Staff Hardware Engineer: RF & Digital Sustainment Lead

Northrop Grumman; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 161,000 - 241,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Savings plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Staff Hardware Engineer to sustain RF/digital hardware for the F-35 program in San Diego, CA. You will provide technical leadership, drive test strategies, and lead cross‑functional teams to resolve complex hardware issues.

The role requires a DoD Top Secret clearance, a strong background in RF hardware, and collaboration with systems, software, and manufacturing engineering. Telework may be approved at manager’s discretion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 12+ years experience, or Master’s with 10+ years, or PhD with 8+ years of related engineering experience
• Experience with classified and unclassified networks, secure data/storage solutions, and government interfaces
• Hands-on electrical and RF troubleshooting using equipment such as multimeters, network/spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret clearance; US Citizenship required

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 hardware and test issues
• Analyze hardware and test performance data to identify systemic trends and lead corrective/improvement actions
• Guide the development, verification, and implementation of new or improved test methods, fixtures, and equipment
• Collaborate with systems, software, and manufacturing engineering to ensure robust hardware/software integration
• Mentor and coach engineers and technicians, building capability in troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis
• Establish and maintain product yield targets; drive yield improvement initiatives and report status in program forums
• Support organizational and depot‑level maintenance and technical support at customer and field locations, as needed
• Partner with program management and functional leadership to align hardware sustainment priorities with program objectives

Skills

RF troubleshooting

Electrical engineering

System integration

Test equipment

Schematic reading

DoD clearance

Leadership

Education

STEM degree

Tools

LabVIEW

Python

C/C++

FPGA/VHDL

Job description

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Staff Hardware Engineer to sustain RF/digital hardware for the F-35 program in San Diego, CA. You will provide technical leadership, drive test strategies, and lead cross‑functional teams to resolve complex hardware issues.

The role requires a DoD Top Secret clearance, a strong background in RF hardware, and collaboration with systems, software, and manufacturing engineering. Telework may be approved at manager’s discretion.