The Command and Data Handling (CDH) Subsystem team within Northrop Grumman Space Systems is seeking a motivated early‑ to mid‑career engineer. In this role, you will help develop CDH subsystem requirements, perform trade studies between avionics solutions, identify key components, and contribute to subsystem‑level design and analysis. You will support preparation for major design reviews and help lead the team through hardware build, integration, test, and on‑orbit operations.
This role requires strong communication and problem‑solving skills to collaborate effectively with other subsystems and to develop solutions to complex technical challenges. The ideal candidate has experience in one or more of the following areas: supporting or overseeing hardware design, managing technical budgets, working with electrical interfaces, hardware troubleshooting, or FPGA development. Experience with control account management is a plus.
This position follows a 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off. Some night/weekend shift work, as well as periodic domestic and international travel, is required.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Performs requirement analysis and decomposition of customer requirements into hardware and software specifications and establish subsystem or system-level electrical verification method and plans.
- Performs analyses to evaluate all levels of the system to ensure a cohesive electrical-system solution throughout the development lifecycle (concept, design, fabrication, test, installation, operation, maintenance, and disposal).
- Manages the internal & external flight-vehicle electrical interfaces and develops the corresponding subsystem or system-level interconnect/block diagrams, grounding diagrams, and support electrical schematics and global connectivity list development for the flight vehicle on programs as needed.
- Perform electrical interface compatibility verifications and verify electrical connectivity implementation (e.g. verify electrical harness implementation, safety-critical circuit segregation, support peer-reviews).
- Oversees the technical planning, design integration, product integration, verification, and validation efforts for the CDH electrical-system elements throughout the development lifecycle. Influences the electrical-system design to facilitate electrical testing at the component, subsystem, and flight-vehicle levels, with the aim to enable automated testing where applicable.
- Provides technical coordination of vendors and suppliers. Review suppliers “as-planned”, “as-designed”, and “as-built” documentation (e.g. interface control document, derating analysis, worst case analysis, qualification test plan and procedure, acceptance test plan and procedure, test report).
- Manage hardware command and telemetry implementation (e.g. develop and coordinate calibration and conversion curves for analog telemetry in coordination subsystem engineers, verify electrical/software implementation).
- Identify Electrical Systems and C&DH risks, develop risk mitigation plans for selected risks, and implement mitigations.
- Contribute to assembly integration and test activities (e.g. electrical test requirements development, anomaly investigations/resolutions).
- Interfacing with design and manufacturing groups to monitor component production process/progress to include Integration & Test (I&T) and relaying that status to management along with potential solutions to stay on target.
- Provide technical oversight to ensure the C&DH electrical system is compliant and verifiable at the avionics digital and analog telemetry level.
- Lead the costing & scheduling development for the C&DH subsystem on major programs from initial RFP efforts through end of program life. Develop cost estimates for proposals and programs as required.
- Candidate must be comfortable with managing program execution from a Technical perspective, meeting deadlines, working on multiple projects concurrently, and working with various engineering disciplines and internal/external customers as required.
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree or higher in a STEM area (preferably Electrical Engineering) and 5 years of relevant work experience, 3 years of relevant work experience with a Master’s degree, or a PhD.
- Technical experience in Electrical Systems or C&DH subsystem Engineering.
- Experience with flight hardware development, including Material Review Boards (MRB), Parts, Materials & Processes (PM&P), procurement, assembly documentation, and End Item Data Packages (EIDP).
- Must have the ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI security clearance.
- Hands-on mentality and a passion for fast-paced environments.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience leading teams of engineers managing resources and schedules.
- Experience with requirements tracking tool such as DOORS or CAMEO.
- Digital design experience.
- Experience developing FPGAs.
- Strong verbal and written communications skills.
- Experience with creating and tracking schedules using project tracking tools such as Microsoft project
- Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM) and creating variance reports.
Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:
https://www.northropgrumman.com/space
Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.
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Primary Level Salary Range: $0.00 - $0.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, 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. In addition, 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.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in a STEM field (preferably Electrical Engineering) with 5 years relevant experience, or Master's with 3 years, or PhD
- Technical experience in Electrical Systems or Command & Data Handling (C&DH) subsystem engineering
- Experience with flight hardware development including MRB, Parts Materials & Processes (PM&P), procurement, assembly documentation, and End Item Data Packages (EIDP)
- Ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI security clearance
- Hands-on mentality and ability to work in fast-paced environments
- Experience leading teams of engineers and managing resources and schedules
- Experience with requirements tracking tools such as DOORS or CAMEO
- Digital design experience
- Experience developing FPGAs
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Experience creating and tracking schedules using Microsoft Project
- Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM) and variance reporting
- Experience with control account management
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.
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