Principal Hardware Test Engineer

0090 CORP-Corporate Office; United States; On-site; USD 94,000 - 141,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Savings plan

Paid holidays

PTO

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Cincinnati (Xetron) seeks a Principal Hardware Test Engineer to join the SEIT team on-site. You will develop hardware test requirements, execute qualification testing, and lead cross-functional testing with hardware, software, and systems engineers across lab and field environments.

Required are a STEM degree with 5+ years of related testing, hands-on experience with RF test equipment, LabVIEW, MATLAB, and Python, and the ability to obtain a US government clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with related test experience or higher education with reduced experience requirements.
• Experience authoring hardware test procedures and managing test facility interfaces.
• Experience with hardware test execution, diagnostics, and verification traceability.
• Strong working knowledge of standard test equipment (RF meters, analyzers, scopes, generators).
• Proficient in LabVIEW, MATLAB, and Python; familiarity with Ethernet TCP/IP and GPIB interfaces.

Responsibilities

• Develop hardware test requirements, integration test plans, TRRs, data, and reports.
• Execute hardware qualification testing per requirements and procedures.
• Lead cross-functional testing with hardware, software, and systems engineers in lab and field.
• Perform data analysis, identify anomalies, and conduct root cause analyses.
• Act as technical lead during test events and manage customer expectations.

Skills

Test planning

Cross-functional teamwork

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in STEM

Master’s Degree in STEM

PhD in STEM

Tools

LabVIEW

MATLAB

Python

Ethernet TCP/IP

GPIB

RS-232/RS-422

Oscilloscopes

Network Analyzers

RF Power Meters

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes 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.

Join Northrop Grumman – Cincinnati (aka Xetron), part of Mission Systems sector, focused on the development of new capabilities for our military and intelligence customers around the globe. Our Northrop Grumman Cincinnati, Ohio small business culture operates collaboratively within a larger corporation providing the benefits of both. This unique relationship offers employees the ability to know everyone at the site while working on technologies and products that are beyond state-of-the-art.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking a Principal Hardware Test Engineer to join the System Integration & Test (SEIT) team in Cincinnati, OH. The role involves conducting comprehensive verification activities throughout the program life cycle, including requirements analysis, test procedure development, test execution, and formal reporting. This position will be 100% on-site. Please be aware that this position will be contingent upon obtaining funding, customer approval and holding final clearances prior to start date.

Essential Duties

• Develop hardware test requirements and detailed integration test plans, procedures, readiness reviews (TRRs), test data, and reports.
• Execute hardware qualification testing in accordance with established requirements, plans, and procedures.
• Conduct hardware tests while managing and prioritizing problem resolution.
• Compile data to determine necessary changes in test equipment, procedures, or to establish new test requirements.
• Lead cross-functional testing (including hardware, software, and systems engineers) in both laboratory and field environments.
• Conduct formal technical reviews, such as Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs) with internal stakeholders and external customers.
• Test Equipment Management that includes the design, development, or integration of specialized test equipment, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems.
• Data Analysis of test data, identify anomalies, perform root cause analysis, and generate comprehensive test reports.
• Technical and operational problem solving to troubleshoot complex, multi-domain system failures (hardware/software/mechanical) and conduct root cause analyses.
• Act as the primary technical point of contact during test events, managing customer expectations and reporting results.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM discipline from an accredited university with 5 years of related test experience, or a Master's Degree in a STEM discipline from an accredited university with 3 years of related test experience, or a PhD in a STEM discipline from an accredited university with 1 year of related test experience.
• Experience authoring hardware test procedures, managing hardware test facility interfaces, and ensuring data integrity and cataloging with general direction.
• Experience with hardware test execution, diagnostics, and formal requirement decomposition with traceability and verification with general direction.
• Strong working knowledge of standard test equipment: RF Power Meters, Frequency Generators, Network Analyzers, Spectrum Analyzers, Oscilloscopes, Waveform Generators, Synthesizers, Digitizers, and/or Signal Analyzers.
• Proficient in at least one of the following software packages used in hardware testing: LabVIEW, MATLAB, and Python and/or have experience with test interfaces such as: Ethernet TCP/IP, USB, GPIB, RS-232, RS-422, etc.
• Active US Government Secret Level security clearance or the ability to obtain one.
• US Citizenship is required.
• Ability to work 100% onsite is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to apply problem solving skills to provide technical hardware solutions to complex engineering test cases.
• Experience creating automated test scripts that integrate with hardware interfaces.
• Experience working with operational hazards such as overhead lifting, Thermal Chambers, and Vibration Test systems.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple, shifting priorities while maintaining safety standards.
• Demonstrated leadership of System Test efforts in a dynamic work environment.
• Experience with COMSEC material management.
• Experience engaging external customers through meetings, presentations, and technical negotiations.
• Active US Government Top Secret Level security clearance.

Salary

Primary Level Salary Range: $94,200.00 - $141,200.00

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.

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.