Principal Engineer Software/Sr Principal Engineer Software

Northrop Grumman

Last Updated: 4/22/2026 7:14:42 PM

Position Closed

Live Market Data for this Exact Role

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Current Days Open
184
Reqs Seen
2
Current Min Salary
$95,300.00 (Yearly)
Current Max Salary
$142,900.00 (Yearly)
Historical Time to Fill
154.5
First Seen
9/30/2025
Lowest Min Salary Seen
$95,300.00 (Yearly)
4/22/2026
Highest Max Salary Seen
$142,900.00 (Yearly)
4/22/2026

Full Job Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE TYPE: 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. The Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems (NGAS) Global Surveillance division is seeking a Senior Principal Software Engineer to enhance our team located in Melbourne, Florida. In this role, the engineer will be responsible for the deployment, automation, maintenance, and enhancement of systems and software infrastructure to ensure optimal operational performance. The ideal candidate will possess a strong technical background along with a proactive approach to automating and managing environments, driving continuous improvement initiatives. As an integral member of our agile development team, the Senior Principal Software Engineer will lead the design and implementation of application builds, releases, deployments, and configurations. This role requires engaging with internal stakeholders to collect and analyze requirements, prototype, and design innovative solutions while supporting building and deployment activities. The engineer will also conduct quality reviews and troubleshoot operational issues effectively. Key Responsibilities: Guide the design, development, implementation, and testing of software throughout the full product lifecycle. Work collaboratively with team members and other departments to ensure successful integration of software components. Lead solutions for complex problems and provide technical leadership within software-focused groups. Oversee the gathering and analysis of software metrics to optimize performance and ensure product quality. Engage and provide necessary support in software working groups that include customer members. Ensure adherence to best software practices throughout all stages of development. Facilitate the progression of software products through all lifecycle stages, embracing best practices and industry standards. Willingness to work off-peak for short term surge support to meet program milestones. Basic Qualifications: (Principal Engineer Software) Bachelors degree in a STEM field with 5+ years of experience in software engineering, a Masters degree with 3+ years of experience, or a Ph.D. with 0 years of relevant experience. (Sr Principal Engineer Software) Bachelors degree in a STEM field with 8+ years of experience in software engineering, a Masters degree with 6+ years of experience, or a Ph.D. with 2+ years of relevant experience. Demonstrated expertise in object-oriented programming languages such as C/C++. Extensive experience (8+ years) with Windows, Linux, and/or real-time operating systems like LynxOS or VxWorks. In-depth knowledge of aviation or safety-critical systems and a strong understanding of safety-critical software development protocols. Eligibility and capability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret level security clearance, along with any other special program clearances as needed. Proficient in creating and maintaining comprehensive software documentation throughout the development lifecycle. Preferred Qualifications: Practical experience with DO-178C or equivalent safety-critical software standards. Detailed knowledge of avionics communication protocols, especially ARINC 429, ARINC 422, and MIL-STD-1553. Experience in embedded testing environments, including hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL) for avionics systems. Familiarity with certification processes within aviation industry standards, such as RTCA/DO-178 for software. Demonstrated capability to function effectively in a team environment and interact successfully with engineering counterparts across various disciplines. Experience with collaborative software development tools, such as the GitLab suite, with a focus on version control systems like Git. Active DoD Top Secret level security clearance is highly preferred. Primary Level Salary Range: $95,300.00 - $142,900.00 Secondary Level Salary Range: $118,600.00 - $178,000.00 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. Existing Applicants: Need to update your contact information or email address? Once logged in, click on Candidate Home in the upper right corner and scroll to the bottom of that screen to see buttons for: Update Contact information to update your legal name, address, and phone number Edit Account Settings to edit your email address We are a pioneering company. With careers across all areas: air, cyber, land, sea and space our 90,000 employees work as one to defend and define the future. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will give you every opportunity to do your best work. Working together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines, we share a drive to push the boundaries of science, technology and engineering to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide.

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