Please note that this opportunity is contingent on program funding. Start dates are determined after funding confirmation.
Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is currently seeking a Sr Principal Electrical Engineer – Vehicle Subsystems & Integration to join our team! This position can be located in Palmdale, CA; Oklahoma City, OK; Whiteman AFB, MO; or San Diego, CA.
This position will lead and/or serve as the key contributor on multiple aspects of aircraft subsystem development. This role will be deeply involved from project inception (RFP, requirements analysis, BOE) through hydraulic electrical subsystem layout, mechanical requirements, and final integration. As the engineering team’s subject matter expert (SME), the EE will guide projects from concept to sustainment, ensuring technical excellence throughout the product lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Design & Development
- Create hydraulic and electrical schematics for functional systems, selecting aircraft type conductors and electromechanical components (connectors, relays, switches, circuit breakers, and/or terminal junction systems).
- Perform system analysis and define requirements for electrical power generation, conversion, distribution, and circuit protection including Electrical Loads Analysis, power architecture development, test procedures, and related deliverables.
- Conduct similar analysis for hydraulic systems, preparing test procedures, reports, and other deliverables.
- System Engineering
- Lead trade studies, layout development, architecture definition, system testing, verification, and troubleshooting for all assigned components.
- Participate in subcontractor management teams; act as the technical point of contact for suppliers during hardware development, qualification, and procurement.
- Testing & Verification
- Develop and execute system level test plans, support verification activities, process test data, and resolve issues.
- Perform system level evaluations to confirm that requirements are met and airworthiness criteria are satisfied.
- Leadership & Communication
- Serve as the SME for multidisciplinary teams (10+ members), providing technical guidance from concept to sustainment.
- Prepare and deliver presentations to senior leadership (director level and above).
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelors Degree in a relevant Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) discipline and 8 years of related experience; OR an Masters Degree in a relevant STEM discipline with 6 years of related experience; OR a PhD in a relevant STEM discipline and 4 years of related experience.
- Proven experience leading a system’s development from concept to sustainment (“cradle-to-grave”).
- Demonstrated project management capabilities.
- Experience acting as a SME for an engineering team/project.
- Demonstrated analytical skills with a track record of complex problem solving.
- Proven ability to create and present technical briefings to senior executives.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
- Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance. This SAP must be obtained within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Active U.S. Government Secret (or higher) clearance with a background investigation completed within the past six years or enrollment in Continuous Evaluation.
- Experience with military-aircraft subsystem development, including requirements definition, specification authoring, component analysis, procurement, source selection, integration, and test & verification.
- Proficiency interpreting component detail drawings, specifications, installation drawings, and test procedures.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant STEM discipline and 8 years of related experience, or master's degree and 6 years, or PhD and 4 years
- Experience leading a system's development from concept through sustainment
- Demonstrated project management capabilities
- Experience serving as a subject matter expert for an engineering team or project
- Demonstrated analytical skills and complex problem-solving experience
- Ability to create and present technical briefings to senior executives
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance
- Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program clearance
- Active U.S. Government Secret or higher clearance with a recent background investigation or Continuous Evaluation enrollment
- Experience with military-aircraft subsystem development, including requirements, specifications, procurement, integration, and test and verification
- Proficiency interpreting component detail drawings, specifications, installation drawings, and test procedures
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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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.
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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.
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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.








