Systems Engineer / Principal Systems Engineer

As a Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman in Aurora, CO, your primary responsibilities will include defining, developing, and validating requirements for our satellite ground systems. You'll also be heavily involved in requirements analysis, decomposition, and the generation of specification documents. Furthermore, you'll collaborate with various experts and teams to ensure all requirements are accurately captured and managed using advanced tools, contributing to the overall success of the mission.

To qualify for the Systems Engineer position at Northrop Grumman, candidates should hold a Bachelor's degree in a STEM field with at least 2 years of related experience or a Master's degree in a STEM field with no prior experience required. An active DoD Secret clearance is also a necessity. Familiarity with systems engineering principles and tools such as DOORS is preferred to ensure you can hit the ground running.

Yes, there are key differences between the Systems Engineer and Principal Systems Engineer roles at Northrop Grumman. The Principal Systems Engineer requires more experience: a Bachelor's degree with at least 5 years of related experience, or a Master's with 3 years, or a PhD with no experience. While both roles require similar foundational skills, the Principal role often involves greater responsibilities and leadership expectations within projects.

In the Systems Engineer role at Northrop Grumman, you will primarily work with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools, integrating requirement management with descriptive and analytical models. You'll also be utilizing DOORS or similar requirements management databases, ensuring that your workflows are efficient and closely aligned with project objectives.

Northrop Grumman offers numerous growth opportunities for Systems Engineers. Employees have access to professional development programs, mentorship, and the ability to take on challenging projects that enhance both technical and leadership skills. With a culture that promotes innovation and creativity, you’ll find ample avenues to advance your career and make impactful contributions to groundbreaking projects.

The systems engineering V-model is a framework used to understand the lifecycle of a system's development. It emphasizes the relationship between development and testing stages, illustrating how each phase of the system's life cycle corresponds to verification and validation activities. When answering this question in an interview, ensure you touch upon how you'll apply this model in practical terms within your role at Northrop Grumman.

Handling requirement changes effectively involves strong communication with all stakeholders, maintaining rigorous documentation, and using change control processes. During an interview, share specific examples where you've managed changes and how you ensured the project remained aligned with its objectives. Highlight the importance of flexibility and adaptability in this role.

When discussing your experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), it's important to detail projects where you've applied MBSE principles. Share how you've used tools, such as SysML or UML, to create models that support analysis, verification, and validation. Emphasize your understanding of how MBSE can improve project efficiency and reduce risks.

In your response, aim to provide a clear narrative about the problem, the analysis you conducted, and the solutions you explored. Highlight the technical skills you used, as well as the collaboration with your team at Northrop Grumman. This showcases both your problem-solving abilities and teamwork, essential qualities for a Systems Engineer.

Verification and validation are critical in ensuring that the system meets its requirements and serves its intended purpose. In an interview, articulate how you differentiate between verification (checking if you built the product right) and validation (ensuring you built the right product). Provide examples of how you’ve engaged in both activities to assure quality in previous projects.

When prioritizing requirements, consider factors such as stakeholder input, technical feasibility, cost implications, and project deadlines. Share an approach you’ve used in the past, possibly involving any prioritization frameworks or tools. During your interview, relate your response to Northrop Grumman's needs and project complexities.

Collaboration is essential in systems engineering. In your response, emphasize your ability to communicate with team members from various disciplines, including software development, hardware engineering, and project management. Share an instance where you worked globally or across teams to achieve a project goal, highlighting your interpersonal and teamwork skills.

A requirements traceability matrix helps ensure that every requirement is accounted for throughout the engineering process, from initial design to final testing. In the interview, provide insights on how you use it to verify compliance and monitor changes. Mention how this tool aligns with Northrop Grumman's commitment to quality and thoroughness in project execution.

Discuss your familiarity with tools such as DOORS or others that you've used for managing requirements. Talk about specific features you've leveraged to support requirements analysis and how they aided your team in maintaining clarity and organization. Emphasize how these tools can improve collaboration and project outcomes at Northrop Grumman.

Clear communication is paramount in systems engineering. Share techniques you've implemented, such as regular meetings, updates, or documentation practices, to keep stakeholders informed and engaged. Include examples of how you tailored your communication style based on your audience's needs, showing that you can convey complex information effectively at Northrop Grumman.