Launch and Operations Systems Engineer
Northrop Grumman · Rolling Meadows, IL
$87,600–$131,400from the description
Jun 30, 2026
Rolling Meadows, IL
Jul 21, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
A systems engineering role focused on integrating complex ground software for spacecraft operations, including developing procedures and scripts, conducting system integration lab (SIL) checkouts, and training ground operators. The work sits within a space sector engineering organization and suits engineers with hands-on integration and test experience, proficiency in Python or MATLAB, and an active Top Secret clearance.
Senior level · 5+ years · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI · Bachelor's required · Top 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
Most people in this occupation already list these. Still required — just not what gets you shortlisted.
What the occupation pays Median $103,896 (middle half $68,463–$140,851). 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 (7)
This role is titled 'Principal / Senior Principal Systems Engineer' — a dual-level posting at Northrop Grumman's internal levels 3 and 4. The advertised seniority reflects the higher title ('Principal'); the actual minimum experience gate (BS+5) maps to Senior on a standard career ladder.
The SOC classification is uncertain. The role is primarily systems engineering for spacecraft ground software integration and test — it does not map cleanly to any single computer/mathematical SOC. 15-1299 (Computer Occupations, All Other) is used as the best available fit; 15-1211 (Computer Systems Analysts) is a plausible alternative given the integration and end-user engagement focus.
Python and MATLAB are listed together under Basic Qualifications as 'analytical data tools and programming languages like Python, MATLAB' — they appear interchangeable as a category requirement rather than both being independently mandatory, so they are captured as alternatives of each other.
The clearance requirement is Top Secret with the ability to obtain SCI access. The JD states 'active U.S. Government DoD Top Secret security clearance at time of application' as a hard gate; SCI is an additional requirement to obtain/maintain but is not stated as already required at start.
Signal generators and spectral analyzers appear only under Preferred Qualifications.
The salary range ($87,600–$131,400/year) is labeled 'Primary Level' and likely corresponds to the Principal (level 3) band; the Senior Principal (level 4) range is not disclosed.
Requires a Top 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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