Staff Mission Management Network Engineer at Northrop Grumman

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff Mission Management Network Engineer
Company: Northrop Grumman
Location: Melbourne, FL, USA
Job Type: Full-Time, On-Site
Category: Network Engineering
Date Posted: 2025-06-25
Experience Level: 10+ years of experience
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Design and develop network architectures for mission-critical systems
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate network solutions
Manage technical aspects with strategic partners and suppliers
Analyze performance, evaluate Technology Readiness Level (TRL), and document designs
Contribute to the innovation and advancement of network engineering capabilities

📝 Enhancement Note: This role involves working on cutting-edge network solutions for mission management systems, requiring a strong background in network engineering and a commitment to staying current with emerging technologies.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Network Architecture & Design: Develop and maintain network architectures, considering factors such as performance, scalability, and security.
Hardware Integration & Testing: Integrate and test network hardware, ensuring compatibility and optimal performance within the system architecture.
Requirements Analysis: Interpret, allocate, tailor, write, and flow down requirements to all levels of a system architecture.
Collaboration: Work closely with engineers and program stakeholders to integrate network solutions and manage technical aspects with strategic partners and suppliers.
Documentation: Document designs using detailed schematics, diagrams, and specifications, ensuring they are up-to-date and easily understandable.
Performance Analysis: Analyze network performance, evaluate Technology Readiness Level (TRL), and conduct trade studies to optimize system capabilities.
Technical Management: Manage technical aspects with strategic partners and suppliers, ensuring they meet the required standards and deliverables.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong understanding of network design principles, hardware integration, and collaboration skills to work effectively within a matrixed, cross-sector team.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university

Experience:

14 years of related professional/military experience in Engineering with a Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline
12 years of related professional/military experience in Engineering with a Master's degree in a STEM discipline
9 years of related professional/military experience in Engineering with a Ph.D. in a STEM discipline

Required Skills:

Solid understanding of IP4 network design, including IP subnetting and routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP)
Ability to configure and troubleshoot common network devices (Cisco IOS-XE)
Solid understanding of advanced network topics (GRE/IPSEC tunnels, VRF, VRRP)
Solid understanding of network management protocols (SNMP, SSH, syslog, RADIUS/TACACS)

Preferred Skills:

DODD 8570 certifications (CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or similar network/security certifications)
Familiarity with AGILE processes and SCRUM tools (JIRA, Confluence)
Professional certification specific to the networking industry (CCNA/CCNP/CCIE or equivalent)
Experience with authentication and data encryption methods, securing communications at either the datalink or network layer
Experience with embedded systems, Unix and Linux operating systems, non-Cisco routing environments, single board computers, servers, and Network Attached Storage (NAS) solutions
Working knowledge of cybersecurity and Risk Managed Framework (RMF), STIGs, and associated elements
Familiarity with network management applications (Splunk, Firepower Management Center (FMC), Cisco ISE)
Experience with HAIPE/TACLANE and other military COMSEC/CRYPTO equipment and procedures
Experience with tactical/military radio networks (Common Data Link (CDL), ANW2)
Experience performing troubleshooting with traffic capture tools (Wireshark, tcpdump, nmap, netcat)

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Case studies demonstrating network architecture design and implementation
Examples of network hardware integration and testing processes
Documentation showcasing requirements analysis, performance analysis, and trade studies
Evidence of collaboration with cross-functional teams and successful integration of network solutions
Examples of technical management with strategic partners and suppliers

Technical Documentation:

Detailed network diagrams and schematics
Network configuration files and scripts
Performance analysis reports and optimization strategies
Trade study documents and justifications
Collaboration and communication plans with cross-functional teams and strategic partners

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong portfolio demonstrating a deep understanding of network engineering principles, as well as the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and manage technical aspects with strategic partners and suppliers.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $147,700 - $221,500 per year

Benefits:

Health Insurance Coverage
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Savings Plan
Paid Holidays
Paid Time Off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with the possibility of overtime and shift differential based on business needs

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a general guideline and may vary based on factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's experience, education, skills, and current market conditions.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Northrop Grumman operates in the aerospace and defense industry, focusing on developing and manufacturing advanced technologies for various sectors, including aerospace systems, defense systems, mission systems, and technology services.

Company Size: Northrop Grumman is a large, global company with over 90,000 employees worldwide. This size allows for significant resources and opportunities for career growth and development.

Founded: Northrop Grumman was founded in 1939, with a rich history of innovation and technological advancements in the aerospace and defense industry.

Team Structure:

The Engineering Integration and Execution (EI&E) team is responsible for supporting Agile teams in providing effective mission system solutions.
The team consists of various roles, including network engineers, systems engineers, and software developers, working together to deliver mission-critical systems.
The team is matrixed, cross-sector, and geographically dispersed, requiring strong collaboration and communication skills.

Development Methodology:

Northrop Grumman uses Agile methodologies, such as Scrum, to manage and deliver projects efficiently.
The company emphasizes collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer satisfaction in its development processes.
Northrop Grumman also utilizes CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment strategies to ensure efficient and reliable software delivery.

Company Website: https://www.northropgrumman.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman's size, industry, and development methodologies provide a robust environment for network engineers to grow professionally and contribute to cutting-edge mission-critical systems.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: This role is at the senior staff level, requiring extensive experience in network engineering and a solid understanding of mission-critical systems. The role involves leading technical aspects with strategic partners and suppliers, as well as contributing to the innovation and advancement of network engineering capabilities.

Reporting Structure: The Staff Mission Management Network Engineer reports to the Engineering Integration and Execution (EI&E) Integration and Infrastructure (I&I) Lead, who provides oversight to the portfolio teams and ensures alignment with schedule milestones.

Technical Impact: This role has a significant technical impact on mission-critical systems, as it is responsible for designing and developing network architectures, integrating hardware, and managing technical aspects with strategic partners and suppliers.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Skill Development: Pursue professional certifications, such as CCNA/CCNP/CCIE, to enhance technical skills and advance career growth opportunities.
Technical Leadership: Develop leadership skills through managing technical aspects with strategic partners and suppliers, as well as mentoring junior team members.
Architecture Decision-Making: Contribute to architecture decision-making processes, driving the advancement of network engineering capabilities within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman's size, industry, and development methodologies provide ample opportunities for career growth and development in network engineering roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Northrop Grumman's office environment is collaborative and innovative, with a strong focus on cross-functional teamwork and knowledge sharing.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Melbourne, FL, with the possibility of remote work for a limited portion of the time.

Workspace Context:

Collaborative Workspace: The office features open workspaces that encourage collaboration and communication between team members.
Development Tools: Northrop Grumman provides team members with access to the necessary tools and resources to perform their jobs effectively, including multiple monitors and testing devices.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: The office layout facilitates interaction with other teams, such as design, marketing, and business teams, fostering a collaborative and integrated work environment.

Work Schedule: The role requires a standard 40-hour workweek, with the possibility of overtime and shift differential based on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. The work schedule may also include deployment windows and maintenance, requiring flexibility in working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman's work environment emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and cross-functional teamwork, providing an ideal setting for network engineers to thrive and grow professionally.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Technical Preparation: Familiarize yourself with the latest network engineering principles, routing protocols, and network management tools. Brush up on your knowledge of cybersecurity, authentication methods, and data encryption techniques.
Technical Assessment: Prepare for technical assessments focused on network design, hardware integration, and requirements analysis. Be ready to discuss your portfolio and demonstrate your problem-solving skills.
Collaboration Assessment: Expect questions about your ability to work effectively within a matrixed, cross-sector team and manage technical aspects with strategic partners and suppliers.
Final Evaluation: Prepare for a final evaluation that focuses on your technical impact, cultural fit, and long-term potential within the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight your network architecture design projects, demonstrating your ability to create scalable, secure, and high-performing network solutions.
Showcase your hardware integration and testing processes, emphasizing your ability to work with various network devices and ensure compatibility within the system architecture.
Include documentation that demonstrates your requirements analysis, performance analysis, and trade study skills.
Emphasize your collaboration and technical management skills, providing examples of successful integration with cross-functional teams and strategic partners.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on your knowledge of network design principles, routing protocols, and network management tools.
Practice network configuration and troubleshooting exercises to improve your hands-on skills.
Familiarize yourself with the latest cybersecurity trends and authentication methods to ensure you can address relevant questions during the interview process.

ATS Keywords: (Organized by category)

Programming Languages: Python, JavaScript, C, C++, Java
Web Frameworks: None specified (focus on network engineering)
Server Technologies: Cisco IOS-XE, Linux, Windows
Databases: None specified (focus on network engineering)
Tools: Wireshark, tcpdump, nmap, netcat, JIRA, Confluence, Splunk, Firepower Management Center (FMC), Cisco ISE
Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, CI/CD, DevOps
Soft Skills: Collaboration, communication, problem-solving, leadership, mentoring
Industry Terms: Network architecture, hardware integration, requirements analysis, performance analysis, trade studies, technical management, strategic partners, suppliers

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role focuses on assessing the candidate's technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and collaboration skills, with a strong emphasis on network engineering principles and mission-critical systems.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Frontend Technologies: N/A (focus on network engineering)

Backend & Server Technologies:

Cisco IOS-XE
Linux (Red Hat, Ubuntu, CentOS)
Windows Server
Embedded systems (single board computers, servers, Network Attached Storage (NAS) solutions)

Development & DevOps Tools:

Wireshark
tcpdump
nmap
netcat
JIRA
Confluence
Splunk
Firepower Management Center (FMC)
Cisco ISE
Git
Jenkins
Ansible
Puppet

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman's technology stack focuses on network engineering principles, with a strong emphasis on Cisco IOS-XE, Linux, and Windows Server technologies. The company also utilizes development and DevOps tools to ensure efficient and reliable software delivery.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

Innovation: Northrop Grumman values innovation and encourages its employees to push the boundaries of what is possible in network engineering.
Collaboration: The company emphasizes teamwork and fosters a collaborative environment that promotes knowledge sharing and continuous learning.
Quality: Northrop Grumman is committed to delivering high-quality products and services that meet or exceed customer expectations.
Integrity: The company values integrity and expects its employees to act with honesty, fairness, and respect in all aspects of their work.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Integration: Northrop Grumman encourages collaboration between various teams, including engineers, designers, and stakeholders, to ensure effective mission system solutions.
Code Review Culture: The company promotes a code review culture to ensure the quality and reliability of network solutions.
Knowledge Sharing: Northrop Grumman fosters a culture of knowledge sharing, with regular training and development opportunities for its employees.

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman's web development values and collaboration style emphasize innovation, collaboration, quality, and integrity, providing a strong foundation for network engineers to grow professionally and contribute to cutting-edge mission-critical systems.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Network Architecture Design: Design and develop network architectures that meet the performance, scalability, and security requirements of mission-critical systems.
Hardware Integration & Testing: Integrate and test network hardware, ensuring compatibility and optimal performance within the system architecture.
Requirements Analysis: Interpret, allocate, tailor, write, and flow down requirements to all levels of a system architecture, ensuring they are clear, concise, and actionable.
Performance Optimization: Analyze network performance, evaluate Technology Readiness Level (TRL), and conduct trade studies to optimize system capabilities and ensure they meet or exceed customer expectations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Skill Development: Pursue professional certifications, such as CCNA/CCNP/CCIE, to enhance technical skills and advance career growth opportunities.
Conference Attendance & Certification: Attend industry conferences, webinars, and workshops to stay current with emerging technologies and network engineering best practices.
Technical Mentorship & Leadership: Seek mentorship opportunities from experienced network engineers and contribute to the development of junior team members through technical leadership and mentoring.

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman's technical challenges and learning & development opportunities provide network engineers with ample opportunities to grow professionally and contribute to cutting-edge mission-critical systems.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Network Architecture Design: Prepare for questions about network architecture design principles, routing protocols, and advanced network topics, such as GRE/IPSEC tunnels, VRF, VRRP, and network management protocols (SNMP, SSH, syslog, RADIUS/TACACS).
Hardware Integration & Testing: Brush up on your knowledge of network hardware, configuration, and troubleshooting, with a focus on Cisco IOS-XE and other common network devices.
Requirements Analysis: Prepare for questions about requirements analysis, interpretation, allocation, tailoring, writing, and flowing down requirements to all levels of a system architecture.
Performance Optimization: Familiarize yourself with network performance analysis, trade studies, and optimization techniques to ensure you can address relevant questions during the interview process.

Company & Culture Questions:

Company Culture: Research Northrop Grumman's company culture, values, and mission to demonstrate your understanding of the organization and your fit within the team.
Web Development Methodology: Brush up on your knowledge of Agile processes and Scrum tools (JIRA, Confluence) to ensure you can contribute effectively to the development process.
User Experience Impact: Prepare for questions about the user experience impact of your network solutions, emphasizing your ability to create scalable, secure, and high-performing network architectures that meet or exceed customer expectations.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Live Website Demonstration: Prepare a live website demonstration that showcases your network architecture design, hardware integration, and requirements analysis skills.
Code Explanation: Be ready to explain your code, architecture decisions, and problem-solving approaches, emphasizing your ability to create efficient and reliable network solutions.
User Experience Showcase: Highlight the user experience aspects of your network solutions, demonstrating your ability to create scalable, secure, and high-performing network architectures that meet or exceed customer expectations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation process for this role focuses on assessing the candidate's technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and collaboration skills, with a strong emphasis on network engineering principles and mission-critical systems.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff Mission Management Network Engineer position:

Submit your application through the application link provided.
Customize your resume, highlighting your relevant network engineering experience, skills, and accomplishments.
Prepare a portfolio that showcases your network architecture design, hardware integration, and requirements analysis skills, with a focus on mission-critical systems.
Research Northrop Grumman's company culture, values, and mission to ensure a strong fit with the organization.
Brush up on your knowledge of network engineering principles, routing protocols, and network management tools to ensure you can address relevant questions during the interview process.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web development/server administration industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Staff Mission Management Network Engineer