# Northrop Grumman SWE Salary: $80K-$195K Pay Guide

**Author:** Zero G Talent
**Published:** 2026-02-28
**Category:** engineering-technical
**Tags:** northrop-grumman, software-engineering, salary, defense, aerospace, security-clearance

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

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# Northrop Grumman software engineer salary in 2026

<div class="blog-stats">
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">$85K–$200K</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">Salary Range</div>
  </div>
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">~3,000+</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">SWE Positions</div>
  </div>
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">Clearance Required</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">Most Roles</div>
  </div>
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">RSUs + Bonus</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">Total Comp</div>
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Northrop Grumman employs thousands of software engineers across its four sectors: Aeronautics Systems, Defense Systems, Mission Systems, and Space Systems. Software is embedded in every modern defense and space platform — from the B-21 Raider's mission systems to satellite ground control to autonomous vehicle algorithms.

## Salary by level

<table>
<thead><tr><th>Level</th><th>Title</th><th>Experience</th><th>Base Salary</th></tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr><td><strong>T1</strong></td><td>Software Engineer</td><td>0–2 years</td><td>$75K–$95K</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>T2</strong></td><td>Software Engineer II</td><td>2–5 years</td><td>$90K–$120K</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>T3</strong></td><td>Senior Software Engineer</td><td>5–10 years</td><td>$115K–$150K</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>T4</strong></td><td>Staff Software Engineer</td><td>10–15 years</td><td>$140K–$175K</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>T5</strong></td><td>Principal Software Engineer</td><td>15+ years</td><td>$165K–$200K</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Total compensation adds significantly to base: NG offers an annual bonus (6-12% of base), RSU grants vesting over 3 years, and a 401(k) match up to 8% of salary.

## Embedded vs enterprise software

A critical distinction in defense SWE is the type of software you work on:

**Embedded/real-time software** (typically +5-10% pay):
- Flight software for satellites, aircraft, and missiles
- C/C++ on real-time operating systems (VxWorks, INTEGRITY, LynxOS)
- DO-178C or NASA NPR 7150.2 compliance
- FPGA programming (VHDL/Verilog)

**Enterprise/ground software**:
- Satellite ground systems, command and control
- Data processing pipelines, analytics platforms
- Java, Python, cloud technologies (AWS GovCloud)
- DevSecOps and CI/CD in classified environments

<div class="blog-callout blog-callout-info">
  <div class="blog-callout-title">Cleared vs uncleared</div>
  <p>Software engineers with an active TS/SCI clearance can expect 10-20% higher compensation. NG will sponsor clearances for most positions, but the investigation takes 12-18 months for Top Secret. Candidates who already hold clearance from military service or a previous role have significant leverage.</p>
</div>

## Salary by location

<table>
<thead><tr><th>Location</th><th>Sector</th><th>T2 Range</th><th>T3 Range</th></tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr><td>Redondo Beach, CA</td><td>Space</td><td>$105K–$130K</td><td>$130K–$165K</td></tr>
<tr><td>Baltimore/Linthicum, MD</td><td>Mission Systems</td><td>$100K–$125K</td><td>$125K–$155K</td></tr>
<tr><td>San Diego, CA</td><td>Defense</td><td>$100K–$128K</td><td>$128K–$160K</td></tr>
<tr><td>Melbourne, FL</td><td>Mission Systems</td><td>$88K–$115K</td><td>$112K–$145K</td></tr>
<tr><td>Huntsville, AL</td><td>Space/Defense</td><td>$85K–$112K</td><td>$108K–$140K</td></tr>
<tr><td>Colorado Springs, CO</td><td>Space</td><td>$92K–$120K</td><td>$118K–$150K</td></tr>
<tr><td>Roy, UT</td><td>Defense</td><td>$82K–$108K</td><td>$105K–$135K</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>

## Comparison with commercial tech

<table>
<thead><tr><th>Factor</th><th>Northrop Grumman</th><th>FAANG/Big Tech</th></tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr><td>Base salary (mid-career)</td><td>$115K–$150K</td><td>$170K–$250K</td></tr>
<tr><td>Total comp (mid-career)</td><td>$140K–$195K</td><td>$250K–$450K+</td></tr>
<tr><td>Work hours</td><td>40–45/week typical</td><td>45–60+ common</td></tr>
<tr><td>Work-life balance</td><td>Generally good</td><td>Varies significantly</td></tr>
<tr><td>Remote work</td><td>Limited (clearance)</td><td>Often available</td></tr>
<tr><td>Job security</td><td>Very stable</td><td>Layoff cycles</td></tr>
<tr><td>Tech stack</td><td>Often legacy systems</td><td>Modern/cutting-edge</td></tr>
<tr><td>Retirement</td><td>Pension + 401k match</td><td>401k match only</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>

NG can't compete on raw TC with top tech companies. But when factoring in work-life balance, job stability, pension (legacy employees), and meaningful work, the value proposition is competitive for many engineers.

<div class="blog-callout blog-callout-tip">
  <div class="blog-callout-title">The clearance arbitrage</div>
  <p>One underappreciated benefit of starting at NG: after 2-3 years you'll hold a TS/SCI clearance. Many engineers use this as a career accelerator — gaining clearance at a prime, then moving to cleared startups or boutique defense tech firms that pay $180K-$220K+ base for cleared senior SWEs.</p>
</div>

## Key programs hiring SWEs

Major NG programs with significant software hiring in 2026:

- **B-21 Raider**: Mission systems, avionics software (Palmdale, CA; Melbourne, FL)
- **GBSD/Sentinel**: ICBM ground systems software (Roy, UT; Colorado Springs)
- **James Webb Space Telescope**: Operations software (Baltimore, MD)
- **Space Development Agency satellites**: Constellation management (Huntsville, AL; Redondo Beach)
- **JADC2/IBCS**: Battle management system (Huntsville, AL)

## Interview process

1. **Phone screen**: HR review of qualifications and clearance eligibility
2. **Technical phone interview**: Coding and system design, usually less rigorous than FAANG
3. **On-site/virtual panel**: 2-4 hours with the team, mixing technical and behavioral
4. **Offer**: Usually within 2 weeks

For broader salary data, see our [NG salaries overview](/blog/northrop-grumman-salaries-2026) and [NG engineer salary guide](/blog/northrop-grumman-engineer-salary-2026). Browse openings on [Northrop Grumman's company page](/space-companies/northrop-grumman).


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