Principal Systems Security Engineer

Principal Systems Security Engineer role at Northrop Grumman in San Antonio, TX (onsite), supporting anti-tamper and cybersecurity development for sensor payloads and secure mission solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead full life-cycle Systems Engineering for Anti-Tamper and/or Cybersecurity, including architecture design, trade studies, requirements formulation, detailed design, unit testing, system testing, and validation and verification practices
• Develop and implement hardware and software anti-tamper and countermeasures to protect assets and strengthen operational integrity and reliability
• Support compliance with US Government policies (including JSIG, DAAPM, NIST 800-53, CNSSI 1253, DODI 5200.39) through secure architecting, process reviews, control tailoring, approval of documented procedures and artifacts, and oversight of security testing and analysis
• Perform analyses to validate security requirements and identify additional safeguards to improve system security
• Partner with US Government and program teams to negotiate and develop anti-tamper/cybersecurity solutions for international export markets, aligning with Tri-Service Committee and Red Team requirements for US-deployed and exported military systems
• Use reverse engineering techniques to architect and validate effective anti-tamper/cybersecurity solutions
• Execute Technical Release Analyses in accordance with US Government security governance, service policies, and licensing precedents, including preparing, assessing, and certifying determinations for licensing (Controlled Unclassified Information and higher, plus Critical Program Information)
• Coordinate Technology Release efforts with program stakeholders and SMEs, including development and delivery of training on Technology Release processes
• Manage and communicate system, subsystem, and sensor modifications tied to exportability, ensuring alignment with international standards
• Apply intermediate understanding of cryptographic security protocols to protect sensitive information
• Support formal Security Test and Evaluation (ST&E) processes through pre-test preparation, participation, results analysis, and preparation of required reports
• Document findings from Assessment and Authorization, and maintain Security Plans with updates to POA&M
• Contribute to strategic planning for anti-tamper and cybersecurity technology development aligned with global priorities and policy needs
• Work with program teams and global Business Development stakeholders to incorporate international requirements and features into design processes and drive product line initiatives for global markets
• Participate in communities of practice to strengthen domain knowledge and support continuous professional development

Requirements

• Education and experience:
  • Bachelor’s in a STEM field with 5 years of related experience; OR
  • Master’s in a STEM field with 3 years of related experience; OR
  • PhD in a STEM field with 1 year of related experience
• Two (2) years of Systems Engineering experience with DoD platforms/systems and/or sensors and sub-systems (e.g., EO/IR, Embedded Software or Cryptography, Satellite, architecture development, hardware design, RF, Radar, undersea sensors)
• Two (2) years of experience (individual or combined) in one or more areas: Anti-Tamper or Cybersecurity; Cybersecurity Risk Management Framework; Cybersecurity Resiliency; Reverse Engineering; security requirements development; System Security Integration & Testing; Security validation and verification
• US Citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a minimum Secret Clearance (with additional customer specified clearance requirements)

Technologies

• NIST 800-53, JSIG, DAAPM, CNSSI 1253, DODI 5200.39
• Tri-Service Committee, ST&E, POA&M
• EO/IR, RF, Radar, Cryptography

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• Life and disability insurance
• Savings plan
• Company paid holidays
• Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business
• Overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus (depending on the position)
• Annual bonuses
• Long Term Incentives for employees in Vice President or Director positions

Relocation Assistance

• Relocation assistance may be available

Clearance and Travel

• Clearance required for start: No
• Clearance type: Secret
• Travel: Yes, 10% of the time

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (or related technical fields)
• Active Secret or Top-Secret clearance
• Experience with Systems Security Engineering development of DoD weapon systems
• Experience with Hardware (Firmware) Assurance, Attack Surface Analysis and Reporting, Software/Firmware Encryption, and Secure Key Handling
• Experience identifying and mitigating software vulnerabilities and performing integration testing of mitigations
• Experience contributing to and/or making technical presentations to internal and external customers

Salary range: USD 103,600 - 155,400 per year

Experience minimum: 1 year

Travel: Yes, 10% of the Time

Application period: estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date (timeline may be shortened or extended based on business needs and candidate availability)