Job Description: Embedded Software Engineer III (Contract)

Company: Northrop Grumman Corporation
Job Title: Embedded Software Engineer III
Location: Manhattan Beach, CA (Onsite)
Employment Type: Full-Time Contract
Contract Duration: August 3, 2026 – December 31, 2027
Work Schedule: 9x80 A (40 hours/week)
Security Clearance: Active Secret Clearance Required
Citizenship Requirement: U.S. Citizenship Required

Position Overview

Northrop Grumman Strategic Space Systems is seeking an experienced Embedded Software Engineer III to join its Software Engineering organization in Manhattan Beach, California. The selected candidate will develop high-performance embedded software for flight, space, and ground systems operating in resource-constrained environments with both soft and hard real-time requirements.

This role involves designing and implementing complex software solutions for data processing, control systems, and embedded applications while collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout the software development lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, debug, and maintain embedded software applications using C/C++.

• Develop object-oriented software for real-time embedded systems.

• Implement software for resource-constrained environments supporting aerospace and defense applications.

• Work with real-time operating systems such as VxWorks, RT-Linux, FreeRTOS, or similar RTOS platforms.

• Participate in software architecture, requirements analysis, design, coding, integration, verification, validation, and deployment.

• Collaborate with systems, hardware, and test engineers to integrate software with complex hardware platforms.

• Develop and maintain technical documentation and ensure compliance with software engineering standards.

• Support software integration, troubleshooting, and debugging in laboratory environments.

• Participate in Agile, Waterfall, or Spiral software development processes.

• Ensure software quality through unit testing, code reviews, and system validation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor''''s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline from an ABET-accredited university.

• Minimum of 5 years of professional software development experience.

• Strong experience with C/C++ programming.

• Experience with Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and Object-Oriented Software Design.

• Hands-on experience developing software for real-time operating systems (RTOS) such as VxWorks, RT-Linux, FreeRTOS, or Green Hills Integrity.

• Experience working in fast-paced laboratory or embedded development environments.

• Active U.S. Secret Security Clearance.

• U.S. Citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience across the complete software development lifecycle, including:

  • Software architecture

  • Requirements analysis

  • Design and implementation

  • Unit testing

  • System integration

  • Verification and validation

• Experience with embedded aerospace or defense systems.

• Familiarity with hardware validation and verification of RF, digital, or mixed-signal devices.

• Experience using laboratory test equipment, including:

  • Signal generators

  • Noise generators

  • Logic analyzers

  • Spectrum analyzers

  • Network analyzers

  • Power supplies and switching equipment

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Experience working within large multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Required Technical Skills

• C/C++

• Embedded C++ Development

• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

• Object-Oriented Software Development

• Wind River VxWorks

• VxWorks RTOS

• Embedded Systems Development

• Software Integration & Testing

• Real-Time Embedded Software

Work Environment

• Onsite position in Manhattan Beach, California.

• Collaborative engineering laboratory supporting advanced aerospace and space programs.

• Opportunity to work on mission-critical embedded software supporting next-generation strategic space systems.