Principal / Sr Principal Systems Test Engineer

Northrop Grumman; Palmdale (CA); On-site; USD 104,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Savings plan

Paid holidays

PTO

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Principal/Sr Principal Systems Test Engineer to lead our production test team in Palmdale, CA. You will bridge systems engineers and the production execution team, guiding the test lifecycle from planning through data evaluation.

Responsibilities span ATP development, TRR leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and mentor-ship of junior engineers. Expect a fast-paced environment with shifts and travel as needed; active Secret clearance required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM Degree). Minimum of 5 years of related experience with a BS Degree or 3 Years with MS Degree or 2 years with a Ph.D. in STEM
• Experience in a system test environment
• Must have an active U.S. government Secret or higher clearance (with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into Continuous Evaluation)
• Must have ability to obtain and maintain Program Access (PAR) within a reasonable period, as determined by the company to meet its business needs
• Proficiency with Mechanical or Electrical or Electromechanical Engineering concepts.
• Must be able to work multiple shifts depending on program need and have ability and willingness to work non-standard shifts/overtime.
• Proficient with MS Office applications including Excel, Word, and/or Power Point.

Responsibilities

• Test Development: Contribute to ATPs, test schedules, and detailed integration test procedures.
• Coordination & Approvals: Lead test planning groups and coordinate ATP reviews to move through approvals.
• Readiness & Execution: Lead Test Readiness Reviews (TRR) prior to execution and provide real-time testing support.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Act as the technical expert for aircraft systems and educate execution staff.
• Collaboration: Interface with design and analysis teams to define test data requirements and coordinate resources.
• Post-Test Analysis: Participate in post-test data evaluations and resolve discrepancies.
• Technical Proficiency: Develop creative solutions for complex engineering problems.
• Communication: Maintain outstanding written and oral communication with stakeholders.
• Adaptability: Be self-motivated and willing to learn additional engineering disciplines.
• Teamwork: Work effectively independently and within a team.
• Flexibility: Willingness to work extended shifts, weekends, and holidays.
• Work Environment: Thrive in a fast-paced production environment with safety and schedule adherence as priorities.

Skills

System test experience

Active clearance

MS Office proficiency

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s in STEM

Tools

Visio

AutoCAD

CATIA

NX

MS Office

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 25% 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 Aeronautics Systems has an opening for Principal/Sr Principal Systems Test Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals within our Test and Evaluation organization. This position will be in Palmdale, CA.

We are seeking a high-energy, detail-oriented Systems Test Engineer to join our production test team as a lead. In this role, you will serve as the subject matter expert for aircraft systems, ensuring testing is executed safely, efficiently, and to the highest technical standards. This unique position requires proficiency across electrical, RF, mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic disciplines, with the ability to transition seamlessly between these functions. You will bridge the gap between systems engineers and the production execution team, guiding the test lifecycle from initial planning through final data evaluation. As a lead, you will manage a small team of junior engineers and establish a structured mentorship and knowledge-sharing cadence. Your goal will be to bridge the gap between the technician and engineer workforces.

Job Responsibilities and Skills

• Test Development: Contribute to the creation of acceptance test plans (ATP), test schedules, and detailed integration test procedures.
• Coordination & Approvals: Host test planning working groups and coordinate technical reviews to move ATPs through the formal approval process.
• Readiness & Execution: Lead Test Readiness Reviews (TRR) prior to execution. Provide real-time support during testing, making critical decisions regarding safety and effectiveness.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Act as the technical expert for aircraft systems. Create educational content for execution staff to improve troubleshooting and system awareness.
• Collaboration: Interface with design and analysis teams to define test data requirements. Coordinate personnel and equipment to ensure seamless execution.
• Post-Test Analysis: Participate in post-test data evaluations and resolve technical discrepancies.
• Technical Proficiency: Ability to work under general direction to develop creative solutions for complex engineering problems.
• Communication: Outstanding written and oral communication skills for interfacing with internal stakeholders and external organizations.
• Adaptability: Self-motivated and willing to learn additional engineering disciplines as required.
• Teamwork: Proven ability to work effectively both independently and within a collaborative team environment.
• Flexibility: Willingness to work extended shifts, weekends, and holidays to meet critical program milestones.
• Work Environment: This position requires a thorough and detailed approach to work. The candidate must be comfortable in a fast-paced production environment where safety and schedule adherence are top priorities.

Selected Candidate must be able to work multiple shifts such as:

• 4x10A schedule (Mon-Thurs) 1st or 2nd or 3rd shift
• 4x10B schedule (Tue-Fri) 1st or 2nd or 3rd shift
• 3x10 schedule (Fri, Sa, Su) 1st or 2nd or 3rd shifts

This requisition may be filled at a higher grade based on qualifications listed below

Basic Qualifications

This position can be filled at either a Principal or Sr Principal Systems Test Engineer level.

Basic Qualifications Principal Systems Test Engineer

• Bachelor’s in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM Degree). Minimum of 5 years of related experience with a BS Degree or 3 Years with MS Degree or 2 years with a Ph.D. in STEM
• Experience in a system test environment
• Must have an active U.S. government Secret or higher clearance (with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into Continuous Evaluation)
• Must have ability to obtain and maintain Program Access (PAR) within a reasonable period, as determined by the company to meet its business needs
• Proficiency with Mechanical or Electrical or Electromechanical Engineering concepts.
• Must be able to work multiple shifts depending on program need and have ability and willingness to work non-standard shifts/overtime.
• Proficient with MS Office applications including Excel, Word, and/or Power Point.

Basic Qualifications Sr Principal Systems Test Engineer

• Bachelor’s in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM Degree). Minimum of 8 years of related experience with a BS Degree or 6 Years with MS Degree or 4 years with a Ph.D. in STEM
• Experience in a system test environment
• Must have an active U.S. government Secret or higher clearance (with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into Continuous Evaluation)
• Must have ability to obtain and maintain Program Access (PAR) within a reasonable period, as determined by the company to meet its business needs
• Proficiency with Mechanical or Electrical or Electromechanical Engineering concepts.
• Must be able to work multiple shifts depending on program need and have ability and willingness to work non-standard shifts/overtime.
• Proficient with MS Office applications including Excel, Word, and/or Power Point.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current Program SAP Access
• Active U.S. government Top Secret clearance
• Demonstrated expertise in test planning, execution, and troubleshooting for production and flight tests, including the development of clear, structured ATPs and detailed technical reports
• Experienced user in Visio, AutoCAD or CATIA or NX
• Solid understanding of electrical, RF and microwave fundamentals
• Ability to perform root-cause analysis and troubleshoot complex hardware/software issues down to the component level.

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

Secondary Level Salary Range: $129,300.00 - $193,900.00

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.