Software Performance Analysis Engineer - Level 2 or 3 at Northrop Grumman
Boulder, CO
$91,800–$137,600from the description
Jul 9, 2026
Boulder, CO
Jul 21, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
This role sits on a missile defense algorithms team, focused on analyzing and improving the performance of tracking, prediction, and discrimination algorithms that process data from space-based infrared sensors. Day-to-day work involves evaluating algorithm behavior against complex datasets, investigating defects, and building analysis tools in Python or MATLAB. It suits engineers with a quantitative background and hands-on experience in Linux environments and statistical data analysis.
Mid level · 2+ years · Boulder, CO · Secret clearance · Full-time
“or” means any one of them counts — you don't need all of them.
We read this from the posting text with AI. Skim the description below before ruling yourself out.
How this req sits in the market our data
Most people in this occupation already list these. Still required — just not what gets you shortlisted.
What the occupation pays Median $132,736 (middle half $104,969–$163,743). This posting is about at that midpoint.
Estimated from BLS employment for this occupation and area, per-skill prevalence across our listing corpus, and published wage benchmarks — as of Jul 28, 2026. It is a model, not a headcount.
Why we read it this way (8)
This requisition covers two levels simultaneously: Level 2 (Software Performance Analysis Engineer, 2+ years, primary salary $91,800–$137,600) and Level 3 (Principal Software Performance Analysis Engineer, 5+ years, secondary salary $114,000–$171,000). Fields here reflect the Level 2 (lower) gate; the Level 3 gate requires 5 years of related experience.
Python and MATLAB are listed together as 'Python or Matlab experience' under Basic Qualifications — they are interchangeable alternatives for the same requirement, so each is captured with the other as an alternative.
A current active Secret clearance is a hard gate to start; the ability to obtain TS/SCI is also required. A currently active Top Secret clearance is listed under Preferred Qualifications.
Degree requirement is set to None because the JD states 'preferred from an accredited university' rather than requiring a degree, and equivalent experience combinations are offered at each level.
SOC classification is Medium confidence: the role is primarily performance analysis and algorithm analysis (operations research / data analysis), but also involves analysis tool development in Python/MATLAB, making 15-1252 a plausible alternative.
'Data analysis' (population statistics and trend identification) is listed as a named required capability under Basic Qualifications and is retained as a skill; generic soft skills and methodology phrases have been omitted.
Ignored 2 non-technology phrase(s) as skills (responsibilities/concepts, not named tools): data analysis, tracking and prediction algorithms.
Requires a Secret clearance — the cleared population is a small fraction of this occupation, so the real candidate pool is materially smaller than the estimate below, which does not model clearance.
Read the full posting
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