Principal Digital Engineer or Sr. Principal Digital Engineer

0090 CORP-Corporate Office; United States; On-site; USD 119,600 - 179,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Discretionary bonus

Job summary

Northrop Grumman, located in the United States, is seeking a Principal Digital Engineer to join their Software and Digital Technologies Organization. This role involves designing and testing FPGA-based digital systems as part of a major digital transformation effort.

The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor's Degree in a related field and have extensive experience with VHDL programming and digital design validation. Benefits include competitive salary ranges and comprehensive health coverage.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related STEM discipline.
• 5 years of experience with VHDL programming.
• U.S. Citizenship and current/active Secret Clearance required.

Responsibilities

• Design, verification, simulation, and testing of FPGAs.
• Utilize modeling and simulation tools for firmware development.
• Conduct tests using high-speed oscilloscopes and analyzers.

Skills

VHDL programming

Schematic and programmable logic tools

Firmware development

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering

Master's Degree in related STEM discipline

Tools

AMD/Xilinx

Vivado

Altera/Quartus

Job description

About Northrop Grumman

At Northrop Grumman, employees work on revolutionary systems that impact people’s lives around the world today and for generations to come. Our pioneering spirit has placed us at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation’s history— from the first flight across the Atlantic to stealth bombers to landing on the moon. We seek people with bold ideas, courage, and a pioneering spirit to invent the future and have fun along the way.

Role Overview

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (NGMS) is seeking a Principal Digital Engineer or Sr. Principal Digital Engineer to join the Software and Digital (SWDT) Technologies Organization. The role is located in Linthicum, MD and focuses on designing, verifying, simulating, and testing FPGA-based digital systems as part of an enterprise‑wide digital transformation effort.

Responsibilities

• Design, verification, simulation and testing of FPGAs.
• Utilize modeling and simulation tools to expedite firmware development and testing.
• Develop test plans and implement rigorous testing and validation processes for digital designs to ensure functionality, performance, and security requirements are met.
• Adhere to coding standards, revision control practices, and peer review procedures.
• Conduct tests using high‑speed oscilloscopes, signal generators, analyzers, and FPGA debugging tools, and analyze test data.
• Create engineering change orders and perform analyses such as power utilization and signal integrity.
• Provide support for Systems Integration and Test operations.
• Lead on‑site testing of digital designs.
• Manage design constraints (timing, power, I/O) and perform static timing analysis to meet critical performance targets.
• Work collaboratively to understand system‑level interdependencies that impact circuit requirements and design constraints.

Basic Qualifications – Principal Digital Engineer

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering (BSCE), Electrical Engineering (BSEE), or related STEM discipline with 5years of related experience.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Current/Active Secret Clearance is required and must be maintained for continued employment.
• 5years of experience with VHDL programming.
• 5years of experience with schematic and programmable logic tools such as AMD/Xilinx, Vivado, Altera/Quartus, etc.
• 5years of experience in firmware development (specification, design, implementation, integration, debug, maintenance).
• Ability to work independently, taking initiative with minimal supervision while contributing to team success.

Basic Qualifications – Sr. Principal Digital Engineer

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering (BSCE), Electrical Engineering (BSEE), or related STEM discipline with 8years of related experience.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Current/Active Secret Clearance is required and must be maintained for continued employment.
• 5years of experience with VHDL programming.
• 5years of experience with schematic and programmable logic tools such as AMD/Xilinx, Vivado, Altera/Quartus, etc.
• 5years of experience in firmware development (specification, design, implementation, integration, debug, maintenance).
• Ability to work independently, taking initiative with minimal supervision while contributing to team success.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Computer Engineering (MSCE), Electrical Engineering (MSEE), or related STEM discipline with 8+years of related experience.
• Knowledge of timing constraints and achieving timing closure.
• Experience in real‑time embedded firmware development, Radar, Electronic Warfare, or Space technologies.
• Proficiency with schematic and programmable logic tools such as AMD/Xilinx, Vivado, Altera/Quartus, etc.
• Proficiency in a Department of Defense (DoD) environment.
• Ability to collaborate in a team environment and experience working in a lab/testing environment.

Compensation & Benefits

• Primary Level Salary Range: $119,600.00 – $179,400.00.
• Secondary Level Salary Range: $149,300.00 – $223,900.00.
• Eligibility for overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonus, and for certain positions, Long‑Term Incentives.
• Benefits include health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, company‑paid holidays, and paid time off for vacation and/or personal business.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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.