Principal / Sr. Principal Cyber Systems Engineer for Ground Segment (Space Systems)

The Payload and Ground Systems organization within the Northrop Grumman Space Systems pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered with providing the skills, innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter. Come be a part of our mission!

We are seeking a team member who wants to solve interesting, complex problems to help protect our nation. We are a trusted mission payload and ground system provider with extensive experience providing end-to-end mission solutions from concept through operations and support. The team you will support is located at our Space Park campus in Redondo Beach, CA.

What you’ll get to do?

A Cybersecurity Systems Engineer (SE) is the person in an organization who architects system security requirements. The Cyber SE also designs the security layout or architecture and determines required security tools and existing tool functionality. A Cyber SE is responsible for the security governance, risk management, and compliance of a system while it is being engineered for a customer. The candidate will perform cyber system security engineering activities supporting all phases of systems development in the areas of Cybersecurity/Systems Security Engineering, and Assessment and Authorization (A&A) as per Risk Management Framework (RMF) for later determined program. Specific job responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

Responsibilities

• Propose and design systems architecture changes with traceability to requirements

• Provide implementation guidance and oversight to technical teams/implementer

• Review and Assess stakeholder security objectives, protection needs and concerns, security requirements, and associated validation methods

• Review and Assess system security requirements and associated verification methods per RMF standards

• Identify and/or assess vulnerabilities and susceptibility to life cycle disruptions, hazards, and threats

• Provide security considerations to inform systems engineering efforts with the objective to reduce errors, flaws, and weakness that may constitute security vulnerability leading to unacceptable asset loss and consequences

• Identify, quantify, and evaluate the costs/benefits of security functions and considerations to inform analysis of alternatives, engineering trade-offs, and risk treatment decisions

• Author and maintain critical program documents such as Cybersecurity Strategies, System Security Plans, Continuous Monitoring Plans, Security Assessment Plans, etc

• Customization for customer needs and explaining in layman terms

Basic Qualifications for a Principal Cyber Systems Engineer

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 5 years of related experience, or a Master’s degree in STEM with 3 years of related experience

• Direct experience developing RMF assessment and authorization documentation

• Familiarity with Systems Security Engineering (SSE) documentation (e.g. Cybersecurity Strategies, Information Support Plans, Program Protection Plans (PPPs)

• Familiarity with Anti-Tamper Plans, Counterintelligence Support Plans, Integrated Threat Assessment Reports, Operations Security Plans, Continuous Monitoring Plans, Defensive Cyberspace Operations Plans, IT/Cybersecurity Strategies, Information Support Plans, Enterprise Architecture Views and related documentation IAW DoDI 5000.02, DoDI 5200.39, DODI 5200.44, DODD 5200.47E, DoDI 8500.01, DoDI 8510.01, and NIST SP 800-160

• DoD 8570 certification for IAM-III (CISSP, CISM, GSLC, CCISO) or IAT-III (GCIH, CISSP, CASP+, CCNP Security, CISA, GCED)

  • A minimum of one certification that meets DoDI 8570 is required, or requested to be earned within a 6 month period from start date

• Active TS clearance with SCI eligibility required

Basic Qualifications for a Sr. Principal Cyber Systems Engineer

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 9 years of related experience, or a Master’s degree in STEM with 7 years of related experience

• Direct experience developing RMF assessment and authorization documentation

• Familiarity with Systems Security Engineering (SSE) documentation (e.g. Cybersecurity Strategies, Information Support Plans, Program Protection Plans (PPPs)

• Familiarity with Anti-Tamper Plans, Counterintelligence Support Plans, Integrated Threat Assessment Reports, Operations Security Plans, Continuous Monitoring Plans, Defensive Cyberspace Operations Plans, IT/Cybersecurity Strategies, Information Support Plans, Enterprise Architecture Views and related documentation IAW DoDI 5000.02, DoDI 5200.39, DODI 5200.44, DODD 5200.47E, DoDI 8500.01, DoDI 8510.01, and NIST SP 800-160

• DoD 8570 certification for IAM-III (CISSP, CISM, GSLC, CCISO) or IAT-III (GCIH, CISSP, CASP+, CCNP Security, CISA, GCED)

  • A minimum of one certification that meets DoDI 8570 is required, or requested to be earned within a 6 month period from start date

• Active TS clearance with SCI eligibility required

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with eMASS and/or Xacta

• Familiarity with supplemental security control guidance, such as JSIG and/or ICD 503

• Bachelor's Degree in Cyber Security, Information Technology or a related technical discipline

• 5+ years of system engineering and/or system security engineering experience

• Hosted payload and satellite integration experience, including ground-system security architecture

The health and safety of our employees and their families is a top priority. The company encourages employees to remain up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. U.S. Northrop Grumman employees may be required, in the future, to be vaccinated or have an approved disability/medical or religious accommodation, pursuant to future court decisions and/or government action on the currently stayed federal contractor vaccine mandate under Executive Order 14042 https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/.

Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.