Principal Engineer/Sr. Principal Engineer RF Microwave Design

Northrop Grumman•Baltimore, MD

3d•$108,800 - $203,600•Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking experienced RF engineers in the following areas: Antennas, Electromagnetics, Computational Electromagnetics, RF/Microwave design, Digital beamforming, Hardware/Subsystem Integration and Test, and Antenna Control Design. The qualified candidate will work with a diverse and talented team of engineers developing innovative and cost-effective systems that support a broad range of products and business areas across the lifecycle of a program. Applicants should possess the ability to communicate effectively and clearly present technical approaches and findings. Responsibilities may include Testing and Troubleshooting Line Replacement Units (LRU) of RF architecture, recommend data driven requirements threshold adjustments; perform subsystem analysis including hardware from RF to digits, support for performance testing, requirements verification, and more. Work is performed without appreciable direction and exercising considerable latitude in determining technical objectives of assignments. Experienced applicants will have at least a bachelor’s degree in science or other related technical degree or have equivalent experience testing and troubleshooting, integration, designing, developing and/or testing radio frequency (RF) and/or microwave antenna systems and/or related RF hardware. Candidates would have the ability to troubleshoot complex problems which require the regular use of ingenuity and creativity.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related discipline with 5 years of experience (Principal Engineer) or 8 years of experience (Sr. Principal Engineer)
3 years of experience with a Masters Degree (Principal Engineer) or 6 years of experience with a Masters Degree (Sr. Principal Engineer)
An additional 4 years of experience is acceptable in lieu of a degree
U.S. Citizenship is required
Currently holds an active government secret clearance
Demonstrate problem solving skills to a variety of RF/Microwave design and test related problems of increasing scope and complexity as assigned
Proven knowledge of electrical engineering, design software and equipment
Expertise Testing and Troubleshooting in a Manufacturing Environment
Experience troubleshooting RF hardware/subsystems

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated technical ability/leadership and expertise in one or more of the following areas: Wide Band Waveform Generator test and/or troubleshooting, Phase Noise test and/or troubleshooting techniques, RF and/or digital hardware test and/or troubleshooting, Troubleshot electronic equipment to the component level, Integrated Receiver Exciter Assemblies (IREX), Highly integrated subsystems including receiver exciter hardware, RF Performance Analysis, Computational Electromagnetics, Statistics, Subsystem Control Design, RF Measurements and Data Reduction, Integration and test of RF assemblies, Subsystem requirements (hardware and software) derivation, flow-down, and configuration
Comfortable creating test support applications and tools using MATLAB, python, etc.
Experience with Atlassian Tool Suite, Git
Engineering background that includes: Familiarity with Antenna I&T\Analysis Subsystem parts (CCAs, front-end technology, Receiver-Exciter, phased array technology) and their capabilities
Familiarity with Antenna I&T\Analysis Subsystem metrics and requirements that are assessed (Gain, ERP, CPCR, Sensitivity, TOI, Noise Figure, various antenna subsystem health status, RF chain\paths)
Familiarity with Antenna I&T\Analysis Hardware testing environments: Build-up stations of components\parts (Labs with program STE Test Racks), Antenna Ranges (Near-Field, Compact Range, Far-Field, Spherical Near-Field)
Familiarity with AESA Sub-system Hardware flow processes
Pattern Analysis and modeling of AESA Subsystem hardware
ATP Testing flow (build, environmental screening, approval to move forward to NHA, TRRs, Post-Test Data reviews, Consent to Break, OK for Stores, OK to ship)
Understands the Design Process (PDR, DDR, CDR checklists and design gate deliverables)
Tools utilized for data processing\analysis (MATLAB, Python)
Documentation for Hardware (T-Specs, OTSAs, hardware drawings, ICDs, Set Selection Drawings)
Quality processes utilized in hardware anomaly cases (QNs, FRBs, MRBs, Engineering response to hardware failures in the ATP Test Flow, and Qualification phase)
Current Active DoD Secret Clearance.
Experience Testing, Troubleshooting or designing RF hardware/subsystems
Troubleshot electronic equipment to the component level.
Experience with RF lab test equipment: signal generator, oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, etc.
Hands on experience in at least one type of these test set: Common RF Test Set (CRFTS), LM-STAR, Hiller Test sets, Phase Noise Test sets and consoles
Experience troubleshooting and resolving HW/SW integration problems
Experience with using or developing software to control hardware (such as MATE or AMAX)
Experience with test scripting, data analysis, and/or signal processing
Experience mentoring other design and/or RF test engineers

Responsibilities

Testing and Troubleshooting Line Replacement Units (LRU) of RF architecture
Recommend data driven requirements threshold adjustments
Perform subsystem analysis including hardware from RF to digits
Support for performance testing
Requirements verification
Troubleshoot complex problems which require the regular use of ingenuity and creativity
Contribute as an RF or Hardware Lead or are able to contribute to the needs of a HW\RF Team, within the AESA Hardware Subsystem Discipline.