Principal / Sr. Principal Data Scientist – ML and Predictive Analytics

About the role

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the Time 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 is seeking an experienced, Principal or Senior Principal Data Scientist to support our Product Support Analytics and Innovation team. This position is required full-time, in-office. Hybrid scheduling (time split between in-office and work-from-home) may become available depending on future project needs. This position is located on-site at our facility in Rancho Bernardo, CA. Accomplish We are seeking a first-principles thinker and skilled data scientist to solve complex data challenges. This is not a role for operating pre-built tools; this is an opportunity to architect and build the core data logic of our systems. You will be responsible for creating custom, high-performance statistics and machine learning tools from the ground up, making meaning of complex data sets. Your work will involve deep data modeling, abstracting reusable patterns, and writing modular, maintainable code that stands the test of time. Essential Functions: Collaborate closely with software engineers, analysts, and other data scientists to understand data requirements and deliver robust, integrated solutions. Architect and develop custom, maintainable data science solutions from the ground up. Write and maintain tests and documentation for data architecture, workflows, and processes. Champion software engineering best practices within the data domain, including comprehensive unit/integration testing, CI/CD automation (Git, Docker), and robust documentation. Tune and optimize complex algorithms within our on-premise infrastructure. Succeed: The individual we seek will be self-motivated, proactive, goal-oriented to help us grow our services, become even better at what we do and will possess the following qualifications. ***This role may be filled at the Principal or Sr. Principal Level.*** Basic Qualifications for a Principal Data Scientist: Bachelor’s Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics discipline from an accredited university, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, OR Master of STEM with 3 years of relevant experience. Deep understanding of Machine Learning and Deep Learning. Recent professional experience in software development and/or data engineering. Strong programming skills in Python and SQL. Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and version control (e.g., Git, Docker, etc.) Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Top Secret clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs. Basic Qualifications for a Sr Principal Data Scientist: Bachelor’s Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics discipline from an accredited university, with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, OR Master of STEM with 6 years of relevant experience, OR PhD/Doctorate degree in STEM with 4 years of relevant experience. Deep understanding of Machine Learning and Deep Learning Recent professional experience in software development and/or data engineering. Strong programming skills in Python and SQL. Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and version control (e.g., Git, Docker, etc.) Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Top Secret clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs. Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree or higher, in Data Science or related discipline. Experience with C/C++. Experience with machine learning pipelines and data science workflows. Familiarity with SQL Alchemy, Numpy, Pandas, SKLearn, PyTorch. Ability to troubleshoot and optimize complex data queries and workflows. Familiarity with big data concepts, machine learning pipelines, and MLOps. Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot and optimize across the entire data stack. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment. Current, Active, DoD Top Secret clearance and Special Program Access Thrive with Us At Northrop Grumman we are invested in the growth and well-being off all our employees. We offer flexible work arrangements, phenomenal learning opportunities, exposure to a wide variety of projects and customers, and a very friendly team environment. Our Total Rewards Program offers a comprehensive employee benefits package, including a Retirement and Savings Plan, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts. Primary Level Salary Range: $125,300.00 - $187,900.00 Secondary Level Salary Range: $156,400.00 - $234,600.00 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. Existing Applicants: Need to update your contact information or email address? Once logged in, click on Candidate Home in the upper right corner and scroll to the bottom of that screen to see buttons for: Update Contact information to update your legal name, address, and phone number Edit Account Settings to edit your email address We are a pioneering company. With careers across all areas: air, cyber, land, sea and space – our 90,000 employees work as one to defend and define the future. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will give you every opportunity to do your best work. Working together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines, we share a drive to push the boundaries of science, technology and engineering to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide.

Posted Nov 7, 2026