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Mission Architect Engineer (AHT)

Northrop Grumman
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Chantilly, VA, USA
Sep 21, 2026
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SCITRAVEL: No

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 Mission Architect Engineer Level 3 or Senior Principal Mission Architect Engineer Level 4 to join our team in Chantilly, VA. This position is 100% on site and does not support remote work.

This high-impact role will serve as both the technical and programmatic centerpiece for mission integration, fusing together a ground system with Space Vehicle hardware and various other system interfaces to enable new capabilities in orbit. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with frequent customer and executive-level interactions, providing oversight to integration activities, and driving architecture improvements throughout the SV and mission lifecycle.

This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.

In this job, you will:

  • Develop and manage the overall mission integration plan, schedule, milestones, and deliverables to ensure on-time delivery of the ground system in support of launches.

  • Serve as the primary technical and programmatic lead for integration between the space vehicles, ground system, and vehicle vendors.

  • Act as the primary point of contact with customers and mission partners regarding integration status, technical challenges, interface exchanges, and resolution of SV issues.

  • Collaborate closely with the Phoenix team to onboard SVs into the ground system, identify necessary capabilities for mission execution, and ensure data delivery meets activation requirements.

  • Oversee integrated Critical Path (IMS), risk management, and lead technical trades to secure customer concurrence, preserving launch dates and mission performance.

  • Provide recommendations during reviews throughout the Space Vehicle lifecycle and propose improvements to mission architecture based on SV development maturations.

  • Engage with space vehicle providers and stakeholders to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for enhanced mission performance and more effective integration.

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.

Basic Qualifications:

 Level 3 - Principal Engineer

  • Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of professional experience or Master’s degree with 3 years of professional experience or PhD with 1 year of professional experience

  • Requires an active U.S. Government DoD Top-Secret/SCI security clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with an ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time

  • Prior aerospace-related work experience with a U.S. Government Agency or Contractor

  • Familiarity with systems engineering principles and practices, including requirements management, modeling, simulation, and analysis of complex systems

  • Proven track record of managing multi-disciplinary technical teams and interfacing with senior leaders and government customers

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences

Level 4 - Sr. Principal Engineer

  • Bachelor’s degree with 8 years of professional experience or Master’s degree with 6 years of professional experience or PhD with 4 years of professional experience

  • Requires an active U.S. Government DoD Top-Secret/SCI security clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with an ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time

  • Prior aerospace-related work experience with a U.S. Government Agency or Contractor

  • Familiarity with systems engineering principles and practices, including requirements management, modeling, simulation, and analysis of complex systems

  • Proven track record of managing multi-disciplinary technical teams and interfacing with senior leaders and government customers

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences

PreferredQualifications:

  • Experience working on space security programs, including mission design, satellite ground software, and space vehicle integration

  • Demonstrated experience in system-of-systems trades and risk management in support of launch and mission performance.

  • Ability to propose creative solutions to optimize mission architecture and address inefficiencies in integration processes.

  • Familiarity with agile methodologies and the use of modeling and simulation tools (e.g., Python, STK, or similar) to support technical decision-making.

Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:

https://www.northropgrumman.com/space

#NoVASpace

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00The 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.

Job ID

R10245094

Security Clearance

TS/SCI
About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever-evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees are Defining Possible every day to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will allow you to work together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines.

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