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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Sr Principal Engineer Systems - **Company:** Northrop Grumman - **Location:** San Diego, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $142,200.0 - $213,400.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Agile Methodology, Systems Engineering, Continuous Integration, Network Interface Controllers, Requirements Management, SAP (Applications), Systems Architecture, System Testing - **Published:** September 23, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.clearancejobs.com/jobs/9188423/sr-principal-engineer-systems ## About the Role * Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) 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 * Demonstrated experience across the systems engineering lifecycle, including: Requirements development and decomposition, Requirements management and traceability, Verification & validation planning and execution * Experience with requirements management tools (e.g., DOORS, DOORS Next, or similar). * Experience with ICD development and interface definition * Experience preparing and delivering technical presentations to customers or leadership * Active USG Top Secret SCI 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 Preferred Qualifications * Current applicable Special Access Program (SAP) clearance * Experience supporting major systems engineering milestones (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR). * Experience with system architecture development, model-based systems engineering (MBSE), and/or CONOPS definition * Hands-on experience with HW/SW integration and test, including test procedure development and discrepancy/anomaly resolution * Familiarity with Agile development methods and/or CI/CD environments * Experience coordinating with suppliers on technical requirements, interfaces, and verification expectations ## Description * Apply the full systems engineering lifecycle, including Concept development and system definition, Requirements development, decomposition, and allocation, Interface definition and management, Integration, verification, and validation planning and execution * Develop Verification & Validation (V&V) strategies and plans, including Requirement Verification Plans and System Test & Verification Plans * Work closely with test and specialty engineering teams to ensure test procedures correctly interpret and verify requirements * Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs) for internal and external system interfaces through internal coordination with Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), suppliers, and customers, and through interface working groups * Support development and documentation of system architectures and Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) working with cross-functional teams to ensure the architecture supports performance, reliability, safety, and maintainability objectives * Provide systems engineering input to design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR) and integration/test readiness reviews * Prepare and deliver technical briefings to internal leadership and external customers. ## Related Videos - [How To Test A Ball of Mud](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/173-how-to-test-a-ball-of-mud) - [ShapeShift: Reinventing Agile for a B2B SaaS Scale-Up](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1655-shapeshift-reinventing-agile-for-a-b2b-saas-scale-up) - [Independently together: how micro-applications improve developer experience + app performance](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/452-independently-together-how-micro-applications-improve-developer-experience-app-performance) - [Why Your Best Mediors Never Become Seniors (And How to Fix It)](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2108-why-your-best-mediors-never-become-seniors-and-how-to-fix-it) - [Security Pitfalls for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/726-security-pitfalls-for-software-engineers) - [How I Built QA from Scratch in a Scaling Startup - no fluff real life story](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2041-how-i-built-qa-from-scratch-in-a-scaling-startup-no-fluff-real-life-story) ## Related Articles - [Why Attend a Developer Event in 2026?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/688-why-attend-a-developer-event-in-2026) - [7 Important Tips That Every Software Developer Should Know](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/101-7-important-tips-that-every-software-developer-should-know) - [What’s the Difference between a Junior, Mid, and Senior Developer?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/238-what-s-the-difference-between-a-junior-mid-and-senior-developer) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [The Ultimate Software Engineer Career Path Guide for 2023](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/146-the-ultimate-software-engineer-career-path-guide-for-2023)