Sentinel - Principal / Sr Principal Systems Engineer - 16820* at Northrop Grumman
Roy, UT
$98,400–$184,200from the description
Jul 13, 2026
Roy, UT
Jul 21, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
A systems engineering role supporting the Sentinel ICBM program, focused on developing and maintaining model-based architecture using Cameo Enterprise Architecture. Day-to-day work involves requirements definition, functional decomposition, interface definition, and verification and validation activities in collaboration with integrated product teams. The role suits STEM-degreed engineers with a background in complex aerospace or defense systems and an active DoD Secret clearance.
Senior level · 5+ years · Ogden-Clearfield, UT · Bachelor's required · Secret clearance · Full-time
Advertised as Principal, but the requirements read as Senior.
Posted 2 times — it's one opening, so apply once.
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.
What the occupation pays Median $105,715 (middle half $86,307–$126,768). 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 (9)
This posting covers two levels simultaneously: Principal Systems Engineer (T-03, ~5 years with BS) and Sr. Principal Systems Engineer (T-04, ~8 years with BS). The salary range spans both levels ($98,400–$147,600 for T-03; $122,800–$184,200 for T-04). Seniority is assessed as Senior — the scope is deep technical/systems engineering on a single major program, not org-wide technical authority.
The role is posted for two locations: Roy, UT and Bellevue, NE. Roy, UT (near Hill AFB) is listed first and is the primary location reflected in the CBSA; Bellevue, NE (near Offutt AFB) is the alternate.
An active DoD Secret clearance at time of application is a hard gate. The ability to obtain Special Access Program (SAP) approval is also required but is framed as something to be obtained after hire.
DOORS (or similar tool) appears in the Basic Qualifications for the T-03 level and is also listed under Preferred Qualifications for the T-04 level — it is treated as required based on its placement in the T-03 requirements block.
MBSE tools (Cameo, Rhapsody, MagicDRAW) are hard-required for the Sr. Principal (T-04) level with 2+ years; Cameo Enterprise Architecture is also called out explicitly in the duties section as the architecture tool used.
Domain experience in ICBM systems (MMIII/Sentinel) or complex aerospace/defense systems is required for the T-03 level (1+ year); C2, cybersecurity, NC3, or military aerospace development experience is required for the T-04 level. These are domain knowledge requirements rather than named tools and are not emitted as skills.
Preferred qualifications largely repeat items already captured in the T-03 basic qualifications (DOORS experience, leadership in team environments, system performance documentation), plus soft skills — none are emitted as skills.
Ignored 2 non-technology phrase(s) as skills (responsibilities/concepts, not named tools): Cameo Enterprise Architecture, requirements management.
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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