Sr. Staff System Architect

Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman · Aerospace · Rolling Meadows, IL +1 · Systems/Architecture/Test

The Sr. Staff System Architect will be responsible for the system architecture and design of advanced sensing, targeting, and tracking systems for defense applications. This role involves creating and maintaining system architecture to meet operational needs, considering constraints like cost, schedule, and risk, and ensuring alignment with internal roadmaps. The position requires a strong engineering background, experience in defense contracting, and the ability to obtain a Secret security clearance.

What you'd actually do

  1. serves as the authority for the system architecture and design
  2. create, evolve, and maintain the architecture of the system to meet operational needs, while accommodating known constraints such as cost, schedule, and risk, and tailoring the systems requirements margins relative to the risk and compliance with the Key Performance Parameters (KPPs)
  3. maintaining alignment between the appropriate solution and internal roadmaps, product lines or common components, if applicable
  4. Experience in creating and delivering technical presentations to internal and external leadership
  5. Experience working collaboratively on complex projects that encompass hardware, software, and firmware

Skills

Required

  • BS degree in Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Physics or other STEM field with 14+ years of related experience, MS degree in STEM field with 12+ years of related experience, or PhD in STEM field with 10+ years of related experience
  • 5+ years of related engineering experience working in an engineering organization at a defense contractor during EMD and/or LRIP phases
  • Demonstrated proficiency in analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Experience in creating and delivering technical presentations to internal and external leadership
  • Experience working collaboratively on complex projects that encompass hardware, software, and firmware
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a minimum of a U.S. Government Secret Clearance with additional customer specified clearance prior to start
  • U.S. Citizenship required

Nice to have

  • Experience in all aspects of the engineering process from proposal / requirements analysis through verification testing and fielding of systems
  • Experience in a Systems Engineering Integration & Test environment from one or more of the following specialty areas: EOIR systems, sensors, optics, antenna design, direction finding, geolocation, threat analysis
  • Experience decomposing requirements for DoD-based platforms or systems
  • Demonstrated expertise in SysML modeling and MBSE tools (e.g., IBM Rational DOORS, Enterprise Architect, Cameo). Ability to develop and maintain system models, traceability matrices, and verification cross‑reference artifacts
  • Experience in development and Earned Value Management (EVM) of cost accounts and schedules
  • Active U.S. Government Secret or Top-Secret security clearance

What the JD emphasized

  • CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
  • CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret
  • U.S. Citizenship required
  • Active U.S. Government Secret or Top-Secret security clearance