Principal Digital/Sr. Principal Digital Design Engineer

0090 CORP-Corporate Office; United States; On-site; USD 108,800 - 163,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance coverage

Life and disability insurance

Paid time off (PTO)

Company paid holidays

Job summary

Northrop Grumman seeks a Digital Design Engineer to contribute to pioneering developments in defense technology. Responsibilities include full life-cycle product development, from design to field support. Successful candidates will leverage their skills in digital circuit design and project leadership while working in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

The role requires U.S. citizenship and security clearances. A strong educational background in Electrical or Computer Engineering is essential, along with relevant hands-on experience. Excellent benefits and a competitive salary range of $108,800 - $163,200 is offered.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in digital electronics design for Principal role.
• 8+ years experience required for Sr. Principal role.
• Hands-on experience with FPGAs and embedded processors.

Responsibilities

• Research, design, and develop digital hardware products.
• Lead projects and translate specifications into design and test documents.
• Utilize revision control systems for documentation.

Skills

Digital circuit design

Prototyping and debug experience

Team leadership

ClearCase and DOORS familiarity

U.S. Citizenship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in similar discipline

Tools

Cadence Concept

Mentor Dx Designer

High-speed interface testing tools

Job description

Overview

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.

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.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission‑enabling solutions for global security. Our Engineering & Sciences (E&S) organization pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered with providing the skills and innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter.

Location and Travel

Relocation assistance may be available. Clearance required for start: Yes. Clearance type: SAP. Travel: Yes, 10% of the time.

Position Summary

The Principal/Sr. Principal Digital Design Engineer role involves full life‑cycle product development from system concept and requirements through design, implementation, test verification, production, and field support while working in integrated product teams spanning Engineering, Manufacturing, and Program Management.

Responsibilities

• Research, design, and develop digital hardware products.
• Apply expertise in digital component design and analysis, modeling and simulation, circuit level design and test, and project leadership.
• Research, design, develop, and test a variety of electronic equipment and systems, including radar and radiation detection equipment; radio, television and other communications equipment and systems; circuitry components; analog and digital computers; and control and test equipment.
• Lead projects with up to two team members (for Principal) or two or more team members (for Sr. Principal).
• Translate system performance and operational specifications into hardware requirements, design, and test specifications.
• Utilize documentation revision control and review systems such as DOORS, ClearCase, and ClearQuest.

Basic Qualifications – Principal Digital Design Engineer

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or similar engineering discipline with a minimum of 5 years of digital electronics design experience; OR master’s degree with a minimum of 3 years of experience.
• Digital circuit design experience, including simulation and schematic capture through test and integration.
• Hands‑on prototyping and debug experience testing complex digital subsystems, such as circuit card development involving FPGAs, embedded processors, and high‑speed interfaces.
• Ability to lead projects with two or fewer team members.
• Ability to translate system performance and operational specifications into hardware requirements, design, and test specifications.
• Familiarity with documentation revision control and review systems similar to DOORS, ClearCase, and ClearQuest.
• U.S. Citizen.
• Current active Secret clearance with additional customer specified clearance prior to start.

Basic Qualifications – Sr. Principal Digital Design Engineer

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or similar engineering discipline with a minimum of 8 years of digital electronics design experience; OR master’s degree with a minimum of 6 years of experience.
• Extensive digital circuit design experience, including simulation and schematic capture through test and integration.
• Extensive hands‑on prototyping and debug experience testing complex digital subsystems, such as circuit card development involving FPGAs, embedded processors, and high‑speed interfaces.
• Ability to lead projects with two or more team members.
• Ability to translate system performance and operational specifications into hardware requirements, design, and test specifications.
• Familiarity with documentation revision control and review systems similar to DOORS, ClearCase, and ClearQuest.
• U.S. Citizen.
• Current active Secret clearance with additional customer specified clearance prior to start.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering with a minimum of 10 years of digital electronics design experience.
• Working knowledge of Electronic Warfare systems.
• Experience in Aerospace and/or Defense industries.
• Recent circuit card design experience utilizing tools including Cadence Concept, Allegro, and/or Mentor Dx Designer, Expedition.
• Working experience with ClearCase/ClearQuest and DOORS.
• Current Secret or Top‑Secret security clearance.
• Proven skills in team leadership, mentoring, communication at all levels, adaptability, creativity, collaboration, and the ability to work independently and solve difficult problems.

Salary Range

Primary Level Salary Range: $108,800.00 – $163,200.00. This range represents a general guideline; factors such as scope, responsibilities, experience, education, skills, and market conditions may affect the final offer.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Savings plan.
• Company paid holidays.
• Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.