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# Sr Staff Engineer - Systems Architect

- **Company:** Northrop Grumman
- **Location:** Cincinnati, OH, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $175,300.0 - $262,900.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Agile Methodology, Amazon Web Services, Systems Engineering, Design of User Interfaces, IBM Rational Software, Process Driven Development, Scaled Agile Framework, Systems Modeling Language, Systems Architecture
- **Published:** July 4, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.clearancejobs.com/jobs/9012402/sr-staff-engineer-systems-architect

## About the Role

* BS degree in Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Physics or other STEM field with 14 years of related experience, MS degree in STEM field with 12+ years of related experience, or PhD in STEM field with 10+ years of related experience
 * Active DoD Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility (U.S. Citizenship is a prerequisite).
 * Significant years of related engineering experience working in an engineering organization at a defense contractor during EMD, LRIP or Operation/Sustainment phases
 * Experience in all aspects of the engineering process from proposal and requirements analysis through verification testing and fielding of systems
 * Demonstrable experience leading complex engineering projects in production environments
 * Experience leading Agile development projects
 * Willingness to travel 10% of the time for business needs, * Experience in a Systems Engineering Integration & Test environment from one or more of the following specialty areas: EOIR sensor systems, RF sensor systems, centralized cloud-based platforms (AWS GovCloud) that manage aggregated data and user interfaces
 * Experience decomposing requirements for DoD-based platforms or systems
 * Demonstrated expertise in Systems Engineering, SysML modeling, and MBSE tools (e.g., IBM Rational DOORS, Enterprise Architect, Cameo). Ability to develop and maintain system models, traceability matrices, and verification cross-reference artifacts
 * Experience implementing Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) development methodology
 * M.S., M.B.A., or other advanced degree
 * Experience with the Risk Management Framework (RMF) process to identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities in support of achieving Authority to Operate (ATO)
 * Demonstrated proficiency in analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
 * Demonstrated technical leadership skills, decisiveness, and ability to make sound technical judgments with limited information
 * Proven ability to represent organizational capabilities to customers and stakeholders
 * Strong interpersonal skills to communicate effectively across technical and program leadership

## Description

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (NGMS) is seeking a Sr. Staff System Architect (SA) for the Neptune Phoenix Program within the Xetron Operating Unit (OU) in Cincinnati, OH.

The Neptune Phoenix program provides sustainment for our existing prototype portfolio while driving development, production, and operational support for the next generation of technical collection capabilities. The team designs and integrates ground- and platform-based collection systems built on model-based systems engineering (MBSE), open architectures, and open standards.

The Systems Architect within Neptune Phoenix serves as the authority for the system architecture and design, and owns responsibility to create, evolve, and maintain the architecture of the system to meet operational needs. The System Architect also owns responsibility for maintaining alignment between the appropriate solution and internal roadmaps, product lines or common components or sub-systems.

Essential Duties:

 * Define mission Concept of Operations (CONOPS), KPPs and associated Technical Performances Measurements (TPMs)
 * Define the Operations Concept (OPSCON) for the system(s) in relation to the CONOPS
 * Create, evolve, and maintain system architecture
 * Support the Chief Engineer in discussions of system architecture with the Customer
 * Cross-project technical alignment and coordinate common architecture solutions across projects
 * Evolve and enhance the customer's suite of disparate capabilities into a system of systems in order to meet current and merging mission objectives into capability, availability, reliability and security.


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