Sr Principal RF Microwave Design Engineer (AHT)

Northrop Grumman; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 114,000 - 213,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Space Systems in Aurora, Colorado seeks a Principal or Sr Principal RF Microwave Design Engineer to lead RF front-end designs and collaborate with network teams. The role requires an active Top Secret clearance and willingness to travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities include SARs, simulations, and integration with software and hardware partners, plus documenting designs and maintaining VM environments to support RF systems.

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance and SCI access eligibility.
• 5 years (Principal) or 8 years (Sr Principal) of relevant experience with STEM degree; higher degrees adjust counts accordingly.
• Ability to travel up to 25% and work off-shift hours if required.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain front-end RF components including software-defined radios and modems.
• Collaborate with network engineering to define system architecture for RF systems.
• Improve RF performance through simulations, modeling and testing.
• Document designs and configurations; support installation on virtual machines.
• Stay current with RF and networking advancements and suggest improvements.

Skills

RF microwave design

Software-defined radios

Modems

IP networking principles

RF simulations

Linux commands

Virtual machines

Troubleshooting RF networks

Team collaboration

Education

B.S. in STEM

M.S. in STEM

Ph.D. (optional)

Tools

STK

Network monitoring tools

RF testing equipment

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: 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.

Northrop Grumman Space Systems is seeking a Principal or Sr Principal RF Microwave Design Engineer to join our team. This position is based in Aurora, Colorado.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain front-end RF components, including software-defined radios and modems.
• Work collaboratively with network engineering teams to define system architecture and ensure seamless integration of RF systems with network infrastructure.
• Utilize knowledge of IP addressing and routing protocols to enhance the performance and reliability of RF communications.
• Troubleshoot network configurations and connectivity issues impacting RF system performance.
• Work with software developers to integrate new hardware components into the system and deliver end-to-end automated processes.
• Perform simulations, modeling, and testing to predict system performance and identify enhancements.
• Maintain thorough documentation of designs, specifications, and network configurations.
• Collaborate with system administrators to install, update, and optimize software running on virtual machines.
• Stay current with advancements in RF and networking technologies, recommending improvements to optimize product performance.

This position can be staffed at the Principal or Sr Principal level based on the basic qualifications below.

Basic Qualifications

• Principal: 5 Years with bachelor’s in science STEM; 3 Years with Masters
• Sr Principal: 8 Years with bachelor’s in science STEM; 6 Years with Masters; 4 Years with PhD
• Must have an active U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with the ability to obtain and maintain SCI approval/access.
• The ability and willingness to travel up to 25%
• The ability and willingness to work off-shift hours if needed, to include stints of 24/7 shifts in support of mission needs
  • Education/years of experience based on position level
  • Expertise in software-defined radios and modems, including operation and implementation.
  • Strong understanding of IP networking principles, including address allocation, subnetting, and routing over WANs and LANs.
  • Experience troubleshooting network issues related to digital RF communications, and RF analog communications.
  • Knowledge of basic antenna design and electromagnetic principles.
  • Proficient in RF simulation tools and networking software (e.g., STK, network monitoring tools).
  • Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
  • Ability to work effectively both independently and in a team-oriented environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong understanding of radio frequency principles and antenna design.
• Experience in configuring and managing network devices (e.g., routers, switches).
• Basic understanding of virtual machines and Linux commands.
• Hands-on experience with RF testing equipment and lab setups.

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,000.00 - $213,400.00

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.