technical planning and analyses at all levels of total system product to include concept, design, fabrication, test, installation, operation, maintenance, and disposal Drive the planning, design, and execution of testing strategies to exercise spacecraft functionality, measure performance, and verify survivability in the extreme launch and space environments (Dynamics, TVAC, and EMI/EMC) Directly support the Launch and On-orbit operations campaign for your designated mission at the launch site and Mission Operations Center Support activities including leading studies, mission support, and other traditional Systems Engineering functions Recognize and mitigate space-segment technical issues and risks Lead the team through major program milestone and readiness reviews Preside over mission specific engineering review boards, change control boards, and risk management reviews Lead by example and be willing to mentor, coach, train, guide, direct and advise junior staff Basic Qualifications: BS in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 8 years of engineering experience OR MS in a STEM discipline and 6 years of engineering experience Have a strong background in systems engineering to include architectural studies, technical baseline definition, requirements & interface management and documentation, hardware/software integration, test planning & execution, or operational support Experience in spacecraft/space system hardware, integration & test, launch, and/or mission operations Strong leadership qualities, as well as strong verbal and written communication skills (upward and downward) Prior experience in technical or project leadership positions Must have U.S. Citizenship with ability to obtain Top-Secret Clearance and SCI/SSBI Preferred Qualifications: Advanced degree in engineering, physics, or computer science Active Top-Secret clearance with current or active SCI/SSBI at time of application Recognized systems engineering subject matter expert (SME) Experience in system architecture, CONOPs development, or model-based system engineering Experience with various technical tools such as MATLAB, STK, CORE, DOORS, or CAMEO Experience in any of the following areas is also desired: orbital mechanics, orbital debris modeling, spacecraft attitude control, power systems and modeling, avionics or digital electronics design, risk analysis, optics, communications, rocket propulsion, thermal engineering, or spacecraft integration and testing Experience with Mission Operations for spacecraft Knowledge of Launch Vehicles, System Safety, System Reliability, Contamination Control, EMI, Space Environments (Radiation, Surface Charging, etc.), and Human Factors is also desired. Experience and/or training in Earned Value Management Systems 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 As a full-time employee of Northrop Grumman, you are eligible for: -Medical, Dental & Vision coverage -401k -Educational Assistance -Life Insurance -Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions -Paid Time Off -Health & Wellness Resources -Employee Discounts -Flexible Schedules: For example, the ability to work a 9/80 work schedule, which allows an employee to work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday and take every other Friday off of work. -For more details, please view Northrop Grumman Benefits . Primary Level Salary Range: $122,800.00 - $184,200.00 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.

Keywords: Northrop Grumman, Chandler , Spacecraft Vehicle Systems Engineer, Engineering , Gilbert, Arizona