At the heart of Defining Possible is our commitment to missions. In rapidly changing global security environments, Northrop Grumman brings informed insights and software-secure technology to enable strategic planning. We’re looking for innovators who can help us keep building on our wide portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, and multi-domain systems and technologies that fuel those missions. By joining in our shared mission, we’ll support you by expanding your personal network and developing skills, whether you are new to the field, or an industry thought leader. At Northrop Grumman, you’ll have the resources, support, and team to do some of the best work of your career.
We are looking for you to join our team as a Principal/Senior Principal Board Designer based out of Baltimore, MD.
This role may be staffed as Hybrid out of Baltimore/Linthicum, MD.
The Principal/Senior Principal Board Designer is a core member of the eCAD team responsible for creating high quality printed circuit board (PCB) layouts that meet the electrical, mechanical, and manufacturability requirements of our products. You will work closely with schematic designers, hardware engineers, mechanical designers, and the manufacturing team to translate concepts into production ready board designs, supporting a broad portfolio of defense grade products.
What You’ll Get to Do
Develop complete PCB layouts – From component placement to routing, create multi-layer board designs that meet signal integrity, power distribution, and EMC requirements.
Perform design rule checks (DRC) and sign off – Run automated DRC, signal integrity simulations, and thermal analyses; resolve violations and document compliance.
Collaborate on cross functional design reviews – Present designs to electrical, mechanical, and reliability teams; incorporate feedback and drive design closure.
Support DFM/DFA initiatives – Work with PCB fabricators and assemblers to optimize stack up, trace widths, via strategies, and test point placement for cost effective manufacturing.
Generate production documentation – Produce TGZ, drill files; ensure data integrity in the PLM system.
Mentor junior designers – Provide guidance on best practices, standards, and tool usage; lead short technical workshops within the eCAD group.
Stay current with industry trends – Evaluate emerging PCB technologies (high speed, flex rigid, HDI) and recommend tooling or workflow improvements.
This role may be filled as a Principal Board Designer or a Senior Principal Board Designer.
This position is contingent on the ability to obtain/maintain an active U.S Government Secret clearance or the successful transfer of one, prior to start.
Basic Qualifications for Principal Board Designer
Bachelor’s Degree with 5 years of experience, master’s degree with 3 years of experience, Ph.D. with 1 year of experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics or related technical fields; an additional 4 years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
U.S Citizenship is required.
Minimum of 5 years of hands on PCB layout experience in a high volume or high complexity environment (digital, mixed signal, or RF).
Minimum of 3 years of experience with Mentor Graphics (including advanced routing and stack up configuration). Alternate routing software experience will be considered.
Minimum of 3 years of working knowledge of IPC 2221, IPC 6012 & 13, IPC 7351, and GD&T for PCB design.
Basic Qualifications for Senior Principal Board Designer
Bachelor’s Degree with 8 years of experience, master’s degree with 6 years of experience, Ph.D. with 4 years of experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics or related technical fields; an additional 4 years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
U.S Citizenship is required.
Minimum of 5 years of hands on PCB layout experience in a high volume or high complexity environment (digital, mixed signal, or RF).
Minimum of 3 years of experience with Mentor Graphics (including advanced routing and stack up configuration). Alternate routing software experience will be considered.
Minimum of 3 years of working knowledge of IPC 2221, IPC 6012 & 13, IPC 7351, and GD&T for PCB design.
Preferred Qualifications for Principal/Senior Principal Board Designer
Expert working knowledge of the Mentor Xpedition software suite.
Experience with high‑speed digital design (≥5 Gbps) or RF/microwave PCB design.
Experience with High Density Interconnect (HDI) and/or Array designs.
Experience with power PCB designs
Familiarity with 3‑D mechanical integration tools (SolidWorks, NX, Enovia).
Working knowledge of industry compliance standards, to include, but not limited to, ASME-Y14.5.
Demonstrated success working in collaborative, fast paced development teams.
Expert written and verbal communication; comfortable presenting technical concepts to cross functional teams.
Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a work environment which encourages your growth and supports the mutual success of our people and our company. Northrop Grumman benefits give you the flexibility and control to choose the benefits that make the most sense for you and your family.
Your benefits will include the following: Health Plan, Savings Plan, Paid Time Off and Additional Benefits including Education Assistance, Training and Development, 9/80 Work Schedule (where available), and much more!
Northrop Grumman has approximately 90,000 employees in all 50 states and in more than 27 countries. We strive to attract and retain the best employees by providing an inclusive work environment wherein employees are receptive to diverse ideas, perspectives, and talents to help solve our toughest customer challenges: to develop and maintain some of the most technically sophisticated products, programs, and services in the world.
Our Values. The women and men of Northrop Grumman Corporation are guided by Our Values. They describe our company as we want it to be. We want our decisions and actions to demonstrate these Values. We believe that putting Our Values into practice creates long-term benefits for shareholders, customers, employees, suppliers, and the communities we serve.
Our Responsibility. At Northrop Grumman, we are committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards, embracing diversity and inclusion, protecting the environment, and striving to be an ideal corporate citizen in the community and in the world.
Primary Level Salary Range: $98,900.00 - $148,300.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $123,400.00 - $185,000.00The 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
- U.S. Citizenship is required
- Ability to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Government Secret clearance or successfully transfer one prior to start
- Bachelor's degree in STEM or related field (or equivalent experience per job posting)
- Minimum 5 years hands-on PCB layout experience in high-volume or high-complexity environments (digital, mixed-signal, or RF)
- Minimum 3 years experience with Mentor Graphics (including advanced routing and stack up configuration) or equivalent routing software
- Minimum 3 years working knowledge of IPC 2221, IPC 6012 & 6013, IPC 7351, and GD&T for PCB design
- Senior Principal level: Bachelor's with 8 years (or Master's with 6 years, Ph.D. with 4 years) or additional experience in lieu of degree as specified
- Ability to travel approximately 10% of the time
- Expert working knowledge of Mentor Xpedition
- Experience with high-speed digital design (≥5 Gbps) or RF/microwave PCB design
- Experience with High Density Interconnect (HDI) and/or Array designs
- Experience with power PCB designs
- Familiarity with 3-D mechanical integration tools (SolidWorks, NX, Enovia)
- Working knowledge of industry compliance standards such as ASME Y14.5
- Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication and mentorship skills
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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