# Northrop Grumman Jobs: 855 Openings, Pay & Benefits

**Author:** Zero G Talent
**Published:** 2026-02-28
**Category:** career-guides
**Tags:** northrop-grumman, defense, aerospace, salary, career-guide, security-clearance

[Read on Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com/blog/northrop-grumman-employment-opportunities-2026)

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# Northrop Grumman employment opportunities in 2026

<div class="blog-stats">
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">855</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">Active Space Openings</div>
  </div>
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">$95.7B</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">Record Backlog</div>
  </div>
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">~95,000</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">Total Employees</div>
  </div>
</div>

Northrop Grumman has 855 active space-related job openings on Zero G Talent — the fifth-largest among space employers. The company's $95.7 billion record backlog and $41.95 billion in 2025 revenue mean employment opportunities are sustained for years. Here's a focused overview of where and what Northrop is hiring.

## Employment by sector

| Sector | Major Programs | Key Locations | Employment Focus |
|--------|---------------|---------------|-----------------|
| **Space Systems** | SDA satellites, Cygnus, JWST support | Redondo Beach, CA | Satellite design, spacecraft integration |
| **Aeronautics Systems** | B-21 Raider stealth bomber | Palmdale, CA | Manufacturing, avionics, flight test |
| **Defense Systems** | Sentinel ICBM, missile defense | Huntsville, AL | Propulsion, GNC, electronics |
| **Mission Systems** | IBCS battle command, electronic warfare | Baltimore, MD; San Diego, CA | Software, systems integration |

**Highest-demand roles**: Systems engineers, software engineers (IBCS driving 5-year $481M contract), satellite integration engineers (SDA Tranche 3: $764M for 18 satellites), and cleared defense engineers.

## Salary ranges

| Role | Range | Notes |
|------|-------|-------|
| General Engineer | $72K-$151K | Avg $102K |
| Aerospace Engineer | $140K-$165K | Highest base among defense primes |
| Software Engineer | $88K-$148K | Software interns: $40/hr |
| Senior Software Engineer | ~$147K avg | |
| Systems Engineer | $100K-$155K | |
| Propulsion Engineer | ~$133K avg | |
| Cleared positions | +$10K-$30K premium | TS/SCI |

Northrop offers the highest base salaries among defense primes for aerospace engineers ($140K-$165K), beating Lockheed Martin ($102K-$154K) and Boeing ($120K-$160K).

## Benefits

- **9/80 schedule** at most sites — every other Friday off
- **Pension** available for eligible employees
- **401(k) matching**
- **Health/dental/vision** insurance
- **Tuition reimbursement** up to ~$10K/year
- **Work-life balance**: Glassdoor 4.1/5 (highest in aerospace)

<div class="blog-callout blog-callout-info">
  <div class="blog-callout-title">The clearance advantage</div>
  <p>Security clearance is the single biggest differentiator for Northrop Grumman employment. Most space roles require Secret or TS/SCI. If you already hold a clearance, you skip 6-18 months of processing and face significantly less competition. Cleared candidates with aerospace engineering backgrounds are Northrop's most in-demand hire profile.</p>
</div>

## How to apply

1. **Online application** through Northrop's careers portal (northropgrumman.com/careers) or standard job boards
2. **HR screen** against specific qualification requirements
3. **Phone interview** with recruiter (30 min)
4. **Technical interview** (1-2 rounds) — domain expertise + behavioral competencies
5. **On-site or panel** for senior roles
6. **Offer** conditional on background check and clearance

The process is more structured than SpaceX but less bureaucratic than federal hiring. Focus your preparation on demonstrating specific technical expertise in your domain.

## Glassdoor ratings

| Category | Rating |
|----------|--------|
| Overall | 3.9/5 (13,073 reviews) |
| Work-Life Balance | 4.1/5 |
| Career Opportunities | 3.8/5 |
| Culture & Values | 3.7/5 |
| Recommend to friend | 77% |

Browse [all 855 Northrop Grumman positions](/space-jobs-at-northrop-grumman), or see our full [Northrop Grumman careers guide](/blog/northrop-grumman-careers-2026) and [internship program](/blog/internships-northrop-grumman-2026) (2,000+ spots, 76% conversion). Compare with [Lockheed Martin](/blog/lockheed-martin-careers-2026), [Boeing](/blog/boeing-careers-jobs-2026), or [RTX/Raytheon](/space-jobs-at-rtx-raytheon-collins-pratt-whitney).


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*Source: [Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com), the job board for space, defense, AI, robotics and frontier-tech companies.*