Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for Electronics Engineer / Principal Electronics Engineer (Comms Responsible Engineer) to join our team of qualified individuals on our Avionics Integration Organization. This role is located in Rancho Bernardo, CA.
Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Research, design, development, integration, and test of a variety of electronic equipment and systems, including RF datalinks, SATCOM and Communications Networks.
- Maintaining complex RF communications architectures, systems; circuitry components; analog and digital computers.
- Reporting comms status to Program Managers and IPT Management.
- Primary Responsible Engineer for complex communications subsystem, supplier technical interface, and focal IPT representative for integration support.
You will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility. Once in the role, the position could potentially offer a hybrid work environment. Scheduled telework days are approved at manager's discretion. This position requires the ability to travel up to 25% of the time
Basic Qualifications:
Electronics Engineer:
- Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 2 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline
- Must have Comms Experience
- At minimum, an active U.S. Government Secret Clearance Secret level clearance is required to apply and to start the role, with the ability to obtain Top Secret and maintain Special Program Access within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the Company to meet its business needs
Principal Electronics Engineer:
- Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 5 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline with 1 year of related engineering experience
- Must have Comms experience
- At minimum, an active U.S. Government Secret Clearance Secret level clearance is required to apply and to start the role, with the ability to obtain Top Secret and maintain Special Program Access within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the Company to meet its business needs
Preferred Qualifications Both Levels:
- Active in-scope, DoD Top Secret clearance
- Strong understanding of networking strategies including TCP/IP & WAN architectures
- Familiar with current network products and technologies such as routers, firewalls, and switches
- RF and digital system design & analysis
- Antenna theory and operation
- COMMS Wideband and Narrowband integration and testing. Iridium, INMARSAT, Ku, CDL and Starlink
- Airborne platform radio integration such ARCs
- System Performance Verification and Component Qualifications for Flight
- System Engineering, Requirements Derivation
- Design documentation: E.g. Visio, Catia, interconnects and rack elevations
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in STEM and 2 years related engineering experience OR Master's degree in STEM
- Comms experience (RF/SATCOM/communications networks)
- Active U.S. Government Secret clearance required to apply and start (ability to obtain Top Secret may be required later)
- For Principal level: Bachelor's +5 years OR Master's +3 years OR PhD +1 year related engineering experience
- Ability to travel up to 25%
- Active DoD Top Secret clearance (preferred/in-scope)
- Strong understanding of TCP/IP and WAN architectures (preferred)
- Familiarity with routers, firewalls, and switches (preferred)
- RF and digital system design and analysis (preferred)
- Antenna theory and operation (preferred)
- COMMS wideband and narrowband integration and testing (Iridium, INMARSAT, Ku, CDL, Starlink) (preferred)
- Airborne platform radio integration (ARCs) (preferred)
- System performance verification and component qualifications for flight (preferred)
- System engineering and requirements derivation (preferred)
- Design documentation tools knowledge (e.g., Visio, Catia) (preferred)
Northrop Grumman Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Northrop Grumman and has not been reviewed or approved by Northrop Grumman.
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Retirement Support — 401(k) matching is considered strong, with additional defined-benefit coverage for certain cohorts and options like catch-up contributions. Retirement programs are repeatedly highlighted as a core strength of the total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — PTO, company-paid holidays, and compressed work schedules (such as 9/80) provide meaningful time away and flexibility. These scheduling options are cited as a major quality-of-life benefit across many locations.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave alongside caregiver leave, adoption assistance, and back-up care supports a range of family needs. These programs have been expanded recently, signaling continued investment in family support.
Northrop Grumman Insights
What We Do
We are a close-knit community of big thinkers collaborating to keep the world safe. Our passion, creativity and expertise bring next-level technology solutions to life in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, space, and logistics and modernization for our customers around the globe. On the Northrop Grumman team, you’ll join our pursuit of excellence immersed in a dynamic culture of innovation and respect. Your unique perspective will help achieve our shared vision for the future of global security. Every step of the way, you'll be supported by world-class training, employee resource groups and a comprehensive benefits package that enables greater health and happiness for you and your family. Worldwide and across disciplines, we’re challenging what’s possible for technology to protect people and places from undersea to outer space and into cyberspace. And we see the impact of our performance every day. We are Northrop Grumman, and we work on what matters—now, you too can make a difference. Explore opportunities in engineering, IT, manufacturing, business management, cybersecurity and more with us. Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.







