Sr Principal Engineer Electrical

Northrop Grumman • Mesa, AZ

38d • 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 is seeking an experienced Electrical Engineer to support our Armament Systems business site in Mesa, AZ . Our Mesa facility is home to the Bushmaster® line of Chain Guns®, a premier line of medium caliber gun systems that support our customers' and warfighters' missions. Recently expanded, facility includes production and test range areas. About the Role: We are seeking a self-motivated and innovative Sr. Principal Electrical Engineer to join our controls group on the medium-caliber Bushmaster gun team. In this role you will design, test, and troubleshoot electrical equipment and control systems for complex aerospace and defense projects. You will work in a fast-paced, high-impact environment that blends cutting-edge design with real-world applications to ensure our systems are efficient, reliable, and safe. While this role is primarily onsite, flexible work arrangements and limited remote work options are available.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering plus 8 years of experience, or Master's degree plus 6 years of experience
• Professional experience in design, assembly, troubleshooting, testing, and validation within aerospace or defense environments.
• Proven hands-on expertise in electrical assembly troubleshooting, test development, and integration testing.
• Proficient in diagnosing analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuit issues at both board and system levels, including resolving signal integrity, component failures, and performance deviations.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and analytical skills, with the ability to work effectively in small, collaborative teams.
• Ability to travel occasionally to meet government and industry customers, interface with suppliers, and collaborate with colleagues.
• U.S. Citizenship and eligibility to obtain a DoD Secret Clearance, with the ability to obtain clearance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives as required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Mentor Graphics design and simulation tools.
• Extensive experience in printed wiring board layout and design, with a strong understanding of PWB manufacturing processes.
• Proven experience using electronic lab equipment such as DMMs, power supplies, oscilloscopes, etc.
• Expertise in power electronics with a focus on designing and optimizing regulators, power conditioning circuits, and DC/DC converters for enhanced system efficiency and performance.
• Familiarity with motor control applications and the integration of electrical and mechanical engineering in product development.
• Experience in developing high-reliability electronics for harsh military environments, including extreme temperatures, high G shock loads, intense vibration, and extended storage periods.
• Experience in sustaining legacy programs and performing failure analysis, FMEA, requirements decomposition, verification and validation, and risk analysis.
• Proficiency with requirements database tools, such as DOORS.
• A fast learner with outstanding communication skills, capable of explaining complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical design projects of significant complexity that meet stakeholder requirements.
• Conduct research, design, and development in areas including power conditioning electronics, analog and digital circuit design, FPGA/ASIC design and verification, and other essential electrical engineering functions.
• Plan, design, develop, simulate, and test electrical circuits for military applications using state-of-the-art tools and methodologies.
• Generate detailed design schematics using CAD tools such as Mentor Graphics and related software (e.g., Mentor System Vision, Power Intent, Hyperlynx, LTspice) to predict circuit performance.
• Oversee board layout and printed wiring board (PWB) design, ensuring first-pass success by integrating robust circuit schematics, component selection, and efficient design practices.
• Assemble, test, and refine product breadboards, prototypes, and new electrical assemblies throughout the development lifecycle.
• Develop and execute comprehensive electrical schematics, EMC/EMI strategies, and high/low voltage wiring harness architectures.
• Perform circuit simulations, functional testing, and analyses with computer-assisted design software and specialized simulation tools.
• Drive hands-on testing, integration, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis for both new and legacy electrical systems.
• Provide technical leadership for complex programs and coordinate engineering efforts across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Develop and manage test programs: planning, execution, and documentation to verify subsystem performance.
• Prepare technical documents and test reports (including PDR, CDR, V&V, manuals, ICDs) and present findings to leadership and external customers.
• Utilize electronic test instruments (e.g., voltmeters, DMMs, oscilloscopes) to evaluate system performance while ensuring adherence to safety standards, MIL-STD, QMS, and best design practices.
• Collaborate closely with software and other engineering teams to resolve challenges cost-effectively.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers while contributing to trade studies and project estimations.
• Proactively adopt new design techniques and emerging technologies to deliver innovative solutions.
• Maintain a safe, organized engineering lab environment, including safety training and equipment management.
• Embrace a systems engineering mindset; proactively identify opportunities for process improvement and step into different roles as necessary to support the team's broader objectives.

Benefits

• Employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.
• Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results.
• Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives.
• Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees