Principal / Sr Principal Flight-Critical Hardware Avionics Engineer
About The Position
Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is hiring a Principal Flight-Critical Hardware Avionics Engineer (Level 3) or Senior Principal Flight-Critical Hardware Avionics Engineer (Level 4) for its Air Vehicle Hardware Avionics team in Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), California. The position supports management and delivery of the Identification-Friend-Foe (IFF) and Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) subsystems. The engineer works independently and with multiple teams across development, production, and operational support phases. Regular presence at the Rancho Bernardo site is required, with a hybrid schedule that includes remote work and on-site lab work as business needs require. Travel is 10% of the time, and relocation assistance may be available. The role encompasses hardware integration, lab and flight testing, production and field support, anomaly resolution, and supplier management. The engineer will account for hardware capabilities and limitations, define interfaces, address interoperability standards, and translate customer or product requirements into system solutions that balance technical, schedule, and cost constraints. The company offers flexible work arrangements, including a 9/80 schedule, learning opportunities, and a collaborative team environment.
Requirements
- For Level 3: Bachelor of Science in a STEM discipline and 5 years of related professional or military experience; or a master's degree and 3 years of related experience; or a Ph.D. and 1 year of related experience.
- For Level 4: Bachelor of Science in a STEM discipline and 8 years of related professional or military experience; or a master's degree and 6 years of related experience; or a Ph.D. and 4 years of related experience.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) access within a reasonable time, as determined by business needs.
- Hands-on experience with lab test equipment such as oscilloscopes, signal generators, signal analyzers, or multimeters.
- Experience with software or hardware development, integration, testing, verification, or troubleshooting.
- Experience using engineering tools such as MATLAB and core Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Project, or Visio.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with IFF and/or TCAS transponders, including operation, maintenance, integration, or design.
- Active U.S. Government Secret clearance or higher.
- Comprehensive knowledge of IFF, including military and civilian modes and associated certifications.
- Comprehensive knowledge of TCAS, including Due Regard and airspace integration.
- High-level understanding of radio-frequency communication.
- Familiarity with interfaces and related protocols such as MIL-STD-1553, RS-485, and ARINC-429.
- Experience performing system-level design or troubleshooting.
- Experience with flight testing, supplier management, requirements development, and verification.
- Prior experience as a military, civil, or commercial avionics technician.
Responsibilities
- Integrate IFF and TCAS hardware, accounting for hardware capabilities and limitations, defining interfaces, and addressing interoperability standards.
- Conduct investigations, system testing, and flight testing in lab environments.
- Provide remote and on-site troubleshooting for production and field issues.
- Support proposal development and evaluation, technical planning, verification and validation, cost and risk analysis, and trade studies.
- Convert customer or product requirements systematically into total system solutions that balance technical, schedule, and cost constraints.
- Support production and field activities, resolve anomalies, and manage suppliers.
Benefits
- Flexible work arrangements, including a 9/80 schedule.
- Learning opportunities.
- Health insurance coverage.
- Life and disability insurance.
- Savings plan.
- Company-paid holidays.
- Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.
- Depending on the position, eligibility for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
