Principal Quantum Instrument Engineer/Scientist

Northrop Grumman•Los Angeles, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

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 is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. Our Engineering and Sciences (E&S) organization pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered with providing the skills, innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter. Come be a part of our mission! Northrop Grumman Mission Systems sector is seeking a Principal Quantum Instrument Engineer/Scientist to join our team of qualified individuals. This position is located in Woodland Hills, CA . The qualified applicant will become part of the Northrop Grumman's Advanced Microsystems (AμS) team with a focus on quantum sensing. As a part of this team, you will support both internally funded and externally funded research and development projects. These projects will range from early-stage research through to system level integration and demonstration. This position will also support the pursuit of new funding through outreach to potential customers, technical presentations, and proposal writing. We are seeking an experimental scientist or engineer with experience in Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) physics and precision measurement techniques. The ideal candidate will have strong hand-on laboratory skills and a demonstrated interest in developing, integrating, and characterizing atomic and quantum sensors for advanced applications.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) with 5 years of relevant experience, or Master's degree in STEM-related field with 3 years of relevant technical experience, or a PhD in a STEM-related field with 1 year of relevant technical experience (including candidates currently enrolled in a PhD program with completion prior to the start date).
Hands-on experience performing experimental physics or engineering laboratory work.
Experience with standard laboratory instrumentation, including oscilloscopes, signal analyzers, lock-in amplifiers, laser systems, fiber optics, digital multimeters, and/or AC/DC sources.
Experience aligning, tuning, and locking laser systems.
Experience building, assembling, and integrating custom laboratory or experimental hardware.
Experience troubleshooting electronics, experimental setups, and instrumentation.
Familiarity with mechanical design and fabrication techniques relevant to laboratory or prototype hardware.
Familiarity with vacuum systems, including high-vacuum or ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) system operation.
Experience working with alkali atoms or related atomic physics systems.
Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information clearly and work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
Demonstrated ability to learn new technical topics quickly and independently solve problems in a fast-paced research and development (R&D) environment.
U.S. citizenship.
Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance per customer requirements.
Ability to work full-time onsite at our Woodland Hills, CA campus.

Nice To Haves

PhD in experimental AMO physics or a closely related field.
Strong background in experimental AMO physics or related applied quantum sensing technologies.
Experience developing, integrating, and characterizing precision quantum, photonic, or atomic sensing instruments.
Experience with low-noise measurement techniques, experimental methods, and closed-loop architectures used in precision sensor control.
Experience analyzing basic, complex, and large data sets, including automation of data analysis workflows.
Hands-on laboratory experience demonstrating strong experimental technique and attention to detail.
Background knowledge in mechanical, electrical, optical, and/or vacuum systems design, fabrication, and operation.
Experience writing, maintaining, and contributing to version-controlled code in Python or MATLAB.
Experience using data analysis, modeling, or simulation to support experimental design, signal performance interpretation, and analysis of experimental results.
Familiarity with multiphysics modeling and simulation tools such as COMSOL Multiphysics, or similar finite-element analysis (FEA) tools.
Familiarity with Wolfram Mathematica or similar symbolic and numerical computation tools for modeling, analysis, or simulation.
Knowledge of programming in LabVIEW for running test equipment.
Active DoD Secret clearance.
Motivated to continuously learn new technologies, tools, and technical skills.
Able to identify problems, analyze data, and develop corrective actions for experimental plans.
Able to collaborate in a small, multidisciplinary team environment.
Willing to contribute to R&D discussions and cross-coordinate with other teams to define, build, execute, and measure experimental efforts.

Responsibilities

Be a collaborative member of a multidisciplinary team solving challenging scientific and engineering problems.
Work hands-on in the laboratory building, integrating, tuning, and testing developmental atomic and quantum sensing instruments and systems.
Own and execute experimental tasks and subsystem-level development efforts, contributing to instrument performance, reliability, and robustness.
Collaborate with engineers and scientists to diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve sensor and system level-issues.
Communicate technical progress, results, and risks clearly to team members and management.
Support customer engagements, demonstrations, and new business development.
Present technical work and findings at internal reviews, customer meetings, and technical forums, as appropriate.
Contribute to continuous improvement of laboratory procedures, hardware, electronics, and experimental infrastructure.
Identify technical challenges as they arise and work proactively with the team to develop effective solutions.
Continue to expand technical breadth and depth through self-directed learning and collaboration within the team.