Sr. Principal Electronics Engineer – Test Hardware and Software

0090 CORP-Corporate Office; United States; On-site; USD 136,000 - 204,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Sr. Principal Electronics Engineer – Test Hardware and Software in Baltimore, MD. The role involves developing, enhancing, and maintaining test hardware and software for complex electronic systems across the product lifecycle, from design to flight test.

Candidates should have a strong mix of hardware and software skills, experience with DC, analog, digital, and RF test equipment, and hands-on troubleshooting. A government Secret Clearance is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 8+ years of experience, or Master’s with 6+ years, or Ph.D. with 3+ years.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and block diagrams.
• Experience in hardware and software design and development.
• Experience with text-based programming (C/C++).
• Background in RF theory and concepts.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a government Secret Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Understand design to cost, scope, and schedule.
• Define requirements and derive test hardware/software requirements from specs.
• Design electromechanical test fixtures and software solutions.
• Provide manufacturing support during hardware build.
• Integrate test fixtures and software into a functioning test solution.
• Certify test equipment and software per customer requirements.
• Troubleshoot and fix root causes of system-level issues.
• Participate in design reviews and technical peer reviews.

Skills

C/C++ programming

RF theory

Hardware & software design

Test & measurement equipment

Communication skills

Clearance eligibility

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Master’s degree in STEM

Ph.D. in STEM

Tools

LabWindows CVI

Visual Studio

C/C++ or C#

Mentor Graphics / Zuken / DxDesigner/Xpedition

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: 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.

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.

We are seeking a Sr. Principal Electronics Engineer – Test Hardware and Software to join our team in Baltimore, MD. The candidate should be a self‑driven problem solver with experience developing, enhancing, and maintaining test hardware and software for complex electronic systems. In this role, you will support the entire product lifecycle, from design and implementation through flight test and debugging, to ensure that product requirements are met. You will design and integrate electromechanical test fixtures and test software, provide manufacturing and factory support, troubleshoot and correct root causes of system‑level issues, and participate in design reviews and technical peer reviews to ensure system and hardware requirements are satisfied. The position requires a mix of test hardware and software design skills, experience with DC, Analog, Digital, and RF test & measurement equipment, and a hands‑on approach to troubleshooting complex electronic systems.

Typical Roles and Responsibilities

• Understanding design to cost, scope, and schedule
• Requirements definition and deriving test hardware and software requirements from specifications
• Design of electromechanical test fixtures & software test solutions
• Providing manufacturing support during the hardware build process
• Integration of test fixtures & software into a functioning test solution
• Test equipment & software certification per customer requirements
• Test system deployment and factory support
• Software maintenance and/or hardware fixture update initiatives
• Conducting reviews of hardware‑related products, hardware designs, and technical documents
• Active participation in design reviews and other technical reviews, as required
• Active participation in technical peer reviews to ensure system/hardware requirements are being met from an end‑to‑end system point of view
• Troubleshooting and correcting root causes of various system‑level issues
• Prioritizing work and making recommendations to Technical Leads, as required

This role is contingent upon candidates ability to obtain and maintain a government Secret Clearance.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 8 years’ experience, or Master’s degree in STEM with 6 years’ experience, or Ph.D. degree in STEM with 3 years’ experience.
• The ability to read and interpret specifications, electrical schematics and block diagrams
• Mix of hardware and software design and development
• Experience in text‑based programming (e.g. C / C++)
• Background and working knowledge in RF theory and concepts
• Effective verbal and written communication
• Experience with test & measurement equipment
• Ability to obtain and maintain a government Secret Clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading a hardware design or software design from requirements through verification and validation and certification
• Experience with building schedules and estimating Engineering costs
• Hardware Test design and Test Software integration background
• Experience with LabWindows CVI, Visual Studio, C/C++ or C# Development
• Experience with Test Sequence Development
• Experience with modern software version control tools such as Git or Subversion
• Experience with schematic design tools (e.g. Mentor Graphics, Zuken, DxDesigner/Xpedition, or similar)
• Proficiency with digital, analog, RF test equipment, RF theory and high speed digital design
• Familiarity with differential digital interfaces like LVDS – PXI/PXIe and VME bus experience
• Hands‑on troubleshooting of electronic hardware and test systems
• Advanced degree in Engineering or related STEM discipline
• Ability to work with minimal direction and guidance
• Active Secret clearance

Primary Level Salary Range: $135,800.00 - $203,600.00

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.

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.