Principal Engineer/Sr. Principal Engineer RF Microwave Design

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescription

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 Missions Systems is seeking experienced RF engineers in the following areas: Antennas, Electromagnetics, Computational Electromagnetics, RF/Microwave design, Digital beamforming, Hardware/Subsystem Integration and Test, and Antenna Control Design.

The qualified candidate will work with a diverse and talented team of engineers developing innovative and cost-effective systems that support a broad range of products and business areas across the lifecycle of a program.  Applicants should possess the ability to communicate effectively and clearly present technical approaches and findings.

What you'll get to do:

Responsibilities may include Testing and Troubleshooting Line Replacement Units (LRU) of RF architecture, recommend data driven requirements threshold adjustments; perform subsystem analysis including hardware from RF to digits, support for performance testing, requirements verification, and more.  Work is performed without appreciable direction and exercising considerable latitude in determining technical objectives of assignments

Experienced applicants will have at least a bachelor’s degree in science or other related technical degree or have equivalent experience testing and troubleshooting, integration, designing, developing and/or testing radio frequency (RF) and/or microwave antenna systems and/or related RF hardware.  Candidates would have the ability to troubleshoot complex problems which require the regular use of ingenuity and creativity. 

In addition, this candidate should have demonstrated technical ability/leadership and expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Wide Band Waveform Generator test and/or troubleshooting
• Phase Noise test and/or troubleshooting techniques
• RF and/or digital hardware test and/or troubleshooting
• Troubleshot electronic equipment to the component level.
• Integrated Receiver Exciter Assemblies (IREX)
• Highly integrated subsystems including receiver exciter hardware
• RF Performance Analysis
• Computational Electromagnetics, Statistics
• Subsystem Control Design
• RF Measurements and Data Reduction
• Integration and test of RF assemblies
• Subsystem requirements (hardware and software) derivation, flow-down, and configuration
• Comfortable creating test support applications and tools using MATLAB, python, etc.
• Experience with Atlassian Tool Suite, Git

This position requires that you can contribute as an RF or Hardware Lead or are able to contribute to the needs of a HW\RF Team, within the AESA Hardware Subsystem Discipline.  Candidate is preferred to have an engineering background that includes:

• Familiarity with Antenna I&T\Analysis Subsystem parts (CCAs, front-end technology, Receiver-Exciter, phased array technology) and their capabilities
• Familiarity with Antenna I&T\Analysis Subsystem metrics and requirements that are assessed (Gain, ERP, CPCR, Sensitivity, TOI, Noise Figure, various antenna subsystem health status, RF chain\paths)
• Familiarity with Antenna I&T\Analysis Hardware testing environments:
  • Build-up stations of components\parts (Labs with program STE Test Racks)
  • Antenna Ranges (Near-Field, Compact Range, Far-Field, Spherical Near-Field)
• Familiarity with AESA Sub-system Hardware flow processes
• Pattern Analysis and modeling of AESA Subsystem hardware
• ATP Testing flow (build, environmental screening, approval to move forward to NHA, TRRs, Post-Test Data reviews, Consent to Break, OK for Stores, OK to ship)
• Understands the Design Process (PDR, DDR, CDR checklists and design gate deliverables)
• Tools utilized for data processing\analysis (MATLAB, Python)
• Documentation for Hardware (T-Specs, OTSAs, hardware drawings, ICDs, Set Selection Drawings)
• Quality processes utilized in hardware anomaly cases (QNs, FRBs, MRBs, Engineering response to hardware failures in the ATP Test Flow, and Qualification phase)

These roles are contingent upon candidates having a current Active government Secret Clearance.

These roles are contingent upon Program Award.

Basic Qualification for Principal Engineer:

• Bachelors Degree in Engineering or related discipline with 5 years of experience in the areas described in the job description above. 3 years of experience with a Masters Degree. An additional 4 years of experience is acceptable in lieu of a degree.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Currently holds an active government secret clearance
• Demonstrate problem solving skills to a variety of RF/Microwave design and test related problems of increasing scope and complexity as assigned
• Proven knowledge of electrical engineering, design software and equipment
• Expertise Testing and Troubleshooting in a Manufacturing Environment
• Experience troubleshooting RF hardware/subsystems

Basic Qualifications for Sr. Principal Engineer:

• Bachelors Degree in Engineering or related discipline with 8 years of experience in the areas described in the job description above. 6 years of experience with a Masters Degree. An additional 4 years of experience is acceptable in lieu of a degree.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Currently holds an active government secret clearance
• Expertise Testing and Troubleshooting in a Manufacturing Environment
• Demonstrate problem solving skills to a variety of RF/Microwave design and test related problems of increasing scope and complexity as assigned
• Proven knowledge of electrical engineering, design software and equipment
• Expertise with troubleshooting RF hardware/subsystems

Preferred Qualifications

• Current Active DoD Secret Clearance.

• Experience Testing, Troubleshooting or designing RF hardware/subsystems
• Troubleshot electronic equipment to the component level.
• Experience with RF lab test equipment: signal generator, oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, etc.

• Hands on experience in at least one type of these test set: Common RF Test Set (CRFTS), LM-STAR, Hiller Test sets, Phase Noise Test sets and consoles

• Experience troubleshooting and resolving HW/SW integration problems
• Experience with using or developing software to control hardware (such as MATE or AMAX)
• Experience with test scripting, data analysis, and/or signal processing
• Experience mentoring other design and/or RF test engineers

Primary Level Salary Range: $108,800.00 - $163,200.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $135,800.00 - $203,600.00

The 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.