Principal / Sr Principal Engineer Electronics

Northrop Grumman•Baltimore, MD

2d•$108,800 - $203,600•Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems’ Manufacturing Operations Test Engineering Team in Baltimore, Maryland is seeking a Digital & Power / RF Test Engineer at Level 3 or Level 4. The position supports production testing and troubleshooting of complex mixed-signal hardware, including transmit-side and receive-side assemblies. The work combines automated test execution, hands-on bench debugging, and data analysis to improve First Time Through Test Yield (FTTTY), Scrap, Rework, and Repair (SRR), performance, and reliability. The selected candidate’s level will depend on their qualifications, experience, and demonstrated capabilities. The engineer works in a fast-paced manufacturing environment involving practical technical challenges, problem-solving, and collaboration across departments. The role calls for moving between digital, power, and RF issues, reasoning from detailed schematics and block diagrams, and maintaining disciplined documentation and communication. The position requires a current/active DoD Secret clearance and U.S. citizenship, and involves travel 10% of the time. Relocation assistance may be available. The primary salary range is $108,800–$163,200, and the secondary level salary range is $135,800–$203,600. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus. Northrop Grumman provides health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, company-paid holidays, and paid time off for vacation and/or personal business. The application period is estimated to be 20 days from the posting date, subject to change based on business needs and candidate availability.

Requirements

For Level 3: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related STEM field and at least 5 years of relevant experience, or a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related STEM field and at least 3 years of relevant experience.
For Level 4: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related STEM field and at least 8 years of relevant experience, or a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related STEM field and at least 6 years of relevant experience.
Experience in a lab or production environment using oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, power meters, vector network analyzers, signal generators, and DC power supplies.
Experience debugging and characterizing mixed-signal or RF hardware at board or module level.
Experience reading and using schematics and block diagrams to localize hardware failures.
Experience executing and debugging automated test procedures, such as power-on, functional, RF performance, and BIT tests.
Experience with basic RF concepts, including gain, noise figure, spurious signals, harmonics, and filters, as well as analog and digital circuitry.
Current/active DoD Secret Security Clearance.
U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Experience with automated test equipment (ATE) platforms and test automation software.
Experience troubleshooting RF front ends or transceiver chains, including filters, LNAs, mixers, attenuators, and switch matrices.
Experience with JTAG/boundary-scan tools and digital interfaces such as SPI, I²C, or LVDS.
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.
Ability to work with minimal direction, manage multiple units or tests in parallel, and communicate technical findings to cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

Execute and troubleshoot automated test procedures for DC power-on and current checks; programming and JTAG/boundary-scan tests; digital bus and control interfaces; RF gain, noise figure, and intermodulation measurements; channel isolation; built-in test (BIT) functions; and filter rejection.
Debug hardware using oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, power meters, vector network analyzers, digital multimeters, and other bench tools.
Troubleshoot end-to-end RF and IF chains using schematics and block diagrams, including filters, amplifiers, switches, mixers, attenuators, and protection devices.
Compare measured performance with test specifications and limits, and investigate excessive insertion loss, gain errors, and unexpected spurious responses.
Support JTAG-based programming and device verification, and verify control buses, configuration registers, and BIT indicators.
Use golden/reference units, A/B comparisons, and systematic measurements to isolate suspect hardware; perform targeted component swaps and select-in-test adjustments to bring units within specification.
Document findings, QNs, and corrective actions clearly and consistently.
Collaborate with design engineering, manufacturing engineering, and test technicians to provide data-driven input on failure trends and root cause, refine test limits and procedures, and improve troubleshooting flows.
Mentor technicians in interpreting automated test results and performing safe, effective bench debugging.