Staff Hardware Engineer - RF/Digital Lead (Secret)

Northrop Grumman; United States; Hybrid; USD 161,000 - 241,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Savings plan

Paid time off

Education assistance

Training and development

9/80 schedule

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems in San Diego invites a Staff Hardware Engineer (Level 5) to lead RF/digital hardware sustainment for a key program. The role focuses on defining test strategies, driving improvements, and guiding investigations across a complex hardware portfolio, while collaborating with systems, software, and manufacturing teams.

Based on the Senior level requirements, the role requires a strong track record in RF/test engineering and the ability to mentor staff, with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 11+ years of related engineering experience; or Master’s with 9+ years; or PhD with 7+ years.
• Experience with classified and unclassified networks, secure data/storage solutions, and government interfaces.
• Reading specifications, schematics, and block diagrams and translating them into test/troubleshooting approaches.
• Hands-on electrical and RF troubleshooting using multimeters, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, etc.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and driving improvement efforts.
• Active Government Secret level Security Clearance; ability to obtain DoD Top Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for RF/digital hardware sustainment across the program.
• Define and drive hardware test strategies, architectures, and equipment roadmaps.
• Own high-impact investigations (RCCAs) and lead cross-functional teams to resolve complex issues.
• Analyze hardware/test performance data to identify systemic trends and lead corrective actions.
• Guide development, verification, and implementation of new test methods, fixtures, and equipment.
• Collaborate with systems, software, and manufacturing engineering for robust integration.
• Mentor engineers and technicians in troubleshooting and root-cause analysis.
• Establish and maintain product yield targets; drive yield improvement initiatives.
• Support depot maintenance and field location technical support as needed.
• Align hardware sustainment priorities with program objectives.

Skills

RF hardware

Test strategy

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional teamwork

Electrical RF troubleshooting

Schematic reading

Analytical thinking

Technical decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Master’s degree in STEM

PhD in STEM

Tools

C

C++

LabVIEW

Python

VHDL

FPGA

Job description

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems in San Diego invites a Staff Hardware Engineer (Level 5) to lead RF/digital hardware sustainment for a key program. The role focuses on defining test strategies, driving improvements, and guiding investigations across a complex hardware portfolio, while collaborating with systems, software, and manufacturing teams.

Based on the Senior level requirements, the role requires a strong track record in RF/test engineering and the ability to mentor staff, with