Principal/sr. Principal Embedded Software Engineer (active Secret)

Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman · Aerospace · Redondo Beach, CA +1 · Software

Northrop Grumman is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer (Level 3 or 4) with experience in C/C++ programming within an RTOS environment. The role involves designing, developing, integrating, testing, and debugging software solutions for embedded and real-time systems, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams in an Agile environment. Requires an active Secret security clearance.

What you'd actually do

  1. Design, develop, document, integrate, test, and debug software solutions for end‑user customers and internal business applications.
  2. Lead the architecture, development, and lifecycle management of embedded and real‑time systems.
  3. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams—including Systems Engineering, Digital Engineering, Hardware, and Integration & Test—within an Agile development environment.
  4. Analyze system capabilities to troubleshoot and resolve issues related to program intent, output requirements, data acquisition, programming methods, and control strategies.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor's degree in STEM or equivalent experience
  • 5+ years of software development experience (Level 3) or 8+ years (Level 4)
  • Active U.S. Government Secret security clearance
  • C/C++ programming
  • RTOS environment (VxWorks, FreeRTOS, RT-Linux, GH Integrity)
  • Object Oriented programming
  • Formal software lifecycle process expertise
  • Integrating low-level firmware and software
  • Developing and debugging embedded real-time systems

Nice to have

  • Software Defined Radios
  • Xilinx tools (Vitis, Vivado)
  • Xilinx platforms (Ultrascale+ MPSoC or VERSAL)
  • Linux kernel driver development/modifications
  • Ability and willingness to obtain a Top Secret clearance and/or SCI Access

What the JD emphasized

  • Active U.S. Government Secret security clearance required at the time of application
  • Strong proficiency in C/C++ programming, executing in an RTOS environment (i.e., VxWorks, FreeRTOS, RT-Linux, GH Integrity)
  • Demonstrated expertise in all areas of the formal software lifecycle process from requirements to testing
  • Prior work experience integrating low-level firmware and software in complex real-time multi-threaded embedded applications
  • Prior work experience in developing and debugging embedded real-time systems