Entry Level Cognitive Science Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret
TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescription
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.
Are you interested in boosting your knowledge through experience and exposure, while supporting a mission that seeks to protect our nation and its allies? If so, then Northrop Grumman is the place you! Entry-level engineering careers at Northrop Grumman are designed for individuals who are early in their professional journey and eager to grow.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products, and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, space, strike, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide.
Our professionals live and breathe different perspectives; we are curious about the world, accepting each other, and aware that the more ideas, backgrounds, opinions and experiences we bring to our work, the stronger that work will be. Just as you would invest your time and hard work into our company, we focus on investing back into you through enriching professional experiences and high-quality learning and development opportunities. We want you to bring your whole self to work, and for you to have meaningful connections with your coworkers, customers and communities, while providing the best products, systems and technologies to protect our world.
We are utilizing this posting to develop a prospect pool of entry-level engineers whose resumes will be visible to recruiters and hiring managers across Northrop Grumman. Candidates may be considered for future 2026 start-date opportunities at various Northrop Grumman locations nationwide, including but not limited to: Baltimore, MD; Chandler, AZ; Huntsville, AL; Northern VA; Melbourne, FL; Northridge, CA; Ogden, UT; Oklahoma City, OK; Palmdale, CA; Plymouth, MN; Redondo Beach, CA; Rocket Center, WV; Rolling Meadows, IL; Roy, UT; San Diego, CA.
This position description does not represent a current opening but may be used to identify entry-level candidates with the skills, education, and existing U.S. security clearance required for roles that frequently become available at Northrop Grumman. Candidates who express interest may be considered for future 2026 opportunities.
Success in any of our positions includes embodying the following qualities:

• Leadership and teamwork capabilities
• Interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to effectively articulate challenges and solutions
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills

Prospect Qualifications: A prospect, regardless of age and hiring source must meet all of the below criteria:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related STEM discipline completed by June 2026
• Active U.S. Government security clearance (e.g., Secret or higher) at time of application
• U.S. citizenship, required for clearance and access to government programs
• Strong academic foundation in core engineering principles and problem-solving
• Ability to work in a team environment and communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Willingness to relocate to one of the major Northrop Grumman locations as required by the role
• Be available for a start date between July-December 2026

Preferred Qualifications:

• Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 GPA system
• Prior internship or research experience in a relevant technical area
• Experience working on multidisciplinary engineering teams (coursework or projects)
• Interest in supporting defense, space, or national security missions
• Extracurricular activities (campus organizations, clubs, student organizations, community service)
• Proficiency in Microsoft office suite

If you meet the basic qualifications and are seeking an entry-level engineering opportunity starting in 2026, with an active U.S. security clearance, we encourage you to submit your resume to this prospect pool for consideration.
Primary Level Salary Range: $70,000.00 - $95,000.00
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.