Deputy System Architect

Company: Northrop Grumman
Location: Chantilly
Posted on: April 3, 2026

Job Description:

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: SAP TRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the Time Description At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history. Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector is seeking a Deputy System Architect Level 5 to join our team in Chantilly, VA. This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work. The Deputy System Architect will directly support the System Architect in the design, development, and implementation of a technical approach to expand the portfolio of capabilities within a Family of Systems. This position requires a deep understanding of the DoD space security enterprise, and the ability to develop and implement strategic plans to integrate space security capability into the family of systems. This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off. In this job, you will: Supporting the Chief Architect in growing the Family of Systems within the Space Security enterprise Being self-directed and able to envision the end state of the Family of Systems, aligned with Northrop Grumman’s strategic objectives, and support the execution of a plan meeting those objectives Building a bridge and trusted partnership between the program, the customer, and the end user community to ensure the capability delivered to the operational environment achieves mission objectives Serving as technical voice across the Systems Engineering and Ground IPTs to facilitate system-level solutions for the program Serving as a technical point of contact for the Family of Systems architecture and identifying areas and opportunities for technology insertion Serving as a technical leader in the execution of program expansion efforts, such as onboarding new missions and capabilities Ensure the ecosystem of programs, hardware and software, innovate and move forward with urgency, executing the right technical scope at the right time to achieve the mission outcomes Support the development of a technical roadmap to evolve the Family of Systems consistent with ground software and space vehicle hardware capabilities Brief and lead technical meetings for senior leaders across the space community Ensure that the program adheres to sound engineering processes in the development for our customers and follows company policies, procedures, and quality standards This position is contingent upon the candidate obtaining final clearances and program access(es) within a reasonable period of time as determined by the company. Basic Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 12 years of professional experience or Master’s degree with 10 years of professional experience or PhD with 8 years of professional experience Requires an active U.S. Government DoD Top-Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with an ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time Understanding of the DoD Space Security enterprise and the current and evolving needs of end users and the systems required to support Understanding of dynamic satellite operations to include missions performing reconnaissance, rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), and sustained high tempo responsive operations Experience with operating satellite systems in a dynamic environment, responsive to emergent needs Understanding of cloud-based satellite ground systems and the technologies required to develop, host, and operate the systems Experience in scripting languages and modeling tools (e.g. STK, Freeflyer, Python, STOL, etc) Experience with developing and presenting briefing slides to senior leaders and executive level personnel Preferred Qualifications: Direct, practical experience with DoD Space Security missions and the delivery of ground software or space hardware capability Understanding of the interplay and relationships between various national security customers and the ability to provide solutions across multiple agencies Prior aerospace-related work experience for a U.S Government Agency or Contractor Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below: https://www.northropgrumman.com/space NOVASPACE Primary Level Salary Range: $177,000.00 - $265,600.00 The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business. The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Keywords: Northrop Grumman, Bel Air North , Deputy System Architect, IT / Software / Systems , Chantilly, Maryland