Principal Software Engineer – X-Lab Software Developer (26-351) at Northrop Grumman
Colorado Springs, CO
$103,600–$155,400from the description
Jul 28, 2026
Colorado Springs, CO
Jul 29, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
A full-time, on-site software developer role at Schriever Space Force Base supporting the C2BMC missile defense program. The position centers on building and maintaining Java-based applications and web front-ends, managing build/CI pipelines, and deploying software across Windows and Linux environments in a defense-classified setting. Candidates must already hold an active Secret clearance and a DoD 8140 IAT Level II certification at time of application.
Senior level · 5+ years · Colorado Springs, CO · Secret clearance · Full-time
Advertised as Principal, but the requirements read as Senior.
“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
Rare in this occupation — lead with these, and say what you built with them.
Most people in this occupation already list these. Still required — just not what gets you shortlisted.
What the occupation pays Median $137,233 (middle half $108,638–$170,529). 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 29, 2026. It is a model, not a headcount.
Why we read it this way (7)
The title says 'Principal Software Engineer' but the job code '26-351' and the actual requirements (5 years with a Bachelor's, or 3 with a Master's, or 9 without a degree) align with a Senior-level role, not a Principal/top-of-ladder position. Seniority is assessed as Senior.
Degree requirement is marked None because the posting explicitly accepts 9 years of relevant experience as an alternative to any degree.
An active DoD 8140 IAT Level II or higher certification (e.g., Security+ CE, CySA+, CCNA-Security, CND) is a hard gate at time of application — not a skill per se, but a mandatory credential.
A current, active Secret clearance is required to start; TS/SCI eligibility is preferred. The preferred qualification of an active Top Secret clearance is listed under Preferred Qualifications.
Eclipse IDE is listed as a required build/version-control tool alongside Maven and Git; it may be substitutable in practice, but it is named in the required qualifications section.
No relocation assistance is available and the role is strictly on-site at Schriever SFB, CO — there are no remote or hybrid options.
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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