System Test Engineer

0090 CORP-Corporate Office; United States; On-site; USD 81,300 - 121,900; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Company-paid holidays

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in the United States is seeking an Air Vehicle System Test Engineer to work in the Test & Evaluation organization. The position involves domestic training with the potential for international assignments in Japan, UAE, or Guam for 24 months.

Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field and the ability to obtain a DoD Secret clearance. Responsibilities include interfacing with engineering teams, conducting aircraft ground tests, and troubleshooting systems.

Qualifications

• 2 years of relevant experience with a Bachelor's degree, or zero with a Master's.
• DoD Secret clearance or currently enrolled in Consent to Enroll (CE).
• Capability to complete training in Pax River, MD and Rancho Bernardo, CA.

Responsibilities

• Interface with maintenance and flight test engineering.
• Operate Vehicle and Payload Test Controller during aircraft testing.
• Install, troubleshoot, and maintain equipment per engineering directives.

Skills

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to acquire Top-Secret/SCI clearance

Experience with aircraft ground test operations

Willingness to travel internationally

Strong knowledge of MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field

Master’s degree in a STEM discipline

Tools

Multimeter

Network/spectrum analyzer

Oscilloscope

Job description

Relocation Assistance: Relocation assistance may be available. Clearance Required for Start: Yes. Clearance Type: Secret. Travel: Yes, 25% of the time.

At Northrop Grumman, our employees work on revolutionary systems that impact people worldwide. Our pioneering spirit has driven advancements from the first transatlantic flight to stealth bombers and lunar landings. We seek individuals with bold ideas, courage, and a pioneering spirit to help invent the future and enjoy the journey.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for an Air Vehicle System Test Engineer – Engineering Field Service Representative (FSR) in the Test & Evaluation organization, located in Pax River, MD. The position requires 6+ months of domestic training in Pax River, MD and Rancho Bernardo, CA before deployment. Approximately 25% domestic and OCONUS travel is expected. After training, the role may require deployment to Japan, United Arab Emirates, or Guam for at least 24 months; if no immediate deployment is available, the candidate may continue working in Pax River, MD.

Responsibilities

• Interface with NGC and customer Flight Engineers, aircraft maintenance Technicians, US Navy service members, and subsystem SMEs to sustain operations.
• Serve as the primary interface between maintenance, design, and flight test engineering.
• Operate Vehicle and Payload Test Controller (VTC/PTC) during aircraft start‑up/shut‑down for launch and recovery, conduct static ground tests, and troubleshoot.
• Provide inputs to update Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMS).
• Review and provide inputs during engineering development and execute Detailed Test Requirements, Acceptance Test Procedures, and Ground Test Plans.
• Install, operate, troubleshoot, maintain, repair, and modify equipment per IETMS and engineering directives (TDs/ECRs/TEIs/AMRs/MAFs).
• Perform organizational/depot‑level maintenance and technical support on products such as equipment, integrated systems, subsystems, and software at customer and field locations.
• Develop general knowledge of all aircraft systems, VTC/PTC, engineering design, and software.
• Perform field integration, troubleshooting, and repair of air vehicle systems at customer locations, including flightline or hangar operations.
• Interpret and trace electrical and aircraft schematics.
• Conduct electrical and RF troubleshooting using multimeter, network/spectrum analyzer, oscilloscope, Time‑Domain Reflectometer (TDR), etc.
• Review and analyze engineering schematics, supplier design data, and support functional test requirements, including acceptance, qualification, and system integration on the air vehicle.

Essential Functions

• Assist with 25% domestic and OCONUS travel as required.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field with 2 years of relevant experience or a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with 0 years of relevant experience.
• DoD Secret clearance in scope or currently enrolled in Consent to Enroll (CE), with ability to obtain a Top‑Secret/SCI clearance within a reasonable time.
• Experience with aircraft ground test operations.
• Willingness and ability to complete required training in Pax River, MD and Rancho Bernardo, CA.
• Capability and readiness to travel support customer needs worldwide.
• Willingness and ability to support an international assignment in Japan, United Arab Emirates, or Guam for a minimum of 24 months.
• Ability to pass a new‑hire physical if required.
• Working knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including briefing test results to senior leadership.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access (PAR) within a reasonable time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active in‑scope Top Secret/SCI DoD security clearance at time of application, including eligibility for counterintelligence polygraph if required.
• Previous unmanned air vehicle system test or maintenance experience.
• MQ‑4 Vehicle Test Controller or Triton BETTIE operator experience.
• Aircraft test or lab test experience.
• Experience with equipment to test and troubleshoot aircraft systems.
• Experience loading data and configuration files to aircraft assemblies.
• Ability to support a new or extended assignment at a company‑selected international or Guam location after the initial 24‑month period.

Salary & Benefits

Primary Level Salary Range: $81,300.00 – $121,900.00. Pay may be adjusted based on scope, responsibilities, experience, education, skillset, and market conditions. Employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonuses, and long‑term incentives. Benefits include health insurance, life and disability insurance, savings plan, company‑paid holidays, and PTO.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We make 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 full EEO and pay transparency statement, visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. citizenship is required for all positions requiring a government clearance.