eCad Electrical Engineer - Level 3/4 - Dulles

Northrop Grumman; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistant

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Space Sector in Dulles, VA is seeking an eCad Electrical Engineer (Level 3 or 4) to own PCB layout for spaceflight hardware. This 100% onsite role focuses on board-level layout, not schematic design, using Cadence Allegro to deliver high-reliability multi-layer boards.

You will collaborate with design engineers to meet electrical, mechanical, and thermal constraints, apply advanced routing techniques, and produce fabrication and assembly outputs for reviews and manufacturing.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship.
• weight:0
• No clearance required to start.
• Experience with Cadence Allegro PCB Designer in aerospace/high-reliability environments.
• Experience creating/managing ECAD libraries (symbols/footprints).
• Multilayer board layout expertise with signal and power integrity.
• Experience with IPC CID or CID+ certification or equivalent training.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end PCB layout process using Cadence Allegro PCB Designer.
• Develop multilayer, HDI and controlled-impedance layouts for space environments.
• Create/maintain PCB symbols, footprints, and padstacks per standards.
• Collaborate with electrical/mechanical engineers to meet constraints.
• Implement high-speed routing, differential pairs, and EMI/EMC practices.
• Support RF/mixed-signal layout and via/stacks for rigid/flex assemblies.
• Generate fabrication (Gerber, ODB++) and assembly files; participate in reviews.

Skills

Cadence Allegro PCB Designer

PCB layout

Signal integrity

Power integrity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Cadence Allegro PCB Designer

ECAD libraries

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: None

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.

Expand your horizons, advance your career, and contribute to a secure future for generations. Northrop Grumman's Space Sector invites you to bring your pioneering spirit to our collaborative teams. As an eCad Electrical Engineer - Level 3 or Level 4 located in Dulles, VA, you'll be a linchpin in missions of paramount importance, defining the art of the possible from day one. This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.

We are seeking an engineer specializing in PCB layout design to join our growing team of qualified, diverse professionals. In this role, you will focus exclusively on board-level layout responsibilities-this is not a schematic design position. You will work closely with design engineers to implement high-reliability, multilayer circuit boards for spaceflight hardware, applying best practices and aerospace standards. If you're passionate about layout precision, spaceflight reliability, and pushing design boundaries, this is your mission.

This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Own the end-to-end PCB layout process using Cadence Allegro PCB Designer.
• Develop multilayer, high-density interconnect (HDI) and controlled impedance layouts optimized for space environments.
• Create and maintain PCB symbols, footprints, and padstacks in accordance with internal library standards.
• Work closely with electrical and mechanical engineer to ensure layout meets electrical, mechanical, and thermal constraints.
• Implement high-speed routing techniques including differential pairs, length tuning, and EMI/EMC compliance practices.
• Support RF and mixed-signal layout requirements, including:
  • Controlled impedance and matched-length RF signal traces
  • Proper isolation and grounding strategies for RF sections
  • Minimization of parasitic effects, signal loss, and coupling across layers
  • Placement and routing for connectors, antennas, or filters used in RF paths
• Incorporate blind/buried vias, microvias, and stackup design for rigid/flex and complex assemblies.
• Generate fabrication (Gerber, ODB++) and assembly files, release documentation, and participate in design reviews.
• Apply NASA-STD-8739 and IPC-2221/2222 layout standards for space-rated hardware.
• Participate in DFM/DFX reviews with manufacturing partners to ensure layout readiness for fabrication and assembly.
• Collaborate with engineers to define layout constraints, clearance rules, and placement strategies.
• Drive quality through internal peer reviews, ECAD checklist adherence, and continuous layout optimization.

Other duties as assigned

If this job description reads like it was written specifically for you, consider joining our team!

This position can be filled at either a Level 3 or Level 4.

Basic Qualifications for Level 3:

• Bachelor's degree with 5 years of professional PCB layout experience - OR - Master's degree with 3 years of professional experience - OR - PhD with 0 years of professional experience.
• No clearance required to start
• Proven experience with Cadence Allegro PCB Designer in an aerospace, medical, or other high-reliability environment.
• Experience with creating and managing ECAD libraries (symbols/footprints).
• Demonstrated expertise in multilayer board layout with signal integrity and power integrity in mind.
• U.S. Citizenship.
• Demonstrated leadership in layout design for flight boards or mission-critical systems.
• Experience with IPC CID or CID+ certification or equivalent layout training.

Basic Qualifications for Level 4:

• Bachelor's degree with 8 years of professional PCB layout experience - OR - Master's degree with 6 years of professional experience - OR - PhD with 4 years of professional experience.
• No clearance required to start
• Proven experience with Cadence Allegro PCB Designer in an aerospace, medical, or other high-reliability environment.
• Experience with creating and managing ECAD libraries (symbols/footprints).
• Demonstrated expertise in multilayer board layout with signal integrity and power integrity in mind.
• U.S. Citizenship.
• Demonstrated leadership in layout design for flight boards or mission-critical systems.
• Experience with IPC CID or CID+ certification or equivalent layout training.
• Demonstrated expertise in multilayer board l