Northrop Grumman Defense Systems (NGDS) – Armament Systems is in Plymouth, Minnesota or Huntsville, AL and is seeking a Sr Principal Engineer Test. In this role, you will have a challenging and rewarding opportunity to be a part of our Gun Canon-Based Air Defense (GBAD) program, a high-profile effort within the Defense Systems sector. GBAD integrates sensors, battle management command and control, and effectors leveraging battle-proven cannons and a suite of advanced ammunition, ready to defend against subsonic cruise missiles and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) from conflict start to finish.
Detailed Job Description:
The qualified candidate will be required to perform as the Sr Principal Engineer Test, responsible for the creation of Master Test Plans (MTPs), Hardware Utilization Matrixes (HUMs), Detailed Test Plans (DTPs), and Test Procedures, and Engineering Test Reports (ETRs) in a Department of Defense (DoD) environment utilizing the applicable military specifications and standards as they relate to the verification/validation of the various system requirements. The applicant will be required to administer system test activities for programs and projects as part of Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) in the area of adhering to proper test engineering practices and procedures to ensure company work instructions and processes are followed. Additional tasks will be to perform as a Control Account Manager (CAM) in leading the engineering and design verification testing activities in coordination with other NGDS IPTs to help ensure budgets are maintained and met while meeting milestones and deliveries. The candidate will also be a key contributor and interface with our external customers and business partners. Also, the applicant will be required to plan, lead, organize, and generate the required documentation packages (including checklists), such as leading the required Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs) prior to test conduct. The candidate will also lead proposal and bidding activities for potentially new programs and projects as it relates to system test activities and tasks. Other activities will include interfacing and coordinating with program managers, chief engineers, design engineers, quality engineers, DCMA, as well as our external customers.
Basic Qualifications:
- 8 Years with Bachelors in Science; 6 Years with Masters; 4 Years with PhD
- Experience with Department of Defense (DoD) programs and projects as they relate to product verification and validation per program requirements as they relate to test plans, test conduct, and test report generation.
- Complete understanding and application of the various military specifications and standards as they relate to requirements verifications for advanced technology weapons, medium and large caliber ammunition, and precision guidance weapons.
- Experience with environmental testing methods and processes. Tests included are those such as ballistics, tracer, self-destruct, round performance, temperature (storage and live fire), transportation vibration, drop shock, thermal, jolt/jumble, salt fog, waterproofing, and Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3) Testing.
- Prior experience assembling test plans and test reports for customer deliverables in capturing required test data per the test plan/procedure.
- Ability to travel in the range of 25% to 50% will be required to support the various off-site testing activities.
- Security regulations require that the individual must be a U.S. Citizen and must have a DOD security clearance at the level of Secret or higher.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to work independently and organize/prioritize job assignments and tasks.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Ability to read and understand engineering drawings per ASME that would include extensive use of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) – per ASME Y14.5-2009.
- Prior use and experience with the Siemens Teamcenter EPLM (TcUA/AW) and System Requirements tools, such as CAMEO or DOORS.
- Failure analysis and resolution methods, such as FRACAS, 8D, and others.
- Design experience as it relates to aerospace products and systems that use similar industry specifications and standards.
Skills Required
- 8 years with Bachelor's; 6 years with Master's; 4 years with PhD
- Experience with DoD programs for product verification and validation, test plans, test conduct, and test report generation
- Complete understanding and application of military specifications and standards for advanced weapons, ammunition, and precision guidance weapons
- Experience with environmental testing methods and processes (ballistics, tracer, self-destruct, round performance, temperature, transportation vibration, drop shock, thermal, jolt/jumble, salt fog, waterproofing, E3 testing)
- Prior experience assembling test plans and test reports for customer deliverables capturing required test data
- Ability to travel in the range of 25% to 50%
- U.S. Citizen and must have a DOD security clearance at the level of Secret or higher
- Strong analytical skills and ability to work independently and organize/prioritize assignments
- Ability to read and understand engineering drawings per ASME Y14.5-2009 (GD&T)
- Prior use and experience with Siemens Teamcenter EPLM (TcUA/AW) and system requirements tools such as CAMEO or DOORS
- Experience with failure analysis and resolution methods (FRACAS, 8D)
- Design experience related to aerospace products and systems using industry specifications and standards
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.







