Principal Electrical Engineer / Sr. Principal Engineer Electrical - Level 3 or Level 4

Northrop Grumman; Redondo Beach (CA); On-site; USD 114,000 - 213,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Redondo Beach, CA is seeking a Principal/ Senior Principal Engineer (Electrical) in Integration and Test to design, develop, and execute test procedures for spacecraft hardware. You will build automated tests, analyze telemetry, and work with GSE and flight units to meet mission requirements.

The role requires TS/SCI clearance, strong scripting skills (Python/LabVIEW), and experience with space hardware, with a 9/80 or similar schedule. Travel may be involved.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related STEM field with 5 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 3 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 1 year of professional experience.
• Requires an active U.S. Government TS/SCI security clearance at time of application, current and within scope
• International/domestic travel to support launch campaigns may be required.
• Shift and weekend work to support testing will be required periodically.

Responsibilities

• Rapid onboarding on spacecraft flight hardware, software, and electrical GSE to become a subject‑matter expert.
• Define, create, and execute automated test scripts (ATSs) that verify functional and performance requirements.
• Conduct verification and validation of both subsystem and full‑system requirements, ensuring compliance with mission specifications.
• Design and implement data‑analysis tools (e.g., Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW) for rapid interpretation of test data.
• Develop I&T test procedures, specifications, and test limits
• Execute I&T testing, monitor tests per specification, troubleshoot, and document all test activities
• Escalate test errors/failures per NG/program process and understand when to pause testing and/or proceed
• Coordinates with Engineering and Operations team leads, electrical test conductors/technicians, and I&T managers to complete tasking. May participate or prepare material in program review boards (ERBs, TRRs, FRBs, etc).
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Test automation

Python scripting

Troubleshooting

Satellite hardware

Electrical testing

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering

PhD

Tools

LabVIEW

MATLAB

Python

DSATS

CAPE

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: SCI

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.

Space Systems Integration and Test (I&T) group is seeking a Principal Engineer Electrical or Senior Principal Engineer Electrical (Integration and Test) to join our team in Redondo Beach, California.

You will have the opportunity to design, develop, and execute test procedures and automated test scripts using spacecraft commands, telemetry, and electrical ground support equipment. The ideal candidate has system level test experience working with spacecraft flight hardware and good computer skills. Daily responsibilities will require I&T test preparation leading to direct contact with satellite and space flight hardware. Required skills include the ability to communicate clearly and to use critical thinking in troubleshooting of problems. The ability to use scripting language and formulate automated test scripts is highly desirable.

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

• Rapid onboarding on spacecraft flight hardware, software, and electrical GSE to become a subject‑matter expert.
• Define, create, and execute automated test scripts (ATSs) that verify functional and performance requirements.
• Conduct verification and validation of both subsystem and full‑system requirements, ensuring compliance with mission specifications.
• Design and implement data‑analysis tools (e.g., Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW) for rapid interpretation of test data.
• Develop I&T test procedures, specifications, and test limits
• Execute I&T testing, monitor tests per specification, troubleshoot, and document all test activities
• Escalate test errors/failures per NG/program process and understand when to pause testing and/or proceed
• Coordinates with Engineering and Operations team leads, electrical test conductors/technicians, and I&T managers to complete tasking. May participate or prepare material in program review boards (ERBs, TRRs, FRBs, etc).
• Other duties as assigned

This position’s standard work schedule is a 9/80. The 9/80 schedule allows employees who work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday to take every other Friday off.

Basic Qualifications For Level 3

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related STEM field with 5 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 3 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 1 year of professional experience.
• Requires an active U.S. Government TS/SCI security clearance at time of application, current and within scope
• International/domestic travel to support launch campaigns may be required.
• Shift and weekend work to support testing will be required periodically.

Basic Qualifications For Level 4

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related STEM field with 8 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 6 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 4 year of professional experience.
• Requires an active U.S. Government TS/SCI security clearance at time of application, current and within scope
• International/domestic travel to support launch campaigns may be required.
• Shift and weekend work to support testing will be required periodically.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with 1553 data bus architecture and capture tools.
• Experience with test bed operations and processes involving mixed configurations of test equipment, Engineering Models/units, and flight units
• Directly related experience in Integration and test
• Experience in Electronics troubleshooting or anomaly investigation
• Experience in Environmental testing (Thermal Cycle/Thermal Vacuum chamber testing, EMI testing)
• Programming or debugging experience with any of the following languages: Python, Linux Environment.
• Experience with any of the following tools: CAPE, DSATS
• Experience in Aerospace or Defense industry (development or test)

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00

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.