Ground System Operator - Level 2 or 3

Company: Northrop Grumman
Location: Aurora
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 10% 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. We are seeking a highly motivated individual to serve as the Operator for the Tachyon Program Operations team. This role is critical to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of a complex ground-station system. The Operator will coordinate daily rhythms, monitor system health and optimal performance through status checks, metric recording. Responsibilities will also include monitoring, analysis of system health, front-line troubleshooting and working across the team to identify solutions. Primary Responsibilities: Leverage critical thinking skills to monitor, analyze, and resolve technical issues in support of operations. Communicate effectively with team members, stakeholders, and external customers to ensure operational success. Perform troubleshooting, maintenance, and operational tasks to maintain mission readiness. Support and optimize antenna operations and RF engineering efforts during missions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet operational requirements and improve system performance. Document operational workflows, procedures, and issue resolutions to enhance system knowledge and readiness. This requisition may be filled at a higher job grade based on the qualifications listed below. This requisition may be filled as either a Level 2 or a Level 3. Basic Requirements for a Level 2: Bachelor’s degree and 2 years of relevant experience; 0 years with a Master's degree. An additional 4 years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree. Educational background or experience in antenna operations, RF systems, or related fields. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Proven communication skills Familiarity or willingness to learn operational workflows and maintenance processes. A collaborative mindset and ability to thrive in mission-critical, team-oriented settings Active Top Secret/SCI clearance required at time of application Basic Requirements for a Level 3: Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of relevant experience; 3 years with a Master's degree; 0 years with a PhD. An additional 4 years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree. Educational background or experience in antenna operations, RF systems, or related fields. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Proven communication skills Familiarity or willingness to learn operational workflows and maintenance processes. A collaborative mindset and ability to thrive in mission-critical, team-oriented settings Active Top Secret/SCI clearance required at time of application Preferred Requirements: Experience working with Linux systems, including scripting or troubleshooting. Knowledge of operational workflows, processes, or system maintenance. Hands-on experience with antenna systems or RF engineering in an operational environment. Possession of a valid U.S. Passport and willingness to travel OCONUS for 2–4 weeks annually. Work Environment and Travel: This role requires the ability to work both independently and within a collaborative team environment. The selected candidate must be adaptable, detail-oriented, and willing to travel CONUS & OCONUS (approximately 10%) for system support at least once annually. Primary Level Salary Range: $83,400.00 - $125,200.00 Secondary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 - $155,400.00 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.

Keywords: Northrop Grumman, Commerce City , Ground System Operator - Level 2 or 3, Engineering , Aurora, Colorado