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.
We are seeking a Sr. Principal Electronics Engineer – Test Hardware and Software to join our team in Baltimore, MD. The candidate should be a self‑driven problem solver with experience developing, enhancing, and maintaining test hardware and software for complex electronic systems.
In this role, you will support the entire product lifecycle, from design and implementation through flight test and debugging, to ensure that product requirements are met. You will design and integrate electromechanical test fixtures and test software, provide manufacturing and factory support, troubleshoot and correct root causes of system‑level issues, and participate in design reviews and technical peer reviews to ensure system and hardware requirements are satisfied.
The position requires a mix of test hardware and software design skills, experience with DC, Analog, Digital, and RF test & measurement equipment, and a hands‑on approach to troubleshooting complex electronic systems.
Typical Roles and Responsibilities include:
- Understanding design to cost, scope, and schedule
- Requirements definition and deriving test hardware and software requirements from specifications
- Design of electromechanical test fixtures & software test solutions
- Providing manufacturing support during the hardware build process
- Integration of test fixtures & software into a functioning test solution
- Test equipment & software certification per customer requirements
- Test system deployment and factory support
- Software maintenance and/or hardware fixture update initiatives
- Conducting reviews of hardware‑related products, hardware designs, and technical documents
- Active participation in design reviews and other technical reviews, as required
- Active participation in technical peer reviews to ensure system/hardware requirements are being met from an end‑to‑end system point of view
- Troubleshooting and correcting root causes of various system‑level issues
- Prioritizing work and making recommendations to Technical Leads, as required
This role is contingent upon candidates ability to obtain and maintain a government Secret Clearance.
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 8 years’ experience, or
- Master’s degree in STEM with 6 years’ experience, or
- Ph.D. degree in STEM with 3 years’ experience.
- The ability to read and interpret specifications, electrical schematics and block diagrams
- Mix of hardware and software design and development
- Experience in text‑based programming (e.g. C / C++)
- Background and working knowledge in RF theory and concepts
- Effective verbal and written communication
- Experience with test & measurement equipment
- Ability to obtain and maintain a government Secret Clearance
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience leading a hardware design or software design from requirements through verification and validation and certification
- Experience with building schedules and estimating Engineering costs
- Hardware Test design and Test Software integration background
- Experience with LabWindows CVI, Visual Studio, C/C++ or C# Development
- Experience with Test Sequence Development
- Experience with modern software version control tools such as Git or Subversion
- Experience with schematic design tools (e.g. Mentor Graphics, Zuken, DxDesigner/Xpedition, or similar)
- Proficiency with digital, analog, RF test equipment, RF theory and high speed digital design
- Familiarity with differential digital interfaces like LVDS – PXI/PXIe and VME bus experience
- Hands‑on troubleshooting of electronic hardware and test systems
- Advanced degree in Engineering or related STEM discipline
- Ability to work with minimal direction and guidance
- Active Secret clearance
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in STEM and 8 years of experience, or master's degree in STEM and 6 years of experience, or Ph.D. in STEM and 3 years of experience
- Ability to read and interpret specifications, electrical schematics, and block diagrams
- Experience with both hardware and software design and development
- Experience with text-based programming such as C or C++
- Background and working knowledge in RF theory and concepts
- Effective verbal and written communication skills
- Experience with test and measurement equipment
- Ability to obtain and maintain a government Secret clearance
- Experience leading hardware or software design from requirements through verification, validation, and certification
- Experience building schedules and estimating engineering costs
- Hardware test design and test software integration experience
- Experience with LabWindows CVI, Visual Studio, C/C++, or C# development
- Experience with test sequence development
- Experience with Git, Subversion, or similar software version control tools
- Experience with schematic design tools such as Mentor Graphics, Zuken, DxDesigner, or Xpedition
- Proficiency with digital, analog, and RF test equipment, RF theory, and high-speed digital design
- Familiarity with LVDS, PXI/PXIe, and VME bus interfaces
- Hands-on troubleshooting experience with electronic hardware and test systems
- Advanced degree in engineering or a related STEM discipline
- Ability to work with minimal direction and guidance
- Active Secret clearance
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.








