Systems Engineer Jobs in Cincinnati, OH
Systems Engineer jobs in Cincinnati are concentrated in the Blue Ash technology corridor, downtown's Central Business District, and the Milford-Loveland I-275 tech belt, with strong demand across defense, manufacturing, and enterprise IT. Employers hiring right now include Medpace, Pure Storage, and Northrop Grumman. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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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 Mission Systems (NGMS) is seeking a Sr. Staff System Architect (SA) for the Neptune Phoenix Program within the Xetron Operating Unit (OU) in Cincinnati, OH.
The Neptune Phoenix program provides sustainment for our existing prototype portfolio while driving development, production, and operational support for the next generation of technical collection capabilities. The team designs and integrates ground‑ and platform‑based collection systems built on model‑based systems engineering (MBSE), open architectures, and open standards.
The Systems Architect within Neptune Phoenix serves as the authority for the system architecture and design, and owns responsibility to create, evolve, and maintain the architecture of the system to meet operational needs. The System Architect also owns responsibility for maintaining alignment between the appropriate solution and internal roadmaps, product lines or common components or sub-systems.
Essential Duties:
- Define mission Concept of Operations (CONOPS), KPPs and associated Technical Performances Measurements (TPMs)
- Define the Operations Concept (OPSCON) for the system(s) in relation to the CONOPS
- Create, evolve, and maintain system architecture
- Support the Chief Engineer in discussions of system architecture with the Customer
- Cross-project technical alignment and coordinate common architecture solutions across projects
- Evolve and enhance the customer’s suite of disparate capabilities into a system of systems in order to meet current and merging mission objectives into capability, availability, reliability and security.
Basic Qualifications:
- BS degree in Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Physics or other STEM field with 14 years of related experience, MS degree in STEM field with 12+ years of related experience, or PhD in STEM field with 10+ years of related experience
- Active DoD Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility (U.S. Citizenship is a prerequisite).
- Significant years of related engineering experience working in an engineering organization at a defense contractor during EMD, LRIP or Operation/Sustainment phases
- Experience in all aspects of the engineering process from proposal and requirements analysis through verification testing and fielding of systems
- Demonstrable experience leading complex engineering projects in production environments
- Experience leading Agile development projects
- Willingness to travel 10% of the time for business needs
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in a Systems Engineering Integration & Test environment from one or more of the following specialty areas: EOIR sensor systems, RF sensor systems, centralized cloud-based platforms (AWS GovCloud) that manage aggregated data and user interfaces
- Experience decomposing requirements for DoD-based platforms or systems
- Demonstrated expertise in Systems Engineering, SysML modeling, and MBSE tools (e.g., IBM Rational DOORS, Enterprise Architect, Cameo). Ability to develop and maintain system models, traceability matrices, and verification cross‑reference artifacts
- Experience implementing Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) development methodology
- M.S., M.B.A., or other advanced degree
- Experience with the Risk Management Framework (RMF) process to identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities in support of achieving Authority to Operate (ATO)
- Demonstrated proficiency in analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Demonstrated technical leadership skills, decisiveness, and ability to make sound technical judgments with limited information
- Proven ability to represent organizational capabilities to customers and stakeholders
- Strong interpersonal skills to communicate effectively across technical and program leadership
Primary Level Salary Range: $175,300.00 - $262,900.00 The 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.
See All 11 Systems Engineer Jobs in Cincinnati
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Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Science & Research
- Media & Entertainment
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
Systems Engineer Jobs in Cincinnati: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a systems engineer job in Cincinnati?
Focus your search on Cincinnati's defense contractors around Blue Ash and Sharonville, the advanced manufacturing corridor along I-75, and the growing enterprise IT sector downtown. Candidates with clearance eligibility or experience in systems integration stand out with defense-adjacent employers. Certifications in systems engineering frameworks like MBSE also carry weight with Cincinnati's aerospace and government-contracted firms.
Which companies hire systems engineers in Cincinnati?
Employers hiring systems engineers in Cincinnati right now include Medpace, Pure Storage, and Northrop Grumman, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Cincinnati's hiring mix skews toward defense primes, industrial manufacturers, and large enterprise companies with regional operations, many of which maintain dedicated engineering teams in the northern suburbs.
Are there remote systems engineer jobs in Cincinnati?
Yes, though availability depends heavily on the role, systems engineers in hardware, infrastructure, or defense typically work on-site, while those in software architecture and IT systems analysis have more flexibility. About 0% of systems engineer openings tied to Cincinnati are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, with hybrid arrangements most common at downtown enterprise and fintech employers.
How can I get a systems engineer job in Cincinnati with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Cincinnati is through a junior systems analyst or IT systems technician role at one of the city's large manufacturing or logistics firms, which regularly hire recent graduates from the University of Cincinnati or Miami University. Co-op experience at a local defense contractor or industrial company converts well into full-time offers, and internship pipelines at Cincinnati's aerospace suppliers are consistently active.
Which industries hire the most systems engineers in Cincinnati?
Most systems engineer openings in Cincinnati sit in Technology & Software, Science & Research, and Media & Entertainment, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Cincinnati's role as a hub for defense contracting, advanced manufacturing, and logistics operations drives sustained demand for systems engineers who can manage complex, interdependent infrastructure.
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