Staff Engineer – Systems, Modernization SEI Lead

Northrop Grumman

Staff Systems Engineer leading a cross-functional team and technical management for Northrop Grumman's Systems Engineering within aeronautics. Fostering collaboration and overseeing engineering processes and project execution.

Posted 7/9/2026full-timeSan Diego • California • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $177,000 - $265,600 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Cyber Security

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide day to day leadership to a cross functional team of 20+ engineers, fostering collaboration, accountability, high performance and ensure horizontal and vertical integration across all engineering elements of the program.
Lead the Systems Engineering effort on the program to include: requirements and verification (R&V), Integrated Functional Capability (IFC) integration, cyber security analysis and practices, specialty engineering, and architecture.
Ensures the integrity of engineering processes and timely development of core engineering work products.
Serve as Control Account Manager (CAM) responsibilities for the SEI IPT, which comprises cost and schedule management for the SEI work scope.
Interfaces with the Program Manager, Chief Engineer, System Architect, engineering team leads, and the customer.
Serve as technical authority for program execution
Plan and execute the core functions and ensure the project team has qualified staff to execute the program core functions.
Lead technical management and execution of the engineering team.
Plan, execute, and close out program reviews and milestones (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, etc.)
Ensure system technical compliance with the program Statement of Work (SOW), system requirements, and manage scope control of technical team.
Manage the vertical and horizontal technical integration throughout the product teams and program life cycle.
Oversee configuration management of the overall Program Baseline
Serve as the technical interface with the customer.
Collect, manage, and report the program metrics and Technical Performance Measures (TPMs).
Manage risk and opportunity and the production of core engineering work products and track the work products and associated program dependencies in the program schedule.
Oversee the establishment and execution of the program lifecycle and work products.
Coordinate between the technical leads, program manager, and customer to ensure the integrity and executability of the program technical baseline.
Act as primary technical working group lead and interface with external parties; managing contractor giver-receivers, track actions, and manage technical team interactions.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) discipline with 12 years of relevant military/professional experience; OR Master of Science degree in a STEM discipline with 10 years of relevant military/professional experience; OR PhD with 8 years of relevant military/professional experience.
Must have an active U.S. Government Top Secret Clearance or higher (with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into Continuous Evaluation)
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance, within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.
Experience supporting Systems Engineering Milestones SRR, PDR and CDR.
Experience in full lifecycle of Systems Engineering, including requirements decomposition, test planning, requirements verification and requirements management.
Experience leading cross functional technical teams of 10 or more individuals.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health insurance coverage
Life and disability insurance
Savings plan
Company paid holidays
Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Requirements DecompositionTest PlanningRequirements VerificationTechnical Performance MeasuresConfiguration ManagementCyber Security AnalysisSpecialty EngineeringArchitectureCost and Schedule ManagementIntegrated Functional Capability Integration

Soft Skills

CollaborationAccountabilityHigh PerformanceCommunicationLeadership

Certifications

Bachelor of Science in STEMMaster of Science in STEMPhD in STEMActive U.S. Government Top Secret ClearanceSpecial Access Program Clearance