eCad Electrical Engineer - Level 3/4 - Dulles

Northrop Grumman • Dulles, VA

2d • $114,000 - $213,400 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman's Space Sector is seeking an engineer specializing in PCB layout design to join their growing team. This role focuses exclusively on board-level layout responsibilities, not schematic design. The engineer will work closely with design engineers to implement high-reliability, multilayer circuit boards for spaceflight hardware, applying best practices and aerospace standards. The position is 100% onsite in Dulles, VA, and offers a 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off. This position can be filled at either a Level 3 or Level 4.

Requirements

• Basic Qualifications for Level 3: Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of professional PCB layout experience – OR – Master’s degree with 3 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 0 years of professional experience.
• Basic Qualifications for Level 4: Bachelor’s degree with 8 years of professional PCB layout experience – OR – Master’s degree with 6 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 4 years of professional experience.
• No clearance required to start
• Proven experience with Cadence Allegro PCB Designer in an aerospace, medical, or other high-reliability environment.
• Experience with creating and managing ECAD libraries (symbols/footprints).
• Demonstrated expertise in multilayer board layout with signal integrity and power integrity in mind.
• U.S. Citizenship.
• Demonstrated leadership in layout design for flight boards or mission-critical systems.
• Experience with IPC CID or CID+ certification or equivalent layout training.

Nice To Haves

• IPC CID or CID+ Certification.
• Experience with NASA-STD-8739.x, IPC-6012, and ECSS standards.
• Experience with RF layout best practices (e.g., maintaining return path integrity, shielding, and connector placement).
• Familiarity with designing for radiation environments and space qualification processes.
• Proficiency with constraint-driven design, stackup development, and controlled impedance routing.
• Experience with thermal/mechanical analysis coordination for layout decisions.
• Prior experience designing layouts for space-rated programs including DoD, NASA, or commercial LEO/GEO missions.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end PCB layout process using Cadence Allegro PCB Designer.
• Develop multilayer, high-density interconnect (HDI) and controlled impedance layouts optimized for space environments.
• Create and maintain PCB symbols, footprints, and padstacks in accordance with internal library standards.
• Work closely with electrical and mechanical engineer to ensure layout meets electrical, mechanical, and thermal constraints.
• Implement high-speed routing techniques including differential pairs, length tuning, and EMI/EMC compliance practices.
• Support RF and mixed-signal layout requirements, including: Controlled impedance and matched-length RF signal traces, Proper isolation and grounding strategies for RF sections, Minimization of parasitic effects, signal loss, and coupling across layers, Placement and routing for connectors, antennas, or filters used in RF paths.
• Incorporate blind/buried vias, microvias, and stackup design for rigid/flex and complex assemblies.
• Generate fabrication (Gerber, ODB++) and assembly files, release documentation, and participate in design reviews.
• Apply NASA-STD-8739 and IPC-2221/2222 layout standards for space-rated hardware.
• Participate in DFM/DFX reviews with manufacturing partners to ensure layout readiness for fabrication and assembly.
• Collaborate with engineers to define layout constraints, clearance rules, and placement strategies.
• Drive quality through internal peer reviews, ECAD checklist adherence, and continuous layout optimization.
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• health insurance coverage
• life and disability insurance
• savings plan
• Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business
• Relocation assistance may be available

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level