Staff C2E Software Architect

About this role

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret

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.

Please note that this opportunity is contingent on program funding.  Start dates are determined after funding confirmation.

Northrop Grumman’s Aeronautics Systems – Research & Advanced Design (R&AD) transforms breakthrough ideas into mission-ready capabilities through intelligent anticipation. We’re the front-end design engine, defining what comes next. From developing cutting-edge next-generation future aircraft to trailblazing collaborative autonomous platforms, we push the boundaries of technology and forge industry-leading partnerships that set new standards for what’s possible.

Our team owns the full lifecycle of advanced concept creation, from visionary early-stage designs and rapid prototyping to high-impact demonstrations and solving the toughest technical challenges in survivability, autonomy, and battle management. We seek curious, adaptable people who thrive on turning intuition into breakthrough solutions. If you’re driven to invent the future, build what’s next, and shape the landscape of national security, this is where you belong.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Staff C2E Software Architec t with of experience designing,  engineering, and field deploying, multi level systems that span cloud, edge, and government furnished hardware/software (GFX/GFE). The role will own end to end architecture for cross domain and multi level security (Red/Black) solution, guide cloud migration to Microsoft Azure, and lead technical teams through concept, development, integration, and operational sustainment. This position is located onsite in El Segundo, CA, Redondo Beach, CA or San Diego, CA.

Key Responsibilities • Functional requirements development – Elicit, write, and prioritize functional requirements.

• System engineering decomposition – Translate functional requirements into hardware and software architectures; define all interfaces.

• Cameo Systems Modeler support – Guide development of Activity, Internal Block Diagram (IBD), and Block Definition Diagram (BDD) models.

• Cyber architecture (JSIG/NIST) breakdown – Convert limited cyber requirements into detailed design artifacts.

• Zero Trust, Role-based access control (RBAC) & Identity and access management (IAM) design – Architect Zero Trust networks, role based access controls, and IAM workflow diagrams.

• Content Security Policy / Ground segment / Data center architecture – Design on prem, hybrid, edge, and CSP integrated solutions.

• Multi Level & Cross Domain Solutions – Define processing levels, CD S interfaces, and data-filtering mechanisms.

• Network architecture expertise – Micro segmentation, resiliency, network/security operations center (NOC/SOC) planning.

• Automation & IaC – Implement Ansible, Terraform, PowerShell, Python, etc., for repeatable provisioning.

• CI/CD pipeline ownership – Build, test, and deploy software and infrastructure across the lifecycle.

• Integration test planning & execution – Create test plans, validate data flows, verify real time command paths.

• GRA / GFx / Open System software experience – Leverage open system architectures for mission critical software.

• Container & VM experience – Deploy Docker, Kubernetes, VMware, Hyper V, KVM, etc., in hardened environments.

• Secure / hardened / COTS integration – Incorporate DoD grade, GFx hardened, secure boot components.

• Leadership / team coordination – Serve as lead engineer, IPT lead, technical manager, and mentor for junior staff.

• Domain expertise – Defense, aerospace, missile, and mission critical C2 systems.

Basic Qualifications: • Bachelor’s Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university and at least 12 years’ experience, or STEM master’s degree with 10 years’ experience, or a STEM PHD with 8 years’ experience.

• Experience: 8+ years of architecting secure, distributed solutions

• Core Technical Expertise: Cross Domain Solutions, Multi Level Security (Red/Black), Microsoft Azure, Cloud & distributed hardware architecture, Government furnished hardware/software (GFX/GFE), Field deployable systems

• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Top Secret clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs

• Security Standards: NIST, JSIG, NSA, DoD Cyber-risk frameworks

• Leadership: Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary technical teams and manage large-scale IPTs

Preferred Qualifications: • Cloud Platforms: AWS (including GovCloud), Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

• Database Management: Design & administration of relational & NoSQL databases

• Virtualization & VDI: Hypervisor deployments (VMware, Hyper V, KVM) and VDI

• InfoSec Frameworks: NIST 800 53, NIST CSF, NSA security guidelines

• DevOps & Automation: Ansible, Terraform, PowerShell, Python, CI/CD tooling (GitLab, Jenkins, Azure DevOps)

• Zero Trust Architecture: Deep experience building Zero Trust networks and IAM/RBAC models

• Edge & Ground Segment: Exp

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