Join Northrop Grumman’s Mission Planning & Scheduling (MPS) Ground Software team and help deliver software that supports mission planning, scheduling, and space operations. This onsite role is based in Dulles, VA and requires a Top Secret clearance at the time of application, with travel up to 10%.
You will work across mission-unique and platform layers of the ground segment, building and sustaining capabilities operators rely on for contact/pass planning, schedule generation, and operational workflows. The role blends software engineering, integration and deployment, and hands-on support during testing and launch-related events.
Responsibilities
- Perform full-stack development across OS, platform, and mission-unique software layers for ground systems that plan and execute space missions.
- Develop mission planning and scheduling capabilities, including contact/passes planning and schedule generation.
- Develop activity and resource scheduling for satellites and ground systems.
- Integrate ephemeris, constraints, and operations rules into mission planning tools.
- Build client/server applications and services using service- or object-oriented architectures and message-bus-based data exchange, including first-of-a-kind capabilities for satellite operations.
- Build and integrate applications using Python and C++.
- Build and integrate applications using PostgreSQL/Postgres.
- Build and integrate applications using Ansible and cloud infrastructure provisioning.
- Build and integrate applications with PKI and security-focused tooling.
- Build and integrate applications using static code analysis tools and remediation workflows.
- Collaborate with astrodynamics and mission operations teams to integrate trajectory, ephemeris, and constraints data into mission planning software and workflows.
- Support Operations ground software and associated configurations, including troubleshooting software issues and hardware impacting ground software.
- Investigate and resolve issues in mission planning and scheduling services used by operations teams.
- Support Acceptance Test events, including executing test procedures, test automation, and validation of mission planning and scheduling functions.
- Configure and deploy ground segment software across operational, development, and test environments, including installation, defect remediation, and implementing enhancements based on customer change requests or mission needs.
- Provide ground software support during launch and launch rehearsal events, with focus on MPS functions that support LEOP and early operations.
- Operate as a self-starter and make technical decisions with overall project budget and schedule in mind.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field (ideally Computer Science or Engineering) and 5 years of experience; or Master’s degree and 3 years; or 1 year with PhD.
- Demonstrated software development experience.
- Experience in Python application development.
- Experience in C++.
- Experience in Bash scripting.
- U.S. Citizenship.
- Current or active Top Secret clearance required at the time of application.
- Additional experience option: Bachelor’s degree with 8 years; Master’s with 6 years; or PhD with 4 years; or experience may be considered in lieu of degree (additional 4 years).
Technologies
- Python
- C++
- PostgreSQL / Postgres
- Ansible
- PKI
- Bash
- FreeFlyer
- STK
Relocation, Travel, and Clearance
- Relocation assistance: may be available
- Travel: Yes, 10% of the time
- Clearance required for start: Yes
- Clearance type: Top Secret
Compensation and Benefits
Salary range varies by level:
- Primary level: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00 (annual)
- Secondary level: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00 (annual)
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 and allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. Northrop Grumman also provides health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, Company paid holidays, and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong preference for Top Secret with SCI eligibility or current SCI.
- Experience with satellite ground systems and/or mission planning & scheduling for space missions.
- Familiarity with astrodynamics/orbital mechanics/satellite operations and tools such as FreeFlyer, STK, or other mission planning and analysis tools.
- Experience supporting launch and early orbit operations (LEOP).
- Experience supporting on-orbit operations, contact planning, or schedule generation.
- Experience with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and automation in an operational ground software environment.
U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.
