Principal FPGA/Sr. Principal FPGA Design Engineer

Posted 4 Days Ago
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Rolling Meadows, IL, USA
In-Office
120K-179K Annually
Senior level
Aerospace • Logistics • Security • Software • Cybersecurity
The Role
Lead full life-cycle digital hardware development using modern FPGAs and high-speed interfaces. Design, prototype, debug, test, and integrate complex circuit cards and subsystems. Translate system specs to hardware/test requirements, work with cross-functional teams, and support production and fielding for defense-related sensing and EW systems.
Summary Generated by Built In
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: SAP

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.

This position description does not represent a current opening but may be used to identify candidates with skills and experience for positions within Northrop Grumman that frequently become available. Candidates who express an interest may be considered for future positions at Northrop Grumman.

The Multi-domain Sensing, Targeting, and Survivability Division (MSTS), located in the Northwest Chicago suburbs, develops operational Electronic Warfare (EW) and targeting systems that provide situational awareness, self-protection, and offensive electronic attack capability to platforms across the spectrum from visible light IR to millimeter wave RF. By joining us, you’ll work on projects that help safeguard our nation related to land forces, rotary wing survivability systems, international and U.S. military electronic warfare systems, communications systems, missile warning systems and sensors, infrared counter-measure systems (IRCM), automatic test equipment, modeling and simulation, and situational awareness programs.

The Principal/Sr. Principal FPGA Design Engineer role involves full life-cycle product development from system concept and requirements through design, implementation, test verification, production, field support while working in integrated product teams spanning Engineering, Manufacturing, and Program Management. Digital subsystem and circuit card designs utilize the latest FPGA technologies from all major vendors and device families including Xilinx, Altera, and Actel, and support high speed interfaces, Radio Frequency (RF) and Electro-Optical (EO) DSP, controls, data links, embedded processing and interfaces.

As a Principal/Sr. Principal FPGA Design Engineer, you will join our diverse team and be responsible for research, design, and development of digital hardware products. Your expertise in digital component design and analysis, modeling and simulation, circuit level design and test, and project leadership are desired for this position. Research, designs, develops, and tests a variety of electronic equipment and systems, including radar and radiation detection equipment; radio, television and other communications equipment and systems; circuitry components; analog and digital computers; and control and test equipment.

This position is contingent upon Funding/Contract award, special access program and acquiring and maintaining the necessary US Government security clearance per customers' requirements prior to start.

This position will be full-time and on-site at our Rolling Meadows, IL. location. 

This position may be filled at either a Principal or Sr. Principal FPGA Design Engineer level based on the qualifications listed below.

Basic Qualifications for a Principal FPGA Design Engineer:

- Bachelors’ degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or similar engineering discipline with a minimum 5 years of digital electronics design experience or 3 years of digital electronics design experience with a Master's degree in a technical field or in lieu of degree, an additional 4 years of experience is required.

- Digital circuit design experience, including simulation & schematic capture through test and integration

- Prior hands-on prototyping and debug experience testing complex digital subsystems, such as complex circuit card development involving FPGAs, and/or embedded processors, and/or high-speed interfaces.

- Demonstrated ability to lead projects with 2 or less team members.

- Demonstrated ability to translate system performance and operational specifications into hardware requirements, design, and test specifications.

- Familiarity with documentation revision control and review systems similar to DOORS, ClearCase, and ClearQuest.

- US Citizenship

- Current Active Secret Clearance with additional customer specified clearance prior to start.

Basic Qualifications for a Sr. Principal FPGA Design Engineer:

- Bachelors’ degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or similar engineering discipline with a minimum 8 years of digital electronics design experience or 6 years of digital electronics design experience with a Master's degree in a technical field or in lieu of a degree, an additional 4 years of experience is required.

- Extensive digital circuit design experience, including simulation & schematic capture through test and integration.

- Extensive hands-on prototyping and debug experience testing complex digital subsystems, such as complex circuit card development involving FPGAs, and/or embedded processors, and/or high speed interfaces

- Demonstrated ability to lead projects with 2 or more team members.

- Demonstrated ability to translate system performance and operational specifications into hardware requirements, design, and test specifications.

- Familiarity with documentation, revision control and review systems similar to DOORS, ClearCase, and ClearQuest.

- US Citizen

- Current Active Secret Clearance with additional customer specified clearance prior to start.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Advanced degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering with a minimum 12 years of digital electronics design experience.

- Working knowledge of Electronic Warfare systems.

- Experience in Aerospace and/or Defense industries.

- Recent circuit card design experience utilizing circuit-related tools including Cadence Concept, Allegro, and/or Mentor DxDesigner, Expedition.

- Working experience with ClearCase/ClearQuest and DOORS Current Secret or Top Secret Security Clearance.

- Proven skills to include: team leadership, mentoring others, communicating with all levels of an organization internally and externally, being adaptable, creative, collaborative and also comfortable working independently and enjoys solving difficult problems

Primary Level Salary Range: $119,600.00 - $179,400.00

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.

Skills Required

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or similar
  • Minimum 5 years digital electronics design experience (or 3 years with Master's; or additional experience in lieu of degree)
  • For Sr. Principal: minimum 8 years digital electronics design experience (or 6 years with Master's; or additional experience in lieu of degree)
  • Digital circuit design experience including simulation, schematic capture, test and integration
  • Hands-on prototyping and debug experience with complex digital subsystems, FPGAs, embedded processors, and high-speed interfaces
  • Demonstrated ability to lead projects (Principal: lead teams of 2 or fewer; Sr. Principal: lead teams of 2+)
  • Ability to translate system performance and operational specifications into hardware requirements, design, and test specifications
  • Familiarity with documentation and revision control tools such as DOORS, ClearCase, and ClearQuest
  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Current active Secret security clearance (with additional customer-specified clearance prior to start)
  • Experience with circuit card design tools (Cadence Concept, Allegro, Mentor DxDesigner, Expedition)
  • Working knowledge of Electronic Warfare systems and Aerospace/Defense industry experience
  • Advanced degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering
  • Proven team leadership, mentoring, and strong communication 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.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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

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The Company
HQ: Charlotte, North Carolina
85,636 Employees

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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