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# Principal/Sr Principal Systems Engineer

- **Company:** Northrop Grumman
- **Location:** Fairfax, VA, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $108,800.0 - $171,000.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Agile Methodology, Systems Engineering, Confluence, JIRA, Network Interface Controllers, Firmware, Hardware Design, Requirements Management, Verification and Validation (Software)
- **Published:** October 8, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.clearancejobs.com/jobs/9227711/principalsr-principal-systems-engineer

## About the Role

* Principal Systems Engineer: Bachelor's degree and 5 years of relevant experience; 3 years of relevant experience with a Master's; 0 years of relevant experience with a PhD

 * Sr. Principal Systems Engineer: Bachelor's degree and 8 years of relevant experience; 6 years of relevant experience with a Master's; 4 years of relevant experience with a PhD
 * Proven experience with ground systems engineering, systems integrator or software engineer
 * Experience with requirements engineering, working knowledge of Verification and Validation and Model Based Systems Engineering
 * Experience working with customers and subcontractors
 * Excellent written and oral communications skills
 * Experience creating interface description documents.
 * Active Top Secret/SCI clearance at time of application and willingness to sit for a polygraph., * Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with adjudicated polygraph
 * Experience using Jira/confluence to collaborate regarding tasking and work instructions inside a team
 * Experience using DOORs and/or Cameo for requirements management
 * Experience and knowledge working with Hardware integration

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## Description

Performs system engineering, integration, verification and validation, for total systems. Work is performed at all levels of total system product to include: concept, design, test, installation, operation, and maintenance. The Systems Engineer will lead the engineering of a family-wide software product line, driving the definition, development, and integration of reusable components across multiple product variants. This role bridges the gap between hardware and software, ensuring that system-level requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), use-case models, and workflow definitions are consistently captured, validated, and delivered in an Agile environment.

 * Elicit, analyze, and document system-level functional and non-functional requirements for the product line.
 * Maintain a traceability matrix linking requirements to design, implementation, and verification artifacts.
 * Conduct requirement reviews with cross-functional stakeholders (hardware, firmware, QA, product management).
 * Define and maintain ICDs for all hardware-software and software-software interfaces.
 * Create detailed use-case diagrams, activity flows, and sequence diagrams that capture user interactions and internal processes.

This position is contingent upon the candidate obtaining final clearances and program access(es)within a reasonable period of time determined by the company.