Principal Engineer Jobs in El Segundo, CA
Principal Engineer jobs in El Segundo are concentrated in the aerospace and defense corridor along Sepulveda Boulevard, the El Segundo Technology Campus area, and the Douglas Street business district, with strong demand in defense systems, semiconductor design, and cloud infrastructure. Employers actively hiring include Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and KBR. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Description
At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's 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's 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 — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems Sector has an opportunity for a Principal Systems Engineer with a primary focus on Interface Control Document (ICD) definition and management. The position is located on site in Rancho Bernardo, CA, El Segundo, California or Palmdale, CA.
The candidate should be a self-starter with familiarity working in an Integrated Product Team construct. The candidate will be responsible for performing analysis while working within an Integrated Product Team (IPT) structure to update and maintain a detailed set of software Interface Control Document (ICD) artifacts. The selected candidate will collaborate across engineering disciplines to integrate and communicate interface definition needs with internal stakeholders and external customers across multiple simultaneous Modernization and Sustainment efforts. This position will be in our Systems Engineering organization.
In this role, your primary roles and responsibilities will include:
- Serve as the ICD lead engineer, owning definition, documentation, update, and configuration control of system and subsystem Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
- Develop and maintain hardware, software, and data interfaces between internal subsystems and external stakeholders, ensuring consistency with system architecture and requirements.
- Coordinate and lead interface working groups and technical interchange meetings to resolve interface issues and drive convergence across multi-disciplinary teams.
- Use full knowledge of software and hardware disciplines to define and decompose interface from system-level requirements.
- Perform Systems Engineering activities, such as functional analysis, interface definition, and verification.
- Work on Agile programs and methodology using Jira, including backlog refinement of interface-related tasks and stories.
- Interface and present to program leadership and/or customers using strong written and oral communication skills, including status of ICD maturity, risks, and impacts.
The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility. There is no remote / hybrid / telework available for this position.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 5 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s Degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and 1 year of related engineering experience.
- Active USG Top Secret SCI clearance (with a background investigation within the past 5 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).
- Ability to obtain and maintain initial Special Program Access (SAP/PAR). This SAP/PAR must be obtained prior to commencement of employment and must be obtained within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
- Ability to obtain and maintain subsequent SAP PARs following commencement of employment to be able to completely support statement of work.
- Experience in DOORS, XML tooling (e.g., XSD editors, XML validators), Atlassian Tool Suite.
Preferred Qualifications
- Ability to work in a dynamic, fast paced environment, Action Oriented, Strong Attention to Detail, Communicates Effectively.
- Programming Skills in C/C++/Python/VBA including experience generating, parsing, and validating XML.
- Current applicable Special Access Program (SAP) clearance.
- Demonstrated communication and technical writing skills.
- Demonstrated proficiency in analytical thinking and problem-solving skills and Systems Thinking mindset.
- Proven ability to brief technical presentations to stakeholders.
- Experience with Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) concepts and tools (CAMEO).
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Principal Engineer Jobs in El Segundo: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a principal engineer job in El Segundo?
Focus on El Segundo's dominant sectors: aerospace and defense, semiconductor and hardware engineering, and enterprise software for defense contractors. Employers along the Sepulveda corridor and near Los Angeles Air Force Base consistently hire at the principal level. Candidates with systems architecture experience, security clearances, or hands-on hardware design backgrounds stand out most in this market. Applying directly through company career portals for El Segundo-based divisions gives you the clearest path in.
Which companies hire principal engineers in El Segundo?
Employers hiring principal engineers in El Segundo right now include Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and KBR, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. El Segundo is home to a dense mix of major defense primes, aerospace manufacturers, and technology companies that maintain large engineering organizations in the city.
Are there remote principal engineer jobs in El Segundo?
Yes, though availability depends heavily on the role type. Principal engineer positions in software architecture or cloud infrastructure tend to offer more remote flexibility, while hardware, systems integration, and defense-related roles typically require on-site presence. About 20% of principal engineer openings tied to El Segundo are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with hybrid arrangements most common among software-focused roles at commercial technology employers in the city.
How can I get a principal engineer job in El Segundo with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in El Segundo is through a senior engineer role at one of the city's defense contractors or aerospace firms, where promotion to principal is structured and based on demonstrated technical ownership. El Segundo employers such as satellite and defense hardware companies often run early-career engineering rotations that build the cross-functional experience principal roles require. Pursuing a security clearance early is a concrete differentiator, as many El Segundo positions require one for advancement.
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