Principal or Sr Principal Engineer Test
About The Position
Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer or Sr. Principal Electrical Engineer to support the Common Products Test Engineering organization in Rancho Bernardo, California. The selected candidate must live within a commutable distance of the site. The requisition may be filled at either the Principal Level 3 or Sr. Principal Level 4, based on the listed qualifications. The role provides technical leadership across the lifecycle of complex electronic assemblies, including Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), Weapon Replaceable Assemblies (WRAs), and printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs). Work spans development, transition to production, sustainment, and in-service support. The engineer applies hands-on expertise in circuit analysis, schematic interpretation, component-level troubleshooting, root-cause investigation, and non-conformance review to resolve test failures, improve yield and reliability, and support material review board dispositions, engineering changes, and obsolescence solutions. The engineer works with design engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, suppliers, and customers to develop, validate, sustain, and improve production processes, test methods, and hardware performance. The work emphasizes safety, quality, producibility, cost, and on-time delivery, and includes qualification activities, technical documentation, and long-term product support for Aeronautics programs. The role also involves generating documentation of findings and solutions, debugging and verifying test stations, analyzing and resolving production-line faults during acceptance testing, and performing functional testing and troubleshooting of equipment and systems using standard engineering and scientific principles. The position requires effective communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Requirements
- For Principal level: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline and 5 years of related engineering experience, or a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of related experience, or a Ph.D. in a STEM discipline and 1 year of related experience.
- For Sr. Principal level: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline and 8 years of related engineering experience, or a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 6 years of related experience, or a Ph.D. in a STEM discipline and 4 years of related experience.
- General understanding of electrical engineering concepts, principles, and theory, with technical experience applying them while ensuring personnel and equipment safety.
- Ability to quickly understand and accurately apply new concepts in an evolving environment and organize work to meet established timetables.
- Experience with LabVIEW and TestStand software applications.
- Experience with automated testing of CCA.
- Experience with automated testing for LRU and WRA.
- Experience with electronic test equipment such as digital multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal generators, DC/AC power supplies, and network analyzers.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance and/or Special Program Access within a reasonable time as determined by business needs.
- Must be within a commutable distance of the Rancho Bernardo, California site.
Nice To Haves
- Electrical Engineering degree focused on mixed-circuit design.
- Experience with MES, equipment connectivity, traceability, SAP or other ERP/MRP systems, and automated manufacturing data collection.
- Experience in high-reliability, regulated, industrial, life-safety, aerospace, or other complex electronics manufacturing environments.
- Hands-on approach and ability to work effectively on the manufacturing floor while maintaining strong documentation and change control.
- Experience with OrCAD, PSpice, or LTspice for circuit simulation.
- Advanced knowledge of IPC-A-610 acceptance criteria and IPC J-STD-001 soldering process requirements; current IPC certification is a plus.
- Knowledge of IPC-7711/7721 rework and repair practices.
- Knowledge of J-STD-020/033 moisture-sensitivity controls.
- Hands-on experience bringing hardware from prototype design into production.
- Ability to work with minimal direction or guidance.
Responsibilities
- Provide technical leadership throughout the lifecycle of complex LRUs, WRAs, and PCBAs, from development and production transition through sustainment and in-service support.
- Perform circuit analysis, schematic interpretation, component-level troubleshooting, root-cause investigations, and non-conformance reviews.
- Resolve test failures and improve production yield and hardware reliability.
- Support material review board dispositions, engineering changes, and obsolescence solutions.
- Collaborate with design engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, suppliers, and customers to develop, validate, sustain, and improve production processes, test methods, and hardware performance.
- Support qualification activities, technical documentation, and long-term product support for Aeronautics programs.
- Provide in-person support and document findings and implemented solutions.
- Debug, troubleshoot, and verify test stations.
- Analyze, investigate, and resolve production-line faults during acceptance testing.
- Perform functional testing and troubleshooting of equipment and systems using standard engineering and scientific principles.
Benefits
- Health insurance coverage
- Life insurance
- Disability insurance
- Savings plan
- Company-paid holidays
- Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business
- Potential overtime, shift differential, and discretionary bonus, depending on the position
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
