Principal Engineer Hardware

Northrop Grumman; United States; On-site; USD 104,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Plan

Savings Plan

Paid Time Off

Education Assistance

Training and Development

9/80 Work Schedule

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems seeks a Principal Hardware Engineer (Level 3) in San Diego to join the Manufacturing Engineering team. You will design and implement testing methods, troubleshoot RF and digital hardware, and support yield improvements across CS/SPAN programs.

The role requires a strong engineering background, hands-on problem solving, and the ability to work with diverse teams in classified and unclassified networks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related STEM field with 5+ years of experience; or Master's with 3+ years
• Experience leading technicians through complex troubleshooting techniques
• Experience communicating effectively to delegate troubleshooting tasks and obtain results
• Experience in working in classified and unclassified networks, network storage devices, security appliances, and government external interfaces
• Knowledge of engineering principles, processes, and software/hardware integration
• Experience performing RF and electrical troubleshooting with meters, analyzers, scopes
• Ability to read and interpret specifications, schematics, block diagrams
• Experience measuring test equipment effectiveness (availability, performance, quality)
• Understanding of Power Amplifiers
• Hands-on troubleshooting of electrical/electromechanical hardware
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving
• Must be a US Citizen
• Preferred: DoD clearance with potential to Top Secret
• Preferred: RF specialization and LabVIEW or scripting experience

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement testing methods and equipment
• Troubleshoot and support RF and digital hardware
• Support First Time Through Test Yield and hardware deliveries
• Analyze test data and identify trends
• Define changes required in testing equipment, procedures, manufacturing processes
• Collaborate with design engineering on hardware improvements
• Support technicians with troubleshooting and training
• Monitor yields and maintain program yield targets
• Participate in program meetings on yield issues and corrective actions
• Interface with manufacturing management, test technicians, engineers, and program teams
• Telework days may be approved at manager's discretion

Skills

Leadership of technicians

Effective communication

RF troubleshooting

Electrical troubleshooting

Schematics reading

Test equipment measurement

Power amplifiers

Analytical thinking

Data analysis

U.S. Citizenship

Security clearance knowledge

C/C++

LabVIEW

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

LabVIEW

C/C++

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret 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. Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. We have a wide portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, and multi-domain systems and technologies. Our differentiated battle management and Cyber solutions deliver timely, mission-enabling information and provide superior situational awareness and understanding to protect the U.S. and its global allies. Northrop Grumman Mission Systems has an opening for a Principal Hardware Engineer (Level 3) to join our Manufacturing Engineering team. This position will be located at our Mission Systems Sector in San Diego, CA. The qualified candidate will become part of Northrop Grumman’s San Diego Operations Test Engineering Department. The department supports the Communication Systems (CS) Business Unit and Secure Processing and Networking (SPAN) Business Unit within the Networked Information Solutions (NIS) Division of Northrop Grumman Mission Systems. This position is fulltime onsite and is located at the Rancho Carmel campus in San Diego and will also support our Spectrum campus in San Diego if needed. This role reports to the Test Engineering Manager in San Diego. Our expertise is in delivering complex communications solutions to enable modern battlefields and support communications missions.

What You Will Get To Do:

• Design, develop, and implement testing methods and equipment
• Troubleshoot and support RF and digital hardware
• Support First Time Through Test Yield (FTTTY) and hardware deliveries
• Analyze test data and identify early trends
• Compile data and define changes required in testing equipment, testing procedures, manufacturing processes, or new testing requirements
• Collaborate with design engineering to develop and implement hardware improvements and solutions
• Support technicians through troubleshoot and training
• Monitor product yields and aggressively work to maintain program yield targets
• Support program meetings in developing root cause and corrective actions
• Attend program meetings to report yield issues, yield detractor investigation finding, and corrective actions
• Interface with manufacturing management, test technicians, production engineers, design engineers, system engineers, program management and program support teams
• Scheduled telework days can be approved at manager's discretion

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related STEM field plus 5 or more years of relevant experience; or a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related STEM field plus 3 years of experience; in lieu of a degree plus 4 years can be considered in relevant experience
• Experience leading technicians through complex troubleshooting techniques
• Experience communicating effectively to delegate troubleshooting tasks and obtain results
• Experience in working in classified and unclassified networks, network storage devices, security appliances, and government external interfaces
• Working knowledge of engineering principles, processes, and software/hardware integration
• Experience performing essential electrical and RF troubleshooting using equipment such as but not limited to: Multimeter, Network/Spectrum Analyzer, Oscilloscope, etc.
• Experience reading and interpreting specifications, schematics and block diagrams
• Experience with measuring test equipment effectiveness including availability, performance, and quality
• Understanding of Power Amplifiers
• Hands‑on troubleshooting of electrical/electro‑mechanical hardware
• Demonstrated analytical thinking, problem‑solving, and decision‑making abilities
• Experience compiling data and defining changes required in testing equipment, testing procedures, manufacturing processes, or new testing requirements
• Must be a US Citizen

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS degree in Electrical Engineering, or related fields, with specialization in RF
• Experience of C, C++, LabVIEW or other scripting languages
• Experience with Power Amplifiers and advanced troubleshooting techniques
• Active DoD Secret (or higher) clearance(with a background investigation within the past 6 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation)with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret clearance.

What We Can Offer You:

Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a work environment which encourages your growth and supports the mutual success of our people and our company. Northrop Grumman benefits give you the flexibility and control to choose the benefits that make the most sense for you and your family. Your benefits will include the following:

• Health Plan
• Savings Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Additional Benefits including Education Assistance, Training and Development, 9/80 Work Schedule (where available), and much more!

Primary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 - $155,400.00

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.

Existing Applicants:

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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.