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Staff Systems Engineer - Job Opportunity at Northrop Grumman

Alice Springs, Australia
Full-time
Senior
Posted: July 12, 2025
On-site
USD 155,400 - 233,200 per year

Benefits

Comprehensive health insurance coverage providing medical security for employees and families
Annual leave and paid time off (PTO) enabling work-life balance and personal time management
Relocation assistance package facilitating international assignment transition and reducing personal financial burden
Life and disability insurance providing comprehensive financial protection and peace of mind
Company-paid holidays offering additional time off beyond standard vacation allowances
Discretionary bonus opportunities allowing participation in company performance and individual recognition
Long-term incentive eligibility for senior positions providing equity participation and retention benefits
Savings plan participation enabling retirement planning and long-term financial security
Comprehensive overseas compensation package including enhanced benefits for international assignment

Key Responsibilities

Lead complex system operations support ensuring mission-critical aerospace and defense systems maintain optimal performance and reliability
Drive system optimization initiatives and develop advanced operational concepts that directly impact national security mission success
Provide mission engineering support serving as primary technical authority for end-to-end system performance across multi-billion dollar defense programs
Execute advanced analyses, modeling and simulation activities that influence future system designs and operational capabilities
Serve as Subject Matter Expert focal point for system performance investigations affecting customer mission outcomes
Collaborate with high-level government customers and industry partners to enhance overall mission performance and operational effectiveness
Develop strategic recommendations addressing operational shortfalls and drive implementation of performance improvements
Provide technical feedback to factory engineering teams influencing next-generation system designs and capabilities
Deliver technical leadership in mission system engineering, operations engineering, communication systems, or digital signal processing domains
Interface with various engineering community levels including government contractors requiring diplomatic and technical expertise

Requirements

Education

Bachelor of Science degree in (Science / Technology / Engineering / Math) (STEM) plus 12 years of related experience in engineering OR Masters of Science degree in (Science / Technology / Engineering / Math) (STEM) plus 10 years of related experience in engineering

Experience

12 years of related experience in engineering with Bachelor's degree OR 10 years with Master's degree

Required Skills

Experience in the Aerospace and Defense Industry Proven leadership experience on a project and/or team Ability to collaborate with other SMEs and deliver technical presentations to high-level customer audiences and other stakeholders Strong interpersonal and communication skills Capability to provide technical expertise and leadership in one or more of the following areas: mission system engineering, operations engineering, communication systems or digital signal processing Ability to perform with a high level of attention to detail and minimum supervision Ability to interact with various levels within the engineering community including government contractors Previous Site or Mission 1 experience Background in Xmidas, Matlab, Python, Kubernetes, Docker and/or C++ programming desirable

Certifications

Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret clearance, SCI Access and complete a counterintelligence polygraph examination prior to start date Active SCI with recent SSBI and counter intelligence polygraph
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Industry Trends

The aerospace and defense industry is experiencing unprecedented growth in space-based systems and national security applications, driven by increased geopolitical tensions and the emergence of space as a contested domain. Government spending on space systems capabilities continues to expand, with particular emphasis on ground-based support systems and international partnerships for strategic monitoring capabilities. Digital transformation in defense systems is accelerating the need for engineers skilled in both traditional aerospace engineering and modern software technologies like containerization, cloud computing, and advanced signal processing. The convergence of IT and operational technology in defense applications creates significant demand for hybrid skill sets. International defense cooperation and overseas assignments are becoming increasingly critical as nations strengthen alliances and share technological capabilities. Engineers with security clearances and willingness to work in international environments command premium compensation and career advancement opportunities.

Salary Evaluation

The salary range of $155,400 - $233,200 is highly competitive for the Australian market and reflects the premium nature of this international assignment. This compensation likely represents a 20-30% premium over comparable domestic US positions due to the overseas assignment, security clearance requirements, and specialized nature of the work. The range positions this role in the top 10% of engineering salaries in Australia.

Role Significance

Typically leads or influences technical teams of 5-15 engineers while collaborating across multiple functional groups including operations, engineering, and customer interface teams. The role likely involves matrix management responsibilities and coordination with distributed teams across multiple time zones and geographic locations.
This Staff Systems Engineer position represents a senior individual contributor role with significant technical leadership responsibilities and direct customer interface. The role operates at a strategic level within the organization, influencing system designs and operational concepts that impact multi-billion dollar defense programs and national security missions.

Key Projects

End-to-end system performance optimization for space-based monitoring and communication systems Development of next-generation operational concepts for critical national security applications Integration of advanced signal processing and communication technologies into existing operational frameworks Customer-facing technical presentations and system demonstrations for high-level government stakeholders Cross-functional collaboration on system design improvements and operational enhancement initiatives

Success Factors

Technical depth in systems engineering combined with practical operational experience in aerospace/defense environments enables effective problem-solving and system optimization Strong communication and presentation skills are essential for interfacing with government customers and influencing technical decisions at the program level Ability to work autonomously in an international environment while maintaining connection to distributed technical teams requires exceptional self-management and cultural adaptability Security clearance eligibility and ability to pass rigorous background investigations and polygraph examinations are fundamental requirements for role access Leadership capability to influence technical direction across multiple stakeholder groups without direct authority requires diplomatic skills and technical credibility

Market Demand

Extremely high demand exists for systems engineers with aerospace/defense experience and active security clearances willing to accept international assignments. The combination of technical expertise, clearance requirements, and international mobility creates a very limited talent pool, resulting in significant competition among employers and premium compensation packages.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Systems engineering expertise forms the foundation for understanding complex aerospace and defense systems, enabling effective problem-solving and optimization across multiple technical domains Security clearance eligibility represents an absolute requirement that cannot be waived or substituted, creating a significant barrier to entry and competitive advantage for qualified candidates Aerospace and defense industry experience provides essential context for understanding mission requirements, operational constraints, and technical standards specific to national security applications Leadership and communication skills enable effective collaboration with diverse stakeholder groups and influence technical decisions without direct authority Technical presentation abilities are crucial for customer interface responsibilities and influence program-level decisions and funding

Beneficial Skills

Programming skills in Python, MATLAB, and C++ enable automation of analysis tasks and development of custom tools for system optimization Containerization technologies like Docker and Kubernetes represent emerging trends in defense system deployment and management Signal processing expertise aligns with core mission requirements for space-based monitoring and communication systems Previous site experience provides valuable context for operational environments and mission-specific requirements International experience and cultural adaptability enhance effectiveness in overseas assignments and cross-cultural collaboration

Unique Aspects

International assignment in Australia provides unique cultural and professional experience while working on cutting-edge space and defense systems
Direct customer interface responsibilities at the government level offer exceptional visibility and career development opportunities
Security clearance requirements and polygraph examinations create exclusive access to highly classified national security programs
Two-year commitment requirement indicates significant investment in candidate development and access to specialized training and systems
24/7 operational support responsibilities provide exposure to real-time mission operations and system performance optimization
Comprehensive overseas compensation package likely includes housing allowances, cost-of-living adjustments, and additional benefits not typically available in domestic assignments

Career Growth

Career progression typically occurs within 3-5 years for high-performing individuals, with the international assignment experience and customer relationships providing accelerated advancement opportunities. The specialized nature of the work and clearance requirements create significant value for future career moves.

Potential Next Roles

Principal Systems Engineer or Chief Engineer positions leading larger technical teams and programs Program Manager roles transitioning from technical leadership to business and program management Business Development or Customer Relations roles leveraging technical expertise and customer relationships Technical Director positions overseeing multiple engineering disciplines and programs Independent consulting opportunities leveraging specialized clearance and international experience

Company Overview

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman stands as one of the world's largest aerospace and defense contractors, with a distinguished heritage spanning over 90 years of innovation in aviation, space, and defense technologies. The company's Strategic Space Systems Division represents a critical component of national security infrastructure, providing advanced space-based capabilities and ground support systems for military, intelligence, and civil space missions.

Northrop Grumman maintains a position among the top 5 global defense contractors, with annual revenues exceeding $35 billion and a dominant market presence in space systems, cybersecurity, and advanced aircraft technologies. The company's strong financial position and consistent government contract awards provide exceptional job security and career stability.
The Alice Springs location represents a strategically critical international facility supporting joint US-Australian defense cooperation and space monitoring capabilities. This facility likely supports the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap or similar sensitive national security missions, making it one of the most important overseas assignments in the aerospace/defense industry.
Northrop Grumman emphasizes innovation, technical excellence, and mission focus while maintaining strong security protocols and professional development opportunities. The company culture values intellectual curiosity and pioneering spirit while requiring adherence to strict security procedures and operational discipline typical of defense contractors.
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