Sr. Staff Systems Architect

You will work within our Systems Engineering, Integration, and Test (SEIT) organization for Central Region Engineering in Rolling Meadows, IL. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a leading global provider of advanced, secure, and agile software-defined systems and solutions. Our products are state-of-the-art Radio Frequency Electronic Warfare (RFEW) systems designed to protect the lives of U.S and Allied warfighters in present and future conflicts.
As an Architect on our team, you are expected to apply advanced technical principles, theories, and concepts to unusually complex technical problems and provide innovative solutions. Assignments are often self-initiated, and it will be necessary to determine and pursue courses of action necessary to obtain the desired results. This is a high impact position where you will often serve as an organization spokesperson on advanced projects and act as an advisor to management and customers.
Your expertise in RF system design and analysis, digital signal processing, and system modeling and simulation allows you to turn customer wants and needs into rapid proof of concept solutions. You can take a high-level customer objective and, through a logical and systematic process, turn it into product requirements and total system solutions that acknowledge technical, schedule, and cost constraints. This will be done through functional analysis, timeline analysis, detailed trade studies, and requirements allocation to create hardware and software specifications. You then work with and within the team to deliver that solution to the customer.
You have extensive experience in, and a deep understanding of, computational electromagnetics, wave theory, RF propagation modeling, antenna design, and RF chain analysis. You also have experience turning those concepts into reality through MATLAB implementation of low TRL concepts, and a thorough knowledge of embedded software, firmware, and FPGA implementation.
At Northrop Grumman, we value our employees and strive to provide a positive and inclusive work environment. Apply now to join our team and be a part of an organization dedicated to protecting the lives of U.S and Allied warfighters.
This position will be full-time, on-site at our Rolling Meadows, IL location.
This position is contingent upon acquiring and maintaining the necessary US Government security clearance per customers' requirements prior to start.
Basic Qualifications for Sr. Staff Systems Architect:

Bachelor's Degree and 14 years of experience in relevant engineering or sciences field or MS Degree and 12 years of experience in relevant engineering or sciences field or PhD and 10 years of experience in relevant engineering or sciences field

Experience in writing technical volumes in response to customer proposals

Expertise in digital signal processing algorithms used to build state-of-the-art high sensitivity, wideband, real-time processing digital receivers

Experience performing optimum system function allocation to hardware and software requirements

Prior experience communicating directly with customers to extract and convert their needs into testable system requirements

Experience with antenna modeling and RF chain analysis

Demonstrated success in developing test plans that prove the system satisfies requirements and the ability to quickly capture and process data in tools like MATLAB and Python for debugging and specification verification

Excellent written and oral communication skills, and a strong ability to work in an integrated product team environment

U.S. citizenship

Must have a current active Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain SAP.

Preferred Qualifications for Sr. Staff Systems Architect:

Prior experience designing hardware, firmware, and software to best allocate functionality to each subsystem

Ability to monitor hardware and software design teams with critical insight to help steer the team to a successful solution

RFEW experience, RF threat scenario analysis

Experience architecting and developing Electronic Warfare RF systems with real-time digital signal processing

Experience working low TRL Department of Defense contracts

Active Top Secret security clearance

Primary Level Salary Range: $184,100.00 - $276,100.00The 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.

Client-provided location(s): Rolling Meadows, IL

Job ID: NorthropGrumman-R10231268

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2026-05-01T20:13:29