Sr Principal RF Microwave Design Engineer - 19023

0090 CORP-Corporate Office; Utah; On-site; USD 122,800 - 184,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision coverage

401(k) plan

Educational assistance

Life insurance

Employee assistance programs & work/lI

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Roy, Utah, seeks a Sr. Principal RF Microwave Design Engineer to lead a small team through conceptual to final design for a space-based vehicle. The role includes HWIL testing, system integration, and multi-team coordination.

Qualifications include a STEM degree with 8+ years (or advanced degrees with fewer years), active Secret clearance, and extensive RF experience, MATLAB, and COTS/MOTS trade studies. Relocation assistance may be available.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in STEM with 8+ years of relevant experience, or Master's with 6+ years, or PhD with 4+ years.
• Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain SAP approval.
• Experience with HWIL testing and RF subsystems.
• Experience reading schematics and RF diagrams.
• Experience with RF hardware/software translating system performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and RF engineers from conceptual to final design for a space-based vehicle.
• Oversee HWIL testing and verify requirements for operations.
• Coordinate technical exchange meetings with internal, customer, and supplier teams.
• Develop and review SOWs, ADPs, and ICDs through full release.
• Review engineering deliverables and perform trade analyses for SWaP and cost.

Skills

MATLAB

RF design

Hardware-in-the-Loop

Team leadership

RF test equipment

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master's degree (optional)

PhD (optional)

Tools

HFSS

CST

Job description

Sr. Principal RF Microwave Design Engineer – Roy, UT

Relocation assistance may be available. Clearance required for start: Yes (Secret). Travel: Yes, 25% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small team of design and RF engineers from conceptual design to final design for a space-based vehicle.
• Oversee the execution of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) testing and iteratively design and verify requirements for the operational configuration.
• Attend internal program, customer and/or supplier technical exchange meetings.
• Support formal program milestone reviews to provide and/or obtain progress status updates.
• Work in a fast‑paced environment with high expectations, diverse assignments, and collaborative/team settings across all levels.
• Ensure coordination between electrical and RF design with other integration teams.
• Coordinate electrical and RF system engineering content and work products.
• Develop Statement of Work (SOWs), Analysis Data Packages (ADPs), and Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and take them through the full review and release process.
• Review engineering deliverables such as part data sheets, logical/electrical ICDs, specifications, link budget analysis, and trade studies.
• Perform research, trade studies, evaluation, and systems integration analyses for SWaP and cost capability.
• Understand system‑level interdependencies that impact electrical requirements and design constraints.
• Demonstrate leadership principles – integrity, respect, organization, communication, etc.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university and 8 years of relevant experience, OR Master's degree and 6 years of relevant experience, OR PhD and 4 years of relevant experience.
• Active or current Secret clearance at time of application.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval.
• Experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop and subsystem integration, test, and troubleshooting.
• Experience reading and interpreting specifications, schematics, and block diagrams for complex RF subsystems.
• Experience with RF hardware and software translating system performance and operational capabilities from system requirements.
• Experience with digital engineering.
• Experience with RF test equipment such as spectrum analyzer, signal generator, network analyzer, oscilloscopes.
• Extensive experience with MATLAB and other scientific programming languages.
• Experience leading teams, mentoring, communicating with all levels internally and externally, and adapting to solve difficult problems.
• Experience with RF component selection for program needs via COTS, MOTS, or custom design trade studies.
• Experience working with vendors and global supply chain.

Preferred Qualifications

• HFSS and CST simulation experience.
• Telemetry communications link development and analysis, GPS receive system development, and C/No analysis.
• Understanding of plasma effects on link maintenance and incorporating plasma predictions into link budget analysis.
• RF system requirements derivation.
• RF transmitter and receiver hardware design.
• High‑temperature antenna design.
• MATLAB programming skills.
• Ansys System Tool Kit (STK) skills.
• Team integration and coordination experience.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage.
• 401(k) plan.
• Educational assistance.
• Life insurance.
• Employee assistance programs & work/life solutions.
• Paid time off.
• Health & wellness resources.
• Employee discounts.

Standard work schedule: 9/80 (nine‑hour days Monday through Thursday; every other Friday off).

Salary range: $122,800.00 – $184,200.00. Salary offers may be adjusted based on qualifications, experience, and market conditions.

U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance.

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

Note: This position is contingent upon contract award.