2026 Associate RF Engineer/RF Engineer - Dulles VA

0909 SP - Orbital Space Systems; United States; On-site; USD 76,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Savings plan

Company paid holidays

PTO

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking an Associate RF Engineer and/or RF Engineer to join the Space sector in Dulles, VA, supporting the Integration and Test Team. The role emphasizes hands-on RF testing for spacecraft subsystems and collaboration with cross‑functional engineers.

Candidates must be able to obtain a U.S. government security clearance, including a polygraph, with flexibility for occasional shift changes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related STEM field.
• Experience with RF fundamentals including frequency, bandwidth, modulation, propagation, antennas, gain/loss, noise and interference.
• Experience using RF test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, antennas, VNAs, receivers, and SDRs.
• Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills across RF hardware and software systems.

Responsibilities

• Assist lead engineers in testing RF for spacecraft satellite systems.
• Use electronics test equipment to evaluate system performance and troubleshoot issues.
• Configure, operate, and troubleshoot RF test equipment including spectrum analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, antennas, VNAs, and SDRs.
• Evaluate RF system performance against defined test requirements.
• Identify test limitations, data gaps, anomalies, instrumentation issues, and equipment problems.

Skills

RF fundamentals

Troubleshooting

Hands-on

Team collaboration

Flexibility shifts

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related STEM field

Master’s degree in STEM

Tools

Spectrum analyzers

Vector network analyzers

Oscilloscopes

Signal generators

Software-defined radios

Python

C++

LabVIEW

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: None TRAVEL: No 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.

This position description does not represent a current opening but may be used to identify candidates with skills and experience for positions within Northrop Grumman that frequently become available. Candidates who express an interest may be considered for future positions at Northrop Grumman.

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.

Northrop Grumman is seeking an Associate RF Engineer and/or RF Engineer. This position will be located at our Space sector in Dulles, VA. The qualified candidate will become part of Northrop Grumman’s Integration and Test Team.

Duties:

• Assist lead engineers in testing of RF for spacecraft satellite systems
• Use electronics test equipment to evaluate system performance, and troubleshoot operation issues.
• Configure, operate, and troubleshoot RF test equipment, including spectrum analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, receivers, software-defined radios, antennas, vector network analyzers, data acquisition systems, and related instrumentation.
• Evaluate RF system performance against defined test requirements
• Identify test limitations, data gaps, anomalies, instrumentation issues, and equipment problems

Basic Qualifications for an Associate RF Test Engineer:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related STEM field
• Knowledge of RF fundamentals, including frequency, bandwidth, modulation, propagation, antennas, gain/loss, noise, interference, transmitters, receivers, link performance, and signal characterization.
• Experience using RF test and measurement equipment such as spectrum analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, antennas, vector network analyzers, receivers, and software-defined radios.
• Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills across RF hardware and software systems
• Comfortable performing hands‑on work in a fast‑paced environment
• Work effectively with engineers, test personnel, technicians, program managers, Government leads, and cross‑functional technical teams.
• Willing and able to work flexible shifts to include 2nd and 3rd shifts occasionally
• Able to travel in and out of the country
• Willing and able to obtain DOD security clearance including a polygraph.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.

Basic Qualifications for a RF Engineer:

• Be completing or has completed their Master’s degree from an accredited institution
• Be majoring in or having majored in a STEM degree
• Be able to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre‑requisite)
• The ability to obtain Special Access Program within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs.

Preferred Qualifications for Both:

• Fundamental knowledge of RF, microwave, or electronic systems engineering.
• Experience reading RF test procedures for engineering or production environments
• Experience with Python, C++, Matlab, or Labview programming.
• Experience with hands‑on troubleshooting of RF/communications hardware.

Salary Range: 76,200 - 93,000

Primary Level Salary Range: $76,200.00 - $93,000.00

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.

Benefits:

• 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.
• Health insurance coverage
• Life and disability insurance
• Savings plan
• Company paid holidays
• 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.

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.