Principal Software Engineer, Manchester

UK CITIZENSHIP REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION: Yes

Relocation assistance may be available.

Travel: Yes, 10% of the Time.

At Northrop Grumman UK, you are part of a team driving innovation to solve tomorrow’s challenges and shape technology solutions of the future.

Salary: £73,000 - £109,400

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in designing, developing, and maintaining the critical infrastructure that powers our services. You will work on a variety of unique and complex projects, delivering core solutions that have real impact. You will bring strong technical leadership, guiding teams through both technical and delivery challenges while shaping solutions that meet customer needs.

• Take ownership of multiple teams’ deliverables and work with technical leads to define a path that meets customer requirements.
• Represent Northrop Grumman UK as the prime technical contact for your area.
• Collaborate with senior external partners and customers, often coordinating between organisations.
• Mentor and guide engineers to support skills development and overall team growth.
• Contribute to high‑quality technical design, development, and delivery planning.

• Experience as a Software Engineer with strong capability in one or more of the following:
  • Backend development (Java Spring Boot, Maven, Python)
  • Frontend development (JavaScript/TypeScript, React, npm)
• Proven experience designing, developing, and deploying scalable backend systems.
• Familiarity with DevOps, CI/CD and containerisation technologies (Jenkins, Kubernetes, Docker, AWS).
• Strong communication, collaboration, and problem‑solving skills, ideally within an agile environment.

If you don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Talent, mindset, and potential matter to us.

Due to the nature of our work, you must be British National and hold the Highest Level of UK Government security clearance.

• Flexible working options, including an optional compressed fortnight.
• Private healthcare Cash health plan.
• Holiday buy/sell scheme.
• Career development programmes and ongoing specialist training.
• Performance‑based bonuses.
• A range of wellbeing, financial, and lifestyle benefits.

Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce, and encourages individuals from all backgrounds and all abilities to apply and consider becoming a part of our diverse and inclusive workforce.