Sr. Principal EO/IR Systems Engineer

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Senior Principal EO/IR Systems Engineer to lead the development, integration, and validation of electro-optical infrared systems. This on site role is based in Melbourne, Florida, following a 9/80 work schedule with no hybrid or remote work.

Responsibilities

• Design and evolve EO/IR system architectures while coordinating hardware and software integration, testing, certification, and requirements analysis.
• Interpret, allocate, tailor, document, and cascade requirements across the full system architecture.
• Conduct trade studies, document architectures, assess performance, and evaluate Technology Readiness Level in relation to current and future supplier offerings.
• Engage in Model-Based Systems Engineering activities, capturing requirements, interfaces, behaviors, structures, and parametric data.
• Collaborate with engineers and program stakeholders to integrate mission planning solutions aligned with platform objectives.
• Develop and maintain supplier documentation, performance-based specifications, and statements of work.
• Establish supplier evaluation criteria and perform technical evaluations, documenting results and selections.
• Provide technical management of program strategic partners and suppliers, covering development, acquisition, acceptance, qualification, system integration, and test support.
• Review supplier development documents and support technical interchange meetings and design reviews.
• Identify, plan, and execute informal and formal lab testing of subsystem requirements; troubleshoot hardware in the lab.
• Lead aircraft ground and flight testing of subsystems to validate and verify requirements and obtain sign-off.
• Direct technical discussions with customers and maintain daily interactions with management, external personnel, customers, and cross-functional sub teams.

Requirements

• Educational pathway includes a Bachelor in a STEM field with 8 years of related engineering experience, or a Master in a STEM field with 6 years, or a PhD with 4 years.
• Working knowledge of EO/IR phenomenology.
• Experience decomposing, deriving, allocating, and tracing requirements from system level to components.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively in a close-knit team.
• Experience engaging with internal and external technical and programmatic representatives.
• Ability to obtain and maintain the final adjudicated government Secret clearance and any required program access within a reasonable timeframe.

Technologies

• Cameo
• SysML
• Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
• Jira
• Confluence

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• Life and disability insurance
• Savings plan
• Company paid holidays and paid time off for vacation and personal matters
• Annual bonuses recognizing individual contributions and enabling employee participation in company results
• Long term incentives

Relocation Assistance

Relocation assistance may be available.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven problem solving and troubleshooting capabilities
• Ability to quickly and independently assimilate new concepts and work in a self-directed manner
• Experience with EO/IR systems and atmospheric modeling
• Experience collaborating on multidisciplinary teams and preparing technical proposals
• Experience with model-based systems engineering using Cameo or similar SysML tools
• Familiarity with Jira and Confluence
• Experience scheduling engineering activities
• Experience with Agile development
• Experience managing suppliers and subcontractors
• Experience creating supplier documentation, performance-based specifications, and statements of work
• Experience developing supplier evaluation criteria and conducting technical evaluations with documented results and selections
• Ability to review supplier development documents and participate in supplier technical interchanges and design reviews
• Experience in lab testing, hardware/software verification, and concept development