Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Principal / Senior Principal Flight Test Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals within our Test and Evaluation organization.
This position will be supporting one or more aircraft platforms within our Strike portfolio.
The position will be 100% on-site at Edwards AFB, CA.
- The candidate will develop and publish Integrated Test Plans, detailed test plans, test schedules, and test procedures for developmental testing.
- Provide laboratory support for integration testing.
- Support and host test planning working groups.
- Interface with test article design and analysis teams to define test configuration and data requirements.
- Review and evaluate test requirements to ensure completeness of test program.
- Perform technical analysis of complete systems and prepares comprehensive system level evaluations.
- Support test card development and review in collaboration with other engineering disciplines and test operations personnel.
- Support test readiness reviews, and pre/post-test briefings.
- Provide mission control room support and makes real-time decisions regarding safety, efficiency, and effectiveness.
- Conduct and contributes to pre and post-test data analyses to support anomaly identification and resolution. Maintains metrics on status of testing and constraints.
- This position requires outstanding written and oral communications skills. Individual will be required to serve as either a principal subject matter focal point between maintenance, design engineering, and test site team - contractor and customer.
- Individual must be able to work under only general direction to determine and develop approaches to solutions; must be able to work both within a team environment and independently; must be self-motivated, thorough, and detailed; and must be willing to learn additional engineering discipline areas.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and Integrated Analysis & Data System (IADS)
- Overtime, odd shifts, and weekend work will occasionally be required.
This requisition may be filled at a higher grade based on qualifications listed below.
Basic Qualification:
This requisition may be filled at either a Principal or a Sr. Principal level
Basic Qualifications for Principal Flight Test Engineer:
- A Bachelor’s in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM Degree).
- A minimum of 5 years of applicable experience with a BS Degree or 3 years with a MS degree in STEM Field
- This position requires a DoD Secret or Top Secret clearance as well as the ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access.
Basic Qualifications for Sr Principal Flight Test Engineer:
- A Bachelor’s in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM Degree).
- A minimum of 9 years of applicable experience with a BS Degree or 7 years with a MS degree in STEM Field
- This position requires a DoD Secret or Top Secret clearance as well as the ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access.
Preferred Qualifications:
- In depth knowledge of or test experience, to include control room monitoring.
- Top Secret clearance
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math).
- Principal level experience: Minimum 5 years applicable experience with BS (or 3 years with MS).
- Sr Principal level experience: Minimum 9 years applicable experience with BS (or 7 years with MS).
- DoD Secret or Top Secret clearance and ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access.
- U.S. Citizenship.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office.
- Proficient in Integrated Analysis & Data System (IADS).
- Willingness to work overtime, odd shifts, and weekends as required.
- In-depth test experience including control room monitoring.
- Top Secret clearance (preferred).
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
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.








