Principal Manufacturing Test Engineer (RF Systems)

Posted 11 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Rolling Meadows, IL, USA
In-Office
109K-163K Annually
Senior level
Aerospace • Logistics • Security • Software • Cybersecurity
The Role
Lead design and troubleshooting of manufacturing test equipment, fixtures, and automated test software for RF/Electronic Warfare systems. Develop and maintain test procedures, support production failure investigations, perform testability reviews, and drive continuous improvement across manufacturing testing processes.
Summary Generated by Built In
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

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 Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. We have a wide portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, and multi-domain systems and technologies. Our differentiated battle management and cyber solutions deliver timely, mission-enabling information and provide superior situational awareness and understanding to protect the U.S. and its global allies.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems sector is looking for a Principal Engineer, Electronics (HW + SW) – Manufacturing Test Engineering (RF Systems) located on-site in Rolling Meadows, IL, with proven embedded software knowledge alongside hardware design and/or troubleshooting experience.

 

As a Principal engineer with test hardware and embedded software knowledge, this individual will be responsible for prime (sell off) hardware troubleshooting, test equipment hardware & test software troubleshooting, test fixtures and/or equipment design, and software development & integration of automated test scripts. This position will support aerial, military-grade, or space-grade Electronic Warfare Systems and Subsystems.

 

Behavioral Traits sought out:

  • The Manufacturing Engineers are expected to be problem solvers with the ability to provide results that are innovative and often achieved through collaboration across functional groups.
  • We seek individuals with proven excellence in the following 6 core competencies:

a) Takes high levels of Self-accountability and Ownership

b) Acts with Speed

c) Responds to Challenges with Resilience

d) Leads with Courage

e) Sets vision for the assigned products

f) Builds a High Performing Team

 

Building a strong professional relationship with other Manufacturing disciplines (Process Engineering, Project Management, Shop Operations, Mission Assurance), strong decision-making skills and a high-level ethical standard is essential. 

 

 What you will get to do:

  • Equipment design – hardware: Investigate, design test equipment or fixture, and provide solutions to meet new or modified testing requirements.
  • Software design – coding & integration/validation: Investigate, develop code, and integrate new or modified software to meet acceptance testing and/or environmental screening requirements.
  • Test procedure development/Maintenance: Generate and maintain/revise Manufacturing Acceptance testing procedures, Environmental Screening procedures, hardware drawings of test equipment and fixtures.
  • Support to Production: Investigate and identify failure modes due to failures identified during MTP, Environmental Screening or Acceptance Testing.
    • This investigation may require troubleshooting of sell off hardware, test equipment and/or fixture troubleshooting, or stepping into automated test equipment code.
    • Leading collaborative troubleshooting with multi-disciplinary teams may prove to be vital in troubleshooting complex issues and to meet contractual acceptance testing commitments.
  • Testability reviews: Collaborate with design engineering to achieve testability in new and updated product design.
  • Communication: Ability to interface/communicate with multiple levels of leadership, clients, and vendors.
  • Continuous improvement: Review of quality metrics to identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to reduce cost, cycle time, defects per unit, etc..

 

This position is contingent upon funding/contract award.

Basic Qualifications for the Manufacturing Test Engineer (RF Systems):

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering or a related STEM field with a minimum of 5 years relevant work experience;
  • Prior experience in design of test equipment or test fixture or prime (self-off) hardware.
  • Experience on how to use electrical and/or RF test equipment (such as spectrum analyzers, power supplies, network analyzers, oscilloscope, signal generators, etc.).
  • Experience using C#, C++, Java, C or related programming language.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain security clearance.
  • US Citizenship required

 

Preferred Qualifications for the Manufacturing Test Engineer (RF Systems):

  • Experience in troubleshooting unit under test.
  • Active DoD Security Clearance.
  • Experience in project planning, communicating with all levels of an organization, performing earned value/CAM efforts.
  • Python and MATLAB experience.
  • Experience with Electronic Warfare system/hardware.

What We Can Offer You:

Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a work environment that 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!

#MPR

Primary Level Salary Range: $108,800.00 - $163,200.00

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 or Computer Engineering or related STEM field with a minimum of 5 years relevant work experience
  • Prior experience in design of test equipment, test fixtures, or prime (self-off) hardware
  • Experience using electrical and/or RF test equipment (spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, oscilloscopes, signal generators, power supplies)
  • Experience using C#, C++, Java, C or related programming language
  • Ability to obtain and maintain security clearance
  • U.S. Citizenship required
  • Experience in troubleshooting unit under test
  • Active DoD Security Clearance
  • Experience in project planning, earned value/CAM, and cross-level communication
  • Python and MATLAB experience
  • Experience with Electronic Warfare systems/hardware

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

Am I A Good Fit?
beta
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.

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.

Similar Jobs

Northrop Grumman Logo Northrop Grumman

Test Engineer

Aerospace • Logistics • Security • Software • Cybersecurity
In-Office
Rolling Meadows, IL, USA
85636 Employees
136K-204K Annually

ABN AMRO Clearing USA LLC Logo ABN AMRO Clearing USA LLC

Compliance Associate

Information Technology • Professional Services • Financial Services
Hybrid
Chicago, IL, USA
215 Employees
75K-95K Annually

Adyen Logo Adyen

Office Coordinator

Fintech • Payments • Financial Services
Easy Apply
Hybrid
Chicago, IL, USA
4771 Employees
72K-90K Annually

Caterpillar Logo Caterpillar

Senior Software Engineer

Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • Internet of Things • Software • Cybersecurity • Industrial
Hybrid
Chicago, IL, USA
100000 Employees
113K-183K Annually

Similar Companies Hiring

Outpost Space Thumbnail
Aerospace • Defense
US
24 Employees
Kepler  Thumbnail
Fintech • Software
New York, New York
6 Employees
Onshore Thumbnail
Artificial Intelligence • Fintech • Software • Financial Services
New York, New York
60 Employees

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account