Principal / Sr Principal Engineer Electronics

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret
TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescription
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.
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 Mission Systems Manufacturing Operations Test Engineering Team in Baltimore, MD seeks a Digital & Power / RF Test Engineer – Level 3 or Level 4.
This career opportunity is a great fit for self-motivated, proactive individuals who want to assume ownership of the performance and delivery of Northrop Grumman's diverse suite of digital, RF and power hardware. Our engineers work in a high exposure, fast paced, and exciting environment that involves “hands on” technical challenges, problem solving, and inter-department collaborations. If you thrive on solving problems and want different challenges each day, please read on!
RF / Digital Test Engineer – Level 3 or Level 4
We are seeking an experienced test engineer with strong foundations in digital electronics, power electronics, and RF to support production testing and troubleshooting of complex mixed‑signal hardware. In this role, you will work on both transmit‑side and receive‑side assemblies in a manufacturing environment, combining automated test execution, hands‑on bench debug, and data analysis to improve First Time Through Test Yield (FTTTY), Scrap, Rework, and Repair (SRR), performance, and reliability.
This position may be filled at either the Level 3 or Level 4 engineer level depending on the qualifications, experience, and demonstrated capabilities of the selected candidate.
What You’ll Get to Do
Execute and troubleshoot automated test procedures covering:
DC power‑on and current checks
Programming and JTAG / boundary‑scan tests
Digital bus and control interface tests
RF gain, noise figure, and intermodulation measurements
Channel isolation, BIT (built‑in test) functions, and filter rejection
Perform hands‑on debugging using:
Oscilloscopes to verify clocks, resets, and digital control signals
Spectrum analyzers and power meters to measure RF power, spurious, harmonics, and phase noise
Vector network analyzers to measure magnitude and phase of rf signals.
DMMs and other tools to validate supply rails, regulator outputs, and device health
Troubleshoot end‑to‑end RF and IF chains using schematics and block diagrams:
Identify issues in filters, amplifiers, switches, mixers, attenuators, and protection devices
Compare measured performance against test specifications and limits
Track down excessive insertion loss, gain errors, or unexpected spurious responses
Work with digital and embedded aspects of the design:
Support JTAG‑based programming and device verification
Verify that control buses, configuration registers, and BIT indicators behave as expected
Apply structured troubleshooting methods:
Use golden/reference units, A/B comparisons, and systematic measurements to isolate suspect hardware
Perform targeted component swaps and select‑in‑test (SIT) adjustments to bring units within specification
Document findings, QNs, and corrective actions clearly and consistently
Collaborate closely with design engineering, manufacturing engineering, and test technicians:
Provide data‑driven input on failure trends and root cause
Help refine test limits, procedures, and troubleshooting flows
Mentor technicians in interpreting automated test results and performing safe, effective bench debug
The successful candidate will be comfortable moving between digital, power, and RF problems; can read and reason from detailed schematics and block diagrams; and is disciplined about data, documentation, and communication.
Basic Qualifications — Level 3
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related STEM field and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience; or
Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related STEM field and a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience
Experience in a lab or production environment with:
Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, power meters, vector network analyzers, signal generators, and DC power supplies
Debugging and characterizing mixed‑signal or RF hardware (board or module level)
Experience reading and use of schematics and block diagrams to localize hardware failures.
Experience executing and debugging automated test procedures (e.g., power‑on, functional, RF performance, and BIT tests).
Experience with basic RF concepts (gain, noise figure, spurious, harmonics, filters) and analog/digital circuitry.
A current/active DoD Secret Security Clearance.
U.S. citizenship.
Basic Qualifications — Level 4
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related STEM field and a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience; or
Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related STEM field and a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience
Experience in a lab or production environment with:
Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, power meters, vector network analyzers, signal generators, and DC power supplies
Debugging and characterizing mixed‑signal or RF hardware (board or module level)
Experience reading and use of schematics and block diagrams to localize hardware failures.
Experience executing and debugging automated test procedures (e.g., power‑on, functional, RF performance, and BIT tests).
Experience with basic RF concepts (gain, noise figure, spurious, harmonics, filters) and analog/digital circuitry.
A current/active DoD Secret Security Clearance.
U.S. citizenship.
Preferred Qualifications (applies to both Level 3 and Level 4)
Experience with automated test equipment (ATE) platforms and test automation software.
Experience troubleshooting RF front ends or transceiver chains (filters, LNAs, mixers, attenuators, switch matrices, etc.).
Experience with JTAG/boundary‑scan tools and digital interfaces (e.g., SPI, I²C, LVDS, or similar).
Experience with built‑in test (BIT) concepts and designing or maintaining production test limits.
Experience with LabWindows/CVI, C/C++, Python, or similar languages for automated test development.
Experience with minimal direction, manage multiple units/tests in parallel, and communicate technical findings to cross‑functional teams.
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Primary Level Salary Range: $108,800.00 - $163,200.00
Secondary Level Salary Range: $135,800.00 - $203,600.00
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 benefit