Principal/Sr. Principal Systems Security Engineer

The Principal/Senior Principal Systems Security Engineer role at Northrop Grumman is an on site position in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, focused on anti-tamper and cybersecurity for sensor payloads and secure mission security solutions. The role requires US citizenship and the ability to obtain a Secret clearance, with compensation in the USD 108,800 to 203,600 per year range.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate full life cycle Systems Engineering development experience in Anti-Tamper and or Cybersecurity, including architecture design, trade studies, requirements formulation, detailed design, unit testing, system testing, and validation and verification practices.
• Support the development and implementation of hardware and software Anti-Tamper and or CyberSecurity techniques and countermeasures to protect assets and enhance operational integrity and reliability.
• Implement and ensure compliance with US Government policies such as JSIG, DAAPM, NIST 800-53, CNSSI 1253, and DODI 5200.39; this includes secure system architecture, process reviews, tailoring control needs, generating documented procedures, artifacts, and overseeing security testing and analysis.
• Conduct analyses to validate existing security requirements and develop additional safeguards to improve system security.
• Collaborate with US Government and program teams to negotiate and develop Anti-Tamper and CyberSecurity solutions for international export markets, ensuring alignment with Tri-Service Committee and Red Team requirements for US-deployed and exported military systems.
• Utilize reverse engineering techniques to architect and validate effective security Anti-Tamper and CyberSecurity solutions.
• Perform Technical Release Analyses in accordance with government security governance, prepare and certify classifications for licensing as needed.
• Coordinate Technology Release efforts with program personnel, engaging stakeholders and subject matter experts to ensure successful outcomes and to deliver training on Technology Release processes.
• Manage analyses and modifications related to exportability of systems, subsystems, or sensors to ensure compliance with international standards.
• Apply an intermediate understanding of cryptographic security protocols to protect sensitive information.
• Support formal Security Test and Evaluation activities mandated by government authorities through pre-test preparation, active participation, result analysis, and reporting.
• Document findings from Assessment and Authorization activities and maintain System Security Plans and the Plan of Actions and Milestones (POA&M).
• Contribute to strategic planning for Anti-Tamper and CyberSecurity technology development aligned with global priorities and policy directions.
• Collaborate with program teams and global Business Development stakeholders to incorporate international requirements into design processes and drive product line initiatives for global markets.
• Participate in communities of practice to advance domain knowledge and foster ongoing professional development.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field with 5 years of related experience; or Master’s degree with 3 years; or PhD with 1 year of related experience.
• Two years of Systems Engineering experience with DoD based platforms, sensors, and or sub-systems, including EO/IR, embedded software or cryptography, satellite, architecture development, hardware design, RF, radar, and undersea sensors.
• Two years of experience with requirements development, derivation, system integration and test, and validation and verification.
• Two years of experience with Anti-Tamper or Cyber Security, reverse engineering, and or Cyber Security Risk Management Framework / Cyber Resiliency.
• U.S. citizen status is required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a minimum Secret clearance, with potential for higher clearance as dictated by customer needs.

Technologies

• JSIG
• DAAPM
• NIST 800-53
• CNSSI 1253
• DODI 5200.39

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Life and disability coverage
• Savings plan
• Company paid holidays
• Paid time off for vacation and personal business
• Overtime eligibility
• Shift differential
• Discretionary bonuses
• Annual bonuses
• Long term incentives

Preferred Qualifications for Principal/Sr. Principal Systems Security Engineer

• Advanced degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics or related technical fields
• Active Secret or Top-Secret clearance
• Experience with systems engineering development of DoD weapon systems
• Experience with hardware (firmware) assurance, software attack surface analysis, encryption for software/firmware, and secure key handling
• Experience identifying and mitigating software assurance vulnerabilities and performing integration testing of mitigations or resolutions
• Experience preparing and delivering technical presentations to internal and external customers