Ground Software Architect – Space Ground Systems AHT

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE:
Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START:
Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE:
Top Secret

TRAVEL:
Yes, 10% of the Time

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon.

We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Join Northrop Grumman on our mission to push the boundaries of possible across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. Enjoy a culture where your voice is valued and your ideas have real impact on missions that matter. As part of our Tactical Space organization, you will help design and deliver ground software solutions that enable critical space missions, from launch and early orbit through routine on‑orbit operations.

We are seeking a Staff‑level Ground Software Architect (T5) to lead the design and implementation of next‑generation ground systems for space programs. This position is based in McLean, VA and requires onsite work in a secure environment.

In this role, you will:

• Serve as a technical leader and software architect for ground systems supporting space missions.
• Define, document, and evolve end‑to‑end ground software architectures, including services, interfaces, data flows, and integration with space and mission operations segments.
• Advise on the integration of new and emerging technologies (cloud, containerization, orchestration, automation, observability) into mission systems.
• Lead full lifecycle software development, including:
  • Requirements analysis and decomposition
  • Architecture and design
  • Implementation and code reviews
  • Unit, integration, and system testing
  • Deployment and sustainment
• Collaborate across multi‑disciplinary teams (systems engineering, ground operations, cybersecurity, hardware, and test) to integrate new capabilities into existing systems.
• Implement engineering changes and system enhancements in response to evolving mission needs and customer requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to a team of software engineers, guiding them through design decisions, best practices, and career growth.
• Develop and present technical documentation and briefings to internal leadership and customers.
• Drive adoption of modern software practices, tools, and automation (CI/CD, containerization, infrastructure as code) to increase team efficiency and reliability.
• Perform technical planning and trade studies, system integration, verification and validation, and analyses of performance, cost, risk, and supportability.
• Ensure the logical and systematic conversion of customer or product requirements into total system solutions that balance technical, schedule, and cost constraints.

• Bachelor's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline and 12+ years of relevant software experience; ORMaster's degree in STEM and 10+ years of relevant software experience; ORPhD in STEM and 8+ years of relevant software experience.
• Strong background in software development and software architecture for complex systems.
• In‑depth working knowledge and experience with modern…