Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Principal Test Conductor/Sr. Principal Test Conductor to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals within the Triton Test and Evaluation organization. This position will be located in Palmdale, CA.
Mission-critical and hands-on—In this role you will be doing planning, coordinating, and executing production tests across multiple integration levels; leading test readiness reviews; troubleshooting anomalies in real time; and refining procedures to ensure tests meet mission objectives. In this role you will be supporting cross-functional delivery by serving as the liaison across program, engineering, and line management while coordinating test schedules and daily execution with managers, operators, and manufacturing on-site in San Diego (with overtime/off-hour flexibility and up to 10% travel). In this role you will be responsible for managing test schedules and status reporting, selecting and supervising technicians, and driving test execution quality from readiness through completion.
Please note that this opportunity is contingent on program funding. Start dates are determined after funding confirmation.
Key Responsibilities:
Providing laboratory support for integration testing
Supporting and hosting test planning working groups
Interfacing with test article design and analysis teams to define test configuration and data requirements
Reviewing and evaluating test requirements to ensure completeness of test program
Performing technical analysis of complete systems and prepares comprehensive system level evaluations
Supporting test card reviews in collaboration with other engineering disciplines and test operations personnel
Supporting test readiness reviews, and pre/post-test briefings
Providing mission control room support and make real-time decisions regarding safety, efficiency, and effectiveness.
Conducting and contributing to pre and post-test data analyses to support anomaly identification and resolution. Maintains metrics on status of testing and constraints
Generating metrics for leadership reviews
Hot bench, Lab, and flight data management
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.
Extended Work Week, odd shifts, and weekend work will occasionally be required
We offer flexible work arrangements, 4/10 work schedule with every Friday off, phenomenal learning opportunities, exposure to a wide variety of projects and customers, and a very friendly team environment. We are looking for self-motivated, proactive, and goal-oriented people to help us grow our services and become even better at what we do.
*Position may be filled at either level depending on the qualifications below*
Basic Qualifications for Principal Test Conductor:
Must have a High School Diploma and 9 years of related professional/military experience, OR Bachelor degree AND 5 years of related professional/military experience, OR a Master's degree AND 3 years of related professional/military experience OR a Ph.D. AND 1 year of related professional/military experience.
Basic Qualifications for Sr. Principal Test Conductor:
Must have a High School Diploma and 12 years of related professional/military experience, OR Bachelor degree AND 8 years of related professional/military experience, OR a Master's degree AND 6 years of related professional/military experience OR a Ph.D. AND 4 year of related professional/military experience.
Basic Qualifications for Both Levels:
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Secret clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs
Your ability to obtain and/or transfer and maintain the final U.S. adjudicated government Secret clearance and any program access(es) required for the position within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the Company.
In depth knowledge of or test experience, to include control room monitoring
General knowledge of aviation systems
Advance knowledge of unmanned aircraft and aircraft systems
Willingness to travel domestically and to OCONUS (up to 35%) which includes traveling to Rancho Bernardo, San Diego for training and preparation in support of travel assignments.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office
Preferred Qualifications:
Active Secret/Top Secret Clearance
FAA Airframe and Powerplant License
Triton Production and/or Test experience
Prior test engineering experience on medium to large-sized unmanned aircraft
Experience testing RF, ethernet, and electrical cables
Experience with Teamcenter and Test Procedure Revision
Mechanical and test experience on aircraft and unmanned aircraft
Skills Required
- High school diploma and 9 years of related professional or military experience for Principal level
- Bachelor's degree and 5 years of related professional or military experience for Principal level
- Master's degree and 3 years of related professional or military experience for Principal level
- Ph.D. and 1 year of related professional or military experience for Principal level
- High school diploma and 12 years of related professional or military experience for Senior Principal level
- Bachelor's degree and 8 years of related professional or military experience for Senior Principal level
- Master's degree and 6 years of related professional or military experience for Senior Principal level
- Ph.D. and 4 years of related professional or military experience for Senior Principal level
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance and Special Access Program access
- Ability to obtain, transfer, and maintain final U.S. adjudicated Secret clearance and required program access
- In-depth knowledge of or experience with testing, including control-room monitoring
- General knowledge of aviation systems
- Advanced knowledge of unmanned aircraft and aircraft systems
- Willingness to travel domestically and overseas up to 35%
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office
- Active Secret or Top Secret clearance
- FAA Airframe and Powerplant License
- Triton production or test experience
- Prior test engineering experience on medium to large unmanned aircraft
- Experience testing RF, Ethernet, and electrical cables
- Experience with Teamcenter and test procedure revision
- Mechanical and test experience on aircraft and unmanned aircraft
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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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage offers multiple medical plan options by region alongside dental, vision, mental‑health resources, and wellness programs. Recent materials also highlight added family‑building support, including a dedicated fertility benefit.
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Retirement Support — The 401(k) savings plan is positioned as competitive with a company match, auto‑escalation features, and access to an employee stock fund/ESPP. Official filings and benefits guides emphasize retirement as a core element of the Total Rewards package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Many sites offer a 9/80 schedule, generous PTO, paid holidays, and flexible/telework options where program needs allow. Paid parental and caregiver leave are prominently featured, with recent enhancements for the delivering parent.
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.






