Principal / Sr. Principal Test Engineer - 18312*

0090 CORP-Corporate Office; United States; On-site; USD 99,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision coverage

401k

Educational Assistance

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a Principal Systems Test Engineer / Senior Principal Systems Test Engineer. This position will be located in Huntsville, AL, supporting the Advanced Programs.

As a full-time employee, you will work on test facilities, develop comprehensive test plans, and coordinate across internal teams and external suppliers, ensuring traceability and compliance. Strong DoD testing experience and security clearance are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) with 5+ years of relevant experience; or Master's with 3+ years; or PhD with 1+ year.
• Sr. Principal: Bachelor's with 8+ years; or Master's with 6+ years; or PhD with 4+ years.
• U.S. Citizen with active DoD Secret Clearance; ability to obtain Top Secret Clearance and SAP approval.
• 5+ years developing and executing integrated test plans for complex defense/aerospace systems.
• 5+ years hardware-in-the-loop/system-level hardware testing across multi-disciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and configure test facilities and HWIL/SWIL labs for Phase 2 and future tests.
• Translate contractual requirements into integrated test concepts balancing performance, schedule, cost.
• Lead development and execution of comprehensive test plans and schedules for subsystems and labs.
• Coordinate test activities across internal teams and suppliers for readiness and execution.
• Maintain the Integrated Test Plan (ITP) ensuring traceability of requirements.
• Analyze test data and generate reports to drive design and risk decisions.
• Review supplier test plans and results for compliance to requirements.
• Design proof-of-concept tests and risk-mitigation tests for technology maturation.
• Manage test data acquisition and configuration control for traceability.
• Provide first-line engineering support for maintenance/modifications to test systems.

Skills

Test planning

Test automation

System testing

DoD clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master's degree in STEM

PhD in STEM

Tools

DOORS

Confluence

Jira

Tableau

IBM Jazz

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

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

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a Principal Systems Test Engineer / Senior Principal Systems Test Engineer. This position will be located in Huntsville, AL, supporting the Advanced Programs.

As a full-time employee of Northrop Grumman, you are eligible for our robust benefits package including:

What You’ll Get to Do:

• Prepare and configure test facilities and HWIL/SWIL laboratories, including planning, procurement, builds, and readiness for Phase 2 and future phase test activities.
• Translate customer contractual requirements into integrated test concepts and solutions that balance technical performance, schedule, and cost constraints.
• Develop and lead preparation and execution of comprehensive test plans, procedures, and schedules for subsystem, system, and lab-based testing, including In Air Eject Test and Underwater Eject Test events.
• Coordinate integrated test activities, resources, and configurations across internal engineering teams, test operations, and external suppliers to ensure test readiness and efficient execution.
• Contribute to and maintain the program Integrated Test Plan (ITP), ensuring completeness, consistency, and traceability of test requirements through verification and validation.
• Perform technical analysis of test data and system performance, generating clear, data-driven evaluation reports and recommendations to drive design and risk‑reduction decisions.
• Review and assess supplier test plans, procedures, and results, including verification of delivered components and formal test data review for compliance to requirements.
• Design and implement proof-of-concept and early risk‑mitigation test methods, fixtures, and configurations to support Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction objectives.
• Manage test data acquisition, configuration control, analysis, and documentation using appropriate digital tools to ensure traceability and reusability.
• Provide first line engineering support for maintenance, repairs, and modifications to systems under test, supervision, and direction to maintenance personnel for maintenance, repairs, and modifications to systems under test.
• Serve as a technical liaison on test‑related matters with customers, subcontractors, and senior stakeholders, ensuring alignment on test strategy, execution status, and results while maintaining safety, security, and export‑control compliance.

This role is contingent upon contract award.

Basic Qualifications:

• Principal Test Engineer: Bachelors degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university and 5 years of relevant experience, OR a Masters degree and 3 years of relevant experience, OR a PhD and 1 year of relevant experience.
• Sr. Principal Test Engineer: Bachelors degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university and 8 years of relevant experience, OR a Masters degree and 6 years of relevant experience, OR a PhD and 4 years of relevant experience.
• For both levels: Must be a US Citizen with an active DoD Secret Clearance, at time of application, current and within scope, with an investigation date within the last 6 years.
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Top Secret Clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
• 5+ years of experience developing and executing integrated test plans and procedures for complex defense or aerospace systems, including requirements traceability within a systems engineering framework (e.g., DOORS or equivalent).
• 5+ years of experience planning and executing hardware-in-the-loop and/or system‑level hardware test activities, including coordination across multi‑disciplinary teams in a fast‑paced environment.
• 5+ years of experience in development of innovative Test Automation solutions.
• Document test requirements and methodologies in the requirements management system.
• Assesses anomalies and develops resolutions to documented procedures in conjunction with Test and Quality Engineering.
• Reviews status of test requirements, manages schedules and prepares reports.
• Selects and supervises technicians during test.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active DoD Top Secret Clearance.
• Experience developing Integrated Test Plans (ITPs), test procedures, and test reports (including functional checkout) for major DoD acquisition programs, preferably in strategic deterrence or missile systems.
• Experience leading test activities in a multi‑team environment, including schedule management, risk management, performance metrics, and customer/peer technical reviews (e.g., program reviews).
• Experience with test‑related toolsets such as DOORS (or equivalent), Atlassian tools (Confluence, Jira), and data analytics/visualization (e.g., Tableau) to manage requirements, test planning, and test metrics.
• Experience interfacing with and/or managing suppliers for test‑related work (e.g., drafting or executing Statements of Work for test activities, leading hardware procurement/supply chain coordination for test assets).
• CompTIA Security+ Certification (or equivalent DoD 8570 certification).
• Experience with IBM Jazz to assist in automated test execution.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
• 401k
• Educational Assistance
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions
• Paid Time Off
• Health & Wellness Resources
• Employee Discounts

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.

Salary and Compensation:

• 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.

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.