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Senior Principal Engineer Software - Integration and Test (San Diego CA)

Northrop Grumman San Diego, California, United States

hybridfull-time

Salary: $142,200 - $213,400 / year

Posted Feb 17, 2026

Role & seniority: Senior Principal Engineer, Software - Integration and Test (Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems), on-site in San Diego, CA.

Stack/tools: Full Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC); Unix and Windows environments; software/hardware integration and testing; network interfaces; documentation; Confluence; JIRA; scripting; security clearances (DoD TS SCI; SAP/PAR eligibility).

Top 3 responsibilities

  1. Plan, execute, and oversee software installation, integration, and acceptance testing across multiple environments; troubleshoot across networks with customer SMEs.

  2. Document processes, test procedures, and root-cause analyses; develop interim solutions to keep testing/operations proceeding amid changes.

  3. Collaborate with software, systems, hardware, and test engineers to diagnose issues and ensure environment-appropriate integration and testing.

Must-have skills

  • Bachelor’s in STEM with ≥8 years (or Master’s with ≥6, or PhD with ≥4) in related engineering.

  • Experience with full SDLC; integration/testing of software and hardware in Unix/Windows.

  • Ability to execute installation/integration/acceptance testing.

  • DoD Top Secret/SCI clearance (or.Active with secure potential) and ability to obtain Security+ within 6 months.

  • SAP/PAR eligibility and readiness to obtain/maintain SAP access.

Nice-to-haves

  • SAP access; Bachelor/Master in CS, CE, or EE.

  • Excellent written/spoken communication; familiarity with software network in

Full Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE TYPE: SCI 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 Aeronautics Systems is looking to add a Senior Principal Engineer Software - Integration and Test to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals within our Software organization. This position will support our team in San Diego, Ca. Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Work in development, lab, and operational environments. Understand the differences between those settings and ensure that integration and the testing of complex system components are applicable to the appropriate environment. Perform integration and troubleshooting of software components across multiple networks interfacing with customer SMEs. Ensure that through documentation is created and maintained to allow others to integrate in the future. Facilitate collaboration with software developers, system engineers, hardware engineers, and integration/test engineers to diagnose and identify the root cause of problems found during software installation, integration, acceptance test, and operational events. Using in-depth knowledge of the system directs development of workable interim solutions to provide a capable system while software or hardware changes are being implemented allowing testing and operational events to proceed. Develop and execute software installation, integration, and acceptance test procedures. Utilize familiarity of the full development life-cycle processes that acknowledge technical, schedule, and cost constraints. Develop clear and concise detailed technical documentation. Submit detailed problem reports for errors found. The role will be a hybrid of significantly diverse assignments in a collaborative/team setting across all levels. The selected candidate should thrive in a fast-paced work environment with high expectations, significantly diverse assignments, and collaborative/team settings across all levels. The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility. There is no remote / hybrid / telework available for this position. An occasional travel requirement up to 10% may be needed. Basic Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 8 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 6 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and 4 years of related engineering experience. Experience with the full SW Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Experience in integration and testing of software and hardware components in unix and windows environments. Ability to execute installation, integration, and acceptance testing. Candidate must be able to obtain a Security+ certification within 6 months from start of employment. Active DoD Top Secret SCI Security Clearance (with a background investigation within the past 5 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation). Ability to obtain and maintain initial Special Program Access (SAP/PAR). This SAP/PAR must be obtained prior to commencement of employment and must be obtained within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs. (Of note: SAP/PAR will be upgraded once selected candidate is in role. Therefore, candidate must also be able to obtain and maintain upgraded SAP/PAR.) Preferred Qualifications: Current applicable SAP access Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering. Excellent 2-way communication skills (upward and downward). Familiarity with software network interfaces. Experience in automation of installation, configuration, and test. Experience in Agile methodologies. Agile Systems Engineering Experience. Demonstrated communication and technical writing skills. Experience with Confluence and JIRA. Security+ certification Experience with scripting languages (developing, debugging, and maintaining. Primary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00 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.

IntegrationTestingSoftware Development Life CycleUnixWindowsTroubleshootingDocumentationRoot Cause AnalysisAgile MethodologiesScripting LanguagesJIRAConfluenceSecurity+SAP/PAR AccessSystem Engineeringmulti-location

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