Software Engineering-Sr. Staff Engineer (Software Test Automation Discipline Lead)

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available\n\nCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes\n\nCLEARANCE TYPE: Secret\n\nTRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the Time\n\n## Description\n\nAt Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people\u0027s 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\u0027s 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 \u2014 and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they\u0027re making history.\n\nSoftware Engineering- Sr. Staff Engineer (Software Test Automation Discipline Lead)\n\nThe Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Sector (NGAS) Software Engineering Center of Technical Excellence (CoTE) is creating an Everything-as-Code (XaC) ecosystem powered by an AI-augmented workforce and a resilient software factory. Our mission is to deliver mission effects at the speed of relevance by continuously evolving the tools, processes, training, and metrics that make the software engineering ecosystem efficient, measurable, and future-ready. As a leader in the CoTE team, you will be at the heart of this transformation, driving relentless improvement and ensuring our software capabilities not only meet but anticipate emerging challenges - and turn them into strategic opportunities.\n\nThe Software Engineering CoTE organization is seeking a Sr. Staff Engineer Software - Software Test Automation Discipline Lead to lead the Software Management Discipline area. This key leadership role reports to the Aeronautics Systems (AS) Software Factory \u0026 Systems Integration Director in the Software Engineering CoTE organization.\n\nThis position supports all Aeronautics Systems business divisions at the Aeronautics Systems primary geographic sites, including Melbourne, FL; Palmdale, CA; San Diego, CA; South Bay (El Segundo / Redondo Beach / Manhattan Beach), CA; and Oklahoma City, OK. This position is geographically flexible and can be based at any of the 5 locations listed above. \n\nThe Sr. Staff Engineer Software/ Software Test Automation Discipline Lead owns governing the tools, processes, training, and metrics to support the end\u2011to\u2011end ecosystem that guarantees NGAS software is \u201cright\u201d (meets its requirements) and that the means to prove it are in place. This role merges the traditional \u201cverification \u0026 assurance\u201d responsibilities with the engineering, governance, and continual evolution of the automated\u2011test infrastructure. In practice, the Lead drives the strategy, tools, processes, training, and metrics that enable shift\u2011left testing, hybrid\u2011test execution, continuous monitoring, and test\u2011as\u2011code across the entire product lifecycle: from unit\u2011level checks through Hardware\u2011in\u2011the\u2011Loop (HITL) simulation to post\u2011flight health\u2011data analysis.\n\nThe Lead does not own day-to-day coding or system integration; instead, the role is to architect, sustain, and continuously improve the tools, process, training, and metrics, creating an enabling environment that product teams use.\n\nCore Responsibilities include \n\n * Define and maintain test verification \u0026 automation tools, processes, training, and a metrics roadmap aligned with the product strategy.\n * Foster a \u201cTest as Code\u201d culture through code review practices, pull request templates, and shared libraries.\n * Provide leadership and define the strategic vision for technical priorities within the Software discipline, aligned with the long-term sector strategy.\n * Regularly interface with EI\u0026E discipline leads to identifying program needs and closing gaps in engineering tools, processes, digital solutions, and technical training.\n * Lead the development, deployment, and sustainment of sector-wide engineering tools, standardized processes, digital solutions, and technical training: ensuring they are relevant, scalable, and interoperable across programs.\n * Build and sustain a strong Software Community of Practice (CoP), ensuring alignment of sub-CoPs, strategies, and priorities while fostering collaboration across programs and sub-disciplines.\n * Act as a trusted advisor to help resolve technical performance shortfalls through root cause analysis, corrective action planning, and long-term verification of improvement.\n * Capture, share, and embed lessons learned and best practices across programs to continuously raise the bar for technical performance.\n\n\n\nCore Technical Competencies \n\n * Software Testing Automation Frameworks: Automation Frameworks, Test Automation, Tool Qualification. Architecture and integration of modular test harnesses, such as JUnit, PyTest, or Google Test.\n * Real-Time \u0026 Embedded Systems: Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) Integration of test automation with hardware instrumentation.\n * UI Automation: Using tools like Selenium for Ground Station GUI testing.\n * Software Quality: Defect metrics, root cause analysis, and audits.\n * Software Testing: Verification Methodology, Formal Qualification\n * Software Requirements Engineering: Verification of Traceability \u0026 Completeness.\n * Static Code Analysis Tools: Mastery of Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tools like Coverity, Fortify, and SonarQube.\n * Coverage Analysis: Using tools like Bullseye or LDRA to prove 100% Statement/Decision coverage for safety-critical code.\n\n\n\nWhat You\u2019ll Achieve \n\nIn partnership with Engineering Integration \u0026 Execution Leads, you\u2019ll deliver the tools, process, training, and metrics - enabling programs to achieve:\n\n * Automated Requirement Traceability: Software requirements are verified and automatically reflected in a constantly up-to-date Verification Cross-Reference Matrix (VCRM).\n * Automation Dominance: \u003e 90% of regression test cases are automated and executed on every CI run, reducing manual test effort and speeding release cycles.\n * Early Defect Detection: \u003e 70% of defects are caught before code merge, dramatically lowering downstream rework cost.\n * Continuous Monitoring Coverage: Real-time health check alerts cover \u003e 95% of critical system functions in production-like environments, enabling proactive issue resolution.\n * Create a vibrant, cross-program Community of Practice for your discipline area that spreads best practices and lessons learned across programs, fosters increased software reuse, and improves the discipline\u0027s overall capabilities.\n\n\n\nBasic Qualifications:\n\n * Must have a Bachelor\u2019s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) discipline and 14 or more years of experience in software engineering OR a Master\u2019s degree in a STEM discipline and 12 or more years of experience in software engineering OR a Ph.D. in a STEM discipline and 9 or more years of experience in software engineering.\n * Subject Matter Expert in one or more of the Core Technical Competency areas:\n * Software Testing Automation Frameworks\n * Real-Time \u0026 Embedded Systems\n * UI Automation\n * Software Quality\n * Software Testing\n * Software Requirements Engineering\n * Static Code Analysis Tools\n * Coverage Analysis\n\n\n * Must have an active DoD Secret clearance that is in-scope (granted or renewed in the last 6 years) and eligibility for Top Secret/SCI.\n * Must be able to attain and maintain Special Program Access (PAR).\n * Strong experience in software verification, assurance, or test automation roles; at least 5 years in safety critical or aerospace environments.\n * Strong knowledge of test-automation frameworks (EG: JUnit, Selenium, GoogleTest, PyTest, etc.) and CI/CD pipelines.\n * Hands-on experience with Software-in-the-Loop and Hardware-in-the-Loop testing and integration.\n * Ability to travel as needed (approx. 25%).\n\n\n\n\u200bPreferred Qualifications:\n\n * Subject Matter Expert in most of the Core Technical Competency areas:\n * Software Testing Automation Frameworks\n * Real-Time \u0026 Embedded Systems\n * UI Automation\n * Software Quality\n * Software Testing\n * Software Requirements Engineering\n * Static Code Analysis Tools\n * Coverage Analysis\n\n\n * Demonstrated experience leading engineering tools, process, training, and/or metrics optimization using a continuous improvement mindset.\n * Demonstrated Strategic, systems-level thinker who can build alignment across functional and program boundaries.\n * Background in managing large test data sets and implementing test data lifecycle policies\n * Active TS/SCI.\n * Current Special Program Access (PAR).\n * Advanced degree in a relevant field (MS/PhD).\n\n\n\nPrimary Level Salary Range: $157,800.00 - $289,200.00\n\nThe 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\u0027s experience, education, skills and current market conditions.\n\nDepending 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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nNorthrop 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.\n