Principal/Sr. Principal Software Engineer – Embedded Test at Northrop Grumman
Manhattan Beach, CA
$114,000–$213,400from the description
Jul 14, 2026
Manhattan Beach, CA
Jul 21, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
A software engineering role focused on developing, integrating, and testing embedded software for flight, space, and ground systems operating under real-time constraints. Day-to-day work involves writing C/C++ code for resource-limited hardware, collaborating with hardware engineers, and running formal verification processes against flight software requirements. Suited to engineers with a background in embedded real-time systems and automated test development for space programs.
Senior level · 5+ years · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA · Bachelor's required · 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
What the occupation pays Median $164,459 (middle half $130,334–$195,752). 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 requisition covers two levels simultaneously: Principal (Level 3, 5+ years with a Bachelor's) and Sr. Principal (Level 4, 8+ years with a Bachelor's). The salary range spans both levels ($114,000–$171,000 primary; $142,200–$213,400 secondary). Total experience minimum is set to 5 years (the lower gate), reflecting the entry point for this posting.
The role title includes 'Embedded Test' and the JD emphasizes developing and testing automated test sets for space/flight programs, creating genuine ambiguity between Software Developers (15-1252) and Software QA Analysts and Testers (15-1253). The primary day-to-day work is described as designing, developing, and debugging embedded software — development is the dominant activity — so 15-1252 is the primary code, with 15-1253 as the runner-up.
C/C++ is listed as a single proficiency requirement in the Basic Qualifications; emitted as C++ (primary) with C as an alternative since the JD treats them as a combined skill.
TLYF (Test Like You Fly) is a formal verification methodology named explicitly in the Basic Qualifications for both levels and is treated as a hard gate.
VxWorks and Linux (real-time OS experience) appear only under Preferred Qualifications, as does prior embedded real-time systems experience.
An active Secret clearance is required at time of application. The preferred qualifications note willingness to obtain TS/SCI, but that is not a hard gate at start.
Degree requirement is set to Bachelor's (STEM discipline) as the minimum stated path; equivalent experience substitutions are not offered — the JD pairs each degree level with a specific years threshold rather than allowing experience in lieu of a degree.
Ignored 2 non-technology phrase(s) as skills (responsibilities/concepts, not named tools): TLYF verification methodology, embedded real-time systems.
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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