Senior Staff Engineer Electronics Architect

Posted 3 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, CA, USA
In-Office
193K-289K Annually
Senior level
Aerospace • Logistics • Security • Software • Cybersecurity
The Role
Leads architecture, integration, validation, and production test development for complex mixed-signal electronics and IMU-based aerospace products. Oversees hardware, software, firmware, FPGA, power, and embedded test architectures; guides technical tradeoffs, requirements verification, documentation, and test code development. Partners with multidisciplinary engineering and program teams, mentors personnel, supports proposals, and leads transition from development through production in a classified aerospace environment.
Summary Generated by Built In
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 Mission Systems is seeking a Senior Staff Engineer, Electronics Architect to serve as a product technical lead across complex mixed signal electronics, hardware, software, and firmware development efforts. This role requires deep technical expertise spanning analog, digital, power, FPGA, and embedded test architectures, combined with strong leadership in system integration and product test execution. The selected candidate will lead the technical proposal strategy, research effort, integration, and validation of advanced electronic systems with a strong emphasis on inertial measurement unit (IMU) architecture, test planning, and production test solution development. This position will partner closely with software/firmware, electrical, mechanical, systems, and program leadership to ensure successful execution from development through verification and transition to production.


Key Responsibilities

  • Serve as the technical lead for complex electronics products, driving architecture, integration, and validation activities across hardware, software, and firmware domains.
  • Lead development of test architecture and test strategies to verify and validate requirements across multiple product lines.
  • Provide subject matter expertise in the integration and testing of electronics, power, and digital systems, with emphasis on IMU-based products.
  • Evaluate technical tradeoffs during engineering development and guide design decisions to support product performance, testability, manufacturability, and program execution.
  • Partner with design and integration teams to ensure successful incorporation of new hardware and software/firmware into test environments.
  • Lead multidisciplinary teams responsible for developing and integrating Production Test Solutions.
  • Support requirements flow-down, requirements management, verification planning, and technical closure of design requirements.
  • Generate and review technical documentation including specifications, interface control documents, technical reports, engineering studies, and proposal content.
  • Develop, debug, review, and oversee test code used for integration and verification activities.
  • Generate, review, and release engineering documentation such as electrical schematics, wire tabs, test specifications, assembly drawings, and interconnect diagrams.
  • Interface with internal functional engineering teams, program leadership, and customer technical representatives as needed.
  • Provide leadership in technical planning, team building, collaboration, mentoring, and execution in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or another STEM discipline from an accredited university with 14 years of relevant engineering experience; or a Master’s degree with 12 years of relevant engineering experience; or a PhD with 10 years of relevant engineering experience.
  • Active DoD Secret clearance or higher, with a background investigation completed within the last 5 years or current enrollment in Continuous Evaluation.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance within a reasonable time frame to meet business needs.
  • Experience serving as an Integrated Product Team Lead, Technical Lead, Hardware Architect, Software Architect, or in another engineering leadership role with demonstrated team-building and organizational skills.
  • Experience across hardware and software development lifecycles, including design, test and evaluation, and transition to production.
  • Ability to develop, debug, and review test code.
  • Experience generating, reviewing, and releasing engineering documentation such as schematics, test specifications, assembly drawings, and interconnect diagrams.
  • Ability to interface with teams of major programs to help develop executable strategies for test execution, and technical skill alignment in support of contractual and financial milestones.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Background in product architecture design and integration.
  • Ability to work effectively with minimal direction.
  • Experience with NI LabWindows/CVI, C/C++, HDL (Verilog or VHDL), and Matlab.
  • FPGA development using Xilinx Vivado Design Suite.
  • Experience with schematic capture and layout design tools such as Cadence Allegro, Altium, Siemens Xpedition, or other similar platforms.
  • Proficiency with digital and analog electronics, power systems, circuit analysis (PSpice/LTspice), high-speed digital design, and standard electronics test equipment (oscilloscope, DMM, Logic analyzer, AWG, spectrum analyzer, etc.).
  • Familiarity with differential digital interfaces such as LVDS, USB, RS-422 / RS-485, and PCIe.
  • Experience with communication interfaces like UART, I2C, SPI, RS-232, and MIL-STD-1553.
  • Hands-on troubleshooting experience with electronic hardware and software/firmware.
  • Experience and/or training in Earned Value Management Systems.
  • Additional experience in payload integration, avionics integration, digital electronics integration, risk analysis, communications, or aerospace integration and test.

About the Organization

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. The Engineering and Sciences organization advances innovation across engineering disciplines to design, develop, produce, and sustain high-performance products that deliver decisive capability to the warfighter. Team members are empowered to solve complex technical challenges in a collaborative environment built on technical excellence, mission focus, and continuous improvement.

Work Schedule and Benefits

This position follows a 9/80 work schedule, allowing employees who work nine-hour days Monday through Thursday to take every other Friday off. As a full-time employee, Northrop Grumman offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k), educational assistance, life insurance, employee assistance programs, paid time off, wellness resources, and employee discounts.

Additional information is available at Northrop Grumman Total Rewards.


Primary Level Salary Range: $192,800.00 - $289,200.00

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 Engineering or another STEM discipline and 14 years of relevant engineering experience; or a master’s degree with 12 years; or a PhD with 10 years.
  • Active DoD Secret clearance or higher, with a background investigation completed within the last five years or current enrollment in Continuous Evaluation.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program clearance.
  • Experience as an Integrated Product Team Lead, Technical Lead, Hardware Architect, Software Architect, or comparable engineering leadership role.
  • Experience across hardware and software development lifecycles, including design, test and evaluation, and transition to production.
  • Ability to develop, debug, and review test code.
  • Experience generating, reviewing, and releasing schematics, test specifications, assembly drawings, and interconnect diagrams.
  • Ability to develop executable test strategies and align technical execution with contractual and financial milestones.
  • Background in product architecture design and integration.
  • Ability to work effectively with minimal direction.
  • Experience with NI LabWindows/CVI, C/C++, HDL such as Verilog or VHDL, and MATLAB.
  • FPGA development experience using Xilinx Vivado Design Suite.
  • Experience with Cadence Allegro, Altium, Siemens Xpedition, or similar schematic capture and layout tools.
  • Proficiency with digital and analog electronics, power systems, circuit analysis, high-speed digital design, and standard electronics test equipment.
  • Familiarity with LVDS, USB, RS-422, RS-485, and PCIe interfaces.
  • Experience with UART, I2C, SPI, RS-232, and MIL-STD-1553 communications interfaces.
  • Hands-on troubleshooting experience with electronic hardware and software or firmware.
  • Experience or training in Earned Value Management Systems.
  • Experience in payload integration, avionics integration, digital electronics integration, risk analysis, communications, or aerospace integration and test.

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.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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

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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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