Principal Cyber Systems Engineer – Top Secret (Space/Satellite Systems)

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.

This Principal Cyber Systems Engineering position requires demonstrated technical accomplishments in securing Space Systems.  Space Systems are comprised of multiple segments and this position has responsibilities across Space Segments, Communications Segments, and Ground Segments.  As a Principal Cyber Engineer, candidates must have demonstrated technical accomplishments in the below tasks.  This is a fully-funded requisition for National Security Space missions that require the most trustworthy personnel; new hire start date is contingent on TS/SCI clearance transfer. 

 

• Working as part of an integrated product team (IPT) to architect, implement, and satisfy Risk Management Framework (RMF) CyberSecurity, CyberResilience, and/or CyberSurvivability requirements of: satellite systems, communications links, and ground command & control (C2) systems.  The principal engineer engages with multiple engineering disciplines and contributes to the secure design of complex systems. 

• System Security Engineering Requirements management in support of program protection (PP) requirements, working with systems engineers to decompose system-level security controls into technical performance requirements across the segments and down to specific components, across disciplines Anti-Tamper, TEMPEST, Cybersecurity (RMF), and cryptographic component integration/development.  The principal engineer ensures that Cyber requirements are included in the formal requirements tracking process and is Cyber/SSE contributor for a segment or subsystem. 

• Performing Attack Surface Analysis (ASA) and preparing Systems Security Plans (SSPs) documentation for complex space systems, including Risk Assessment Reports (RAR), Security Control Traceability Matrices (SCTM), and Security Assessment Reports. 

• Implements and maintains COTS security products (firewalls, anti-virus, two-factor authentication, SIEM tools, etc) within terrestrial systems. 

• For space systems, supporting design and implementation of space vehicle hardening of embedded processors and flight software. 

• Preparing and Executing assessment procedures to verify conformance with Commercial, Federal Civilian agency, Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community, and/or Special Access Program, Cyber/SSE security controls, and or survivability requirements, as required based on the specified customer/system requirements. 

• Performing systems engineering, integration, and test activities for security-critical components, such as Cross Domain Solutions, cryptographic devices, and controlled interfaces. 

• Working in an Agile engineering environment, where the Cyber/SSE may assist in triage of Static Code Analysis (SCA) tool findings (e.g. Fortify) and assist in prioritizing the findings as technical debt in the SwDLC backlog. 

• Securely deploying Mission Unique Software (MUS) in computing clouds and/or high virtualized environments.  Preparing Certification To Field (CTF) assessment procedures.  Executing CTF test cases for observation by customer cybersecurity representatives. 

• Working in small teams to complete systems engineering, assembly, integration, and test activities for security-critical components, such as Cross Domain Solutions, cryptographic devices, and controlled interfaces. 

• Interfacing with customer representatives to accomplish Cyber Test & Evaluation of systems to meet critical program milestones. 

• Performing system vulnerability scanning, remediation and patch management activities on Windows and Red Hat operating systems and various COTS/GOTS applications, including those within virtualized and/or cloud environments.   

• Documenting (or updating) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and when needed, performing software patch installation, other flaw remediation, antivirus updates, and continuous monitoring (ConMon) activities. 

• Ensuring systems are operated, maintained, and disposed of in accordance with security policies and procedures as outlined in the system security authorization package.  

 

Basic Qualifications:

• US Citizen with active Top Secret security clearance and DCID 6/4 eligibility. 

• Minimum BS degree in engineering, with Electrical Engineering or Software Engineering preferred.  (Four years Cybersecurity experience in the defense industry may substitute for degree.) 

• Minimum 5 years of Cyber/SSE experience, preferably within the defense aerospace industry. 

• Current DoD 8140 IASAE Level II certification (i.e., CASP CE, CISSP (or associate) or CSSLP). 

• Experience designing systems/networks to use, or hands-on experience operating, DISA Host Based Security System (HBSS) or Endpoint Security Suite (ESS) solutions.  

• Experience designing systems/networks to use, or hands-on experience with industry platform hardening practices, such as DISA Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) implementation, as well as documentation of deviations and mitigations.   

• Experience designing systems/networks to use, or scanning, remediating, mitigating, and reporting cybersecurity vulnerabilities discovered through use of audit reduction tools and/or the DISA Automated Security Compliance Assessment Solution (ACAS) tool or Tenable NESSUS. 

• Experience implementing the RMF process from system categorization through continuous monitoring. 

• Excellent technical document preparation skills with a demonstrated ability to communicate with a variety of stakeholders ranging from technical staffers up to senior program managers. 

 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• MS degree in Electrical, Systems, or Aerospace Engineering.   

• Current CISSP-ISSEP or CISSP-ISSAP. 

• 7 years of IA/cybersecurity experience, with are least 3 of those within the defense aerospace industry. 

 

#VASpace 

Salary Range: $115,200 USD - $172,800 USD

Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

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.