Principal / Sr. Principal Specialty Test Engineer

0887 DS - Armament Systems; United States; On-site; USD 99,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems in Plymouth, MN is seeking an experienced Test Engineer to support our Armament Systems site. The role involves building and maintaining automated test equipment for military/aerospace products and leading testability improvements.

You will design verification methods, co-lead design reviews, and collaborate with Design and Manufacturing Engineering to ensure high-quality, cost-effective testing.

Qualifications

• BS in Physics, Electrical or Computer Engineering or equivalent.
• 5 years of experience building/maintaining automated test equipment (ATE) or 3 years with a Master's.
• US citizenship; ability to obtain secret clearance.
• Experience with LabVIEW and embedded hardware knowledge.
• Familiarity with test equipment, schematics, and communication protocols.
• Willingness to travel up to 10% and work on-site.

Responsibilities

• Create production test equipment for military/aerospace products.
• Program, debug, and deploy tests that calibrate device specs.
• Develop cost-effective DVT test methods.
• Maintain and update test equipment and fixtures.
• Support production floor test equipment.
• Understand product functionality to optimize test time.
• Co-lead design reviews and testability efforts.
• Assist fixture fabrication and manage parts/suppliers.
• Prepare test programs and instrument racks.
• Analyze data and modify test processes as needed.
• Coordinate between Design and Manufacturing Engineering.
• Perform Design for Testability and coverage analysis.
• Convert customer requirements into test cases for DVT/production tests.

Skills

LabVIEW

Python

C++

OOP

Electronics

Education

Bachelor of Science in Physics, Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering

Master's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering (preferred)

Tools

PXI

GPIB

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be 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 Defense Systems is seeking an experienced Test Engineer to support our Armament Systems site in Plymouth, MN. This can be filled at the principal (Level 3) or sr. principal (level 4) depending on experience. This site develops and produces medium and large-caliber ammunition as well as precision capabilities for direct and indirect fire systems. Leading the industry, this team successfully completes lifecycle support for medium-caliber cannons, develops miniature, precision strike weapons for airborne platforms, creates survivability solutions for soldiers and the next generation tactical ammunition for a variety of combat platforms.

Responsibilities:

• Ensure product quality by creating production test equipment for military/aerospace products.
• Includes programming, debugging, and deploying into production equipment that adjusts, calibrates and certifies device specifications.
• Design, develop, and implement cost-effective methods of testing for Design Verification (DVT).
• Maintain and update test equipment supporting functional board level and final acceptance testers.
• Support production floor test equipment.
• Understand the functionality of several products to reduce test time or suggest additional tests.
• Co-lead design reviews and design for testability.
• Assist with fixture fabrication and ordering of parts and managing suppliers.
• Prepare test and diagnostic programs, design test fixtures, instrument racks and equipment.
• Compile data and define changes required in test equipment, test procedures, manufacturing processes, or test requirements.
• Function as liaison between Design Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering to ensure that innovative new product designs can be manufactured cost effectively with high quality.
• Perform Design for Testability and coverage analysis.
• Understand customer requirements documentation and translate to test cases for DVT and production test.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering or equivalent discipline.
• Principal (Level 3): 5 years of professional experience in building and maintaining automated test equipment, OR a Masters degree & 3 years of professional experience in building and maintaining automated test equipment.
• Sr. Principal Test Engineer (Level 4): 8 years of professional experience in building and maintaining automated test equipment (ATE). Or master’s degree plus 6 years of experience; or PhD plus 4 yrs of experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain government secret clearance after starting employment (US citizenship required).
• Experience as Electrical Engineer or Computer Engineer oriented to hardware.
• Proven Experience in programming languages.. 1-2 years of experience in LabVIEW.
• Read/understand schematics, understand embedded software and communication protocols.
• Digital and Analog Electronics experience to design circuitry for signal conditioning and isolation.
• Knowledge in Electrical and Functional Testers with interfaces, pneumatic systems, communication protocols, PXI and GPIB instruments test platforms.
• Work on-site with flexible work arrangement.
• Able to travel 10% of time (domestic).
• Solid communication skills and ability to clearly establish verbal communication with remote audience.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent tasks.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, team-oriented, self-motivated, leadership.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with cross-functional team members.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment that is fast paced, rapidly changing, short turn-around environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering is highly desired.
• Experience with high-volume device assembly and PCB fabrication practices.
• Experience designing test fixtures and product testing under high and low temperature extremes.
• LabVIEW, Python or C++ and OOP experience.
• Experience with ICT testing and fixture development is a plus (Keysight i3070 preferable).
• Green belt or experience in the use of Six Sigma tools: DOE, R&R, MSE, DFSS is preferred.
• PWB layout and design experience.

Primary Level Salary Range:

$98,900.00 - $148,300.00

Secondary Level Salary Range:

$123,400.00 - $185,000.00

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.

Benefits:

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

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.

U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

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.

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.