Principal Test & Evaluation Engineer

Northrop Grumman; Melbourne (KY); On-site; USD 89,000 - 134,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance may be available

9/80 schedule with every other Friday

Learning opportunities

Friendly team environment

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems in Melbourne, FL, seeks a Principal Test & Evaluation Engineer to join a vibrant team. The role focuses on 5G/NextG research, cloud architectures, and automation across Linux and Windows environments.

You will integrate, deploy, and maintain advanced research software in a hands-on, multi-disciplinary setting. You will design, test, and validate microservices in Azure, AWS, or hybrid environments, while working toward program milestones and following

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in STEM with 5+ years experience, or MS with 3 years, or STEM PhD with 1 year.
• Active US Government Secret clearance or higher with recent background investigation or Continuous Evaluation.
• Ability to obtain SAP clearance in a reasonable time.
• Experience with virtualization and/or containerization.
• Experience with on-premise and cloud infrastructure.
• Ability to lift up to 75 lbs for equipment demos.
• Experience with demo/experiment integration and execution.
• Experience with Agile software development.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% in the continental US.

Responsibilities

• Integrating, deploying, and enhancing 5G systems based on the O-RAN standard.
• Designing and deploying microservices on Azure, AWS, and hybrid environments.
• Work independently and identify solutions to complex problems.
• Provide technical solutions to a wide range of complex problems aligned with program objectives.
• Develop, modify, and maintain test and integration software across the lifecycle.
• Meet milestones and deadlines with best-in-class solutions.
• Follow roadmaps, plans, and schedules.
• Collaborate with software lead and follow guidance.

Skills

Python scripting

Agile software development

Cloud architectures

Microservices

Kubernetes

Virtualization/Containerization

Linux/Windows environments

Education

Bachelor of Science in STEM with 5+ years

Master of Science in STEM with 3+ years

STEM PhD with 1 year

Tools

Azure

AWS

Kubernetes

Docker

Linux

Windows OS

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 a Principal Test & Evaluation Engineer to join the team of qualified individuals on our Test and Evaluation team. This role is located onsite in Melbourne, FL.

In this role, the successful candidate will support a research area associated with our key lab environment within the Research & Advanced Design (RAD) organization.

The program technologies include 5G/NextG communications, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and future wireless technologies in support of tactical applications for the warfighter. Responsibilities will include integrating, deploying, maintaining, troubleshooting, and enhancing 5G systems, Azure and AWS cloud architecture, and the associated infrastructure for advanced research and design. The role requires hands‑on technical experience and a can‑do attitude towards environment automation, management, and continuous improvements. You will be expected to take ownership of hard problems and drive toward a solution, while working in a multi‑discipline team environment. You will develop, modify, and maintain customized or standardized applications, integration, formal system testing, release, installation, and maintenance. A solid experience in scripting (python) in a Linux and Windows OS environment is required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Integrating, deploying, and enhancing 5G systems based on the O-RAN standard.
• Designing and deploying microservices architectures on Azure, AWS, and hybrid environments.
• Ability to work independently and identify solutions to complex problems.
• Providing technical solutions to a wide range of complex difficult problems that are imaginative, thorough, practicable, and consistent with programs objectives.
• Developing test and integration software from all phases of the software lifecycle.
• Meeting milestones and deadlines by providing best in‑class solutions.
• Adhering to and following roadmaps, plans, and schedules.
• Working closely with the software lead and following their guidance.

We offer flexible work arrangements, 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off, phenomenal learning opportunities, exposure to a wide variety of projects and customers, and a very friendly team environment. We are looking for self‑motivated, proactive, and goal‑oriented people to help us grow our services and become even better at what we do.

Basic Qualifications:

• Must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) discipline AND 5 years of related professional/military experience OR a Master of Science degree in a STEM discipline AND 3 years of related professional/military experience, OR a STEM Ph.D. AND 1 years of related professional/military experience

• Must have an active US Government Secret (or higher) clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation)

• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance, within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.

• Must have experience on virtualization on different platforms and/or containerization

• Must have experience working with on‑premise and cloud infrastructure

• Must be able to lift up to 75 lbs for transporting equipment to demo/experiment integration and execution

• Must have experience with demo/experiment integration and execution

• Must have experience with the Agile software development process.

• Must have willingness and ability to travel within the continental U.S. up to 25% of the time.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills and strong interpersonal skills.
• Experience with 5G communications protocols and equipment.
• Experience building, deploying, and maintaining microservices architectures in Azure, AWS, or hybrid environments.
• Experience with Kubernetes.
• Experience integrating AI/ML models into microservices architectures.
• Experience applying commercial products to military applications.
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) techniques and tools.

Primary Level Salary Range: $89,400.00 - $134,200.00

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.