Senior Principal / Principal Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer

Northrop Grumman; Melbourne (KY); On-site; USD 98,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer (Principal or Sr Principal) to design and implement instrumentation for flight test aircraft in Melbourne, FL. You will define configurations, perform signal conditioning, and support design reviews and test integration.

The role requires a STEM degree with 5+ years experience (or a Master’s with 2+ years), active Secret clearance, and the ability to obtain Top Secret clearance. This position is on site in Melbourne, FL.

Qualifications

• Must have a STEM degree and 5+ years related experience, or a Master’s with 2+ years.
• Active US Government Secret clearance (or Continuous Evaluation).
• Ability to obtain Top Secret clearance.
• Experience in Flight Test environments.
• Solid understanding of data systems, telemetry, RF, onboard recording, ground stations.

Responsibilities

• Define instrumentation system configurations and signal conditioning for Airborne Data Acquisition hardware.
• Monitor instrumentation system configurations and support design reviews and test integration.
• Develop architectural implementations for TTC Airborne Data Acquisition Systems.
• Collaborate with customers and engineers in a dynamic, performance‑driven environment.

Skills

Flight test instrumentation

Data systems

Telemetry & RF

Strain gauges

Accelerometers

Pressure transducers

MIL-STD-1553

IEEE-1394

ARINC-429

MIL-HDBK-516B

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master’s degree

Tools

Symvionics IADS

IRIG 106

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.

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, but they’re also making history.

Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems has an opening for a Flight test Instrumentation Engineer (Principal Engineer/Sr Principal Engineer) to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position will be located in Melbourne, FL.

As a member of the Flight Test Instrumentation team, you will be responsible for developing instrumentation drawings that will be implemented flight test aircraft.

Essential Functions

• Define Instrumentation system configurations and signal conditioning requirements and architectures common to Airborne Data Acquisition Hardware including gathering, tracking and communicating requirements effectively to multidisciplinary teams.
• Monitor and understand the configuration of the instrumentation system to recommend/authorize configuration changes and perform a variety of duties, including engineering design tasks as assigned, supporting design reviews, procedure writing, test integration and participating in trade study analyses.
• Develop architectural implementations for TTC Airborne Data Acquisition Systems,
• The selected candidate will work in a dynamic people-focused environment while interacting with customers and other design engineers. The position will be based out of Melbourne, FL.

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

Basic Qualifications

“This requisition may be filled at either an Instrumentation Principal Engineer or Sr Principal Engineer level”

Basic Qualifications for Principal Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer:

• Must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM discipline AND 5 years of related professional/military experience, OR a Master’s degree AND 2 years of related professional/military experience.
• Must have an active US Government Secret clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance, within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.
• Experience working in Flight Test environments
• Solid understanding of application and implementations of data systems, telemetry and RF, onboard recording systems and ground stations, sub-systems and specialized Instrumentation test equipment.
• Strong knowledge of capabilities, uses, and limitations of Strain Gages, Accelerometers, Pressure Transducers and other commonly used instrumentation sensors.
• Basic knowledge of data bus architecture MIL-STD-1553, IEE-1394, ARINC-429, RS-232 and RS-422.
• Knowledge or experience navigating MIL-STD documents and specifications

Basic Qualifications for Sr Principal Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer:

• Must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM discipline AND 8 years of related professional/military experience, OR a master’s degree AND 6 years of related professional/military experience.
• Must have an active US Government Secret clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret Clearance, within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.
• Experience working in Flight Test environments
• Solid understanding of application and implementations of data systems, telemetry and RF, onboard recording systems and ground stations, sub-systems and specialized Instrumentation test equipment.
• Strong knowledge of capabilities, uses, and limitations of Strain Gages, Accelerometers, Pressure Transducers and other commonly used instrumentation sensors.
• Basic knowledge of data bus architecture MIL-STD-1553, IEE-1394, ARINC-429, RS-232 and RS-422.
• Knowledge or experience navigating MIL-STD documents and specifications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with gathering system requirements.
• Able to create detailed design specifications, product manuals, ICDs, and/or design handbooks.
• Design and operational experience with TTC data systems.
• Familiarity with fundamental principles of Symvionics IADS software or working in a Mission Control Room
• Knowledge or experience with IRIG 106; CH10, CH7, and TM Downlink.
• Military aircraft development experience or familiarity of MIL-HDBK-516B Expanded, -516C and related DOD and DOD Services Airworthiness Documentation, Instructions, Guidance, Bulletins, and Circulars.
• Demonstrated ability to support post-test data processing and analysis to provide recommendations / authorize configuration changes of the test instrumentation system for flight to Engineering and Leadership.

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

Secondary Level Salary Range: $122,800.00 - $184,200.00

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.