Principal Systems Engineer (E3- Electrical)

Northrop Grumman; Melbourne (FL); On-site; USD 98,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer – E3 who provides technical leadership for electromagnetic environmental effects across complex aerospace systems. You will translate customer requirements into total system solutions, covering design, analysis, verification, and lifecycle considerations.

The role focuses on developing E3 requirements, guiding cross-discipline reviews, and applying MIL STD 461/464 standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 5+ years of engineering experience, or Master’s with 3+ years, or PhD with 1+ year.
• Active DoD Secret security clearance.
• Experience with MIL STD 461 and MIL STD 464.
• Minimum 1 year of RF, test, or design engineering experience.
• Experience in system requirements development and decomposition with traceability.

Responsibilities

• Develop, interpret, allocate, tailor, and flow down E3 requirements to all design levels.
• Engage across all phases of the program lifecycle and communicate complex E3 concepts clearly.
• Prepare and deliver E3 content at design reviews, addressing risks and compliance.
• Develop E3 design guidelines and perform EMI/EMC analyses on components and systems.
• Lead grounding schemes, shielding, EMI filters, and interface circuitry for EMC.
• Prepare and review E3 test procedures, reports, and control plans; contribute to cross-discipline reviews.
• Develop E3 test procedures and lead testing per MIL standards and drive corrective actions.
• Train and mentor E3 engineers; uphold Northrop Grumman’s E3 excellence.
• Contribute to E3 capability growth with processes and documentation.

Skills

RF engineering

System requirements

Requirements traceability

EMI/EMC principles

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Master’s degree in STEM

PhD in STEM

Tools

HFSS

CST

SPICE

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Interim Top 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.

The Principal Systems Engineer – E3 provides technical leadership for electromagnetic environmental effects (E3) across complex aerospace systems and programs. This role performs technical planning, system integration, verification and validation, cost and risk assessment, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for total systems. Analyses are performed at all levels of the product lifecycle, including concept, design, fabrication, test, installation, operation, maintenance, and disposal.

The engineer ensures the logical and systematic conversion of customer and product E3 requirements into total system solutions that account for technical, schedule, and cost constraints. Responsibilities include functional analysis, timeline analysis, detailed trade studies, requirements allocation, and interface definition to translate customer requirements into hardware and software specifications.

E3 Responsibilities

• Develop, interpret, allocate, tailor, and flow down E3 requirements to all design levels; ensure requirements are clear, testable, and traceable.
• Engage across all phases of the program lifecycle; communicate complex E3 concepts clearly and concisely to audiences that may be unfamiliar with E3 topics.
• Prepare and deliver E3 content at internal and external design reviews, including discussion of issues, risks, mitigations, and compliance status.
• Develop E3 design guidelines and best practices; create models and perform analyses on components, subsystems, and systems using EMI/EMC principles.
• Lead the design of grounding schemes, chassis and harness shielding, EMI filters, and interface circuitry required to achieve EMC.
• Prepare and review E3 test procedures, test reports, technical analyses, and E3 control plans; provide E3 input to cross-discipline design reviews.
• Develop E3 test procedures and support/lead E3 testing in accordance with applicable governmental and industry standards (e.g., MIL STD 461, MIL STD 464, DO 160); assess results and drive corrective actions to closure.
• Train, mentor, and provide technical direction to less-experienced E3 engineers; help maintain and enhance Northrop Grumman’s reputation for E3 excellence.
• Contribute to E3 capability growth by developing processes, procedures, documentation, and protocols that advance the practice of E3 engineering within the organization.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university and 5 years of engineering experience,
• OR Master’s degree in STEM and 3 years of engineering experience,
• OR PhD in STEM and 1 years of engineering experience.
• Active DoD Secret security clearance.
• Ability to obtain and/or maintain special program access prior to start of employment, as required.
• Experience with MIL STD 461 and/or MIL STD 464.
• Minimum 1 year of experience in RF, test, or design engineering.
• Experience in system requirements development and decomposition, including translating customer or specification-level requirements into system, subsystem, and component-level requirements and maintaining requirements traceability.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, with a focus in Electromagnetics, RF, or analog circuitry.
• Experience with defense and aerospace industry practices and programmatic support (e.g., BOE development, RFP/RFQ responses, ROM estimates, CAM responsibilities, WBS planning, and risk assessments for E3 compliance).
• Extensive design experience with EMI filters, circuit layout and analysis for E3, shielding, lightning protection, and cable/harness design.
• Working knowledge of modeling and simulation of E3 using commercially available tools (e.g., HFSS, CST, SPICE-based tools, or similar).

Primary Level Salary Range: $98,400.00 - $147,600.00

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.