Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. We have a wide portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, and multi-domain systems and technologies. Our differentiated battle management and cyber solutions deliver timely, mission-enabling information and provide superior situational awareness and understanding to protect the U.S. and its global allies.
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (NGMS) is looking for you to join our team as a Sr. Principal Electronics Engineer - Manufacturing Test Engineering (RF Systems) based out of Rolling Meadows, IL.
Manufacturing Engineers thrive in an environment of daily unique challenges and close proximity to products. Partnering with production, successful test engineers lead troubleshooting and ensure excellence. Engineers who do well in this setting enjoy seeing their work perform in a test or a product, collaborate and communicate well across functions, and are innovative problem solvers. Best suited to this role are those who enjoy learning and bring a sense of urgency and energy to their tasks.
This position will support test station hardware efforts associated with testing Radio Frequency (RF) production hardware in a dynamic, fast-paced and technically challenging production environment.
Behavioral Traits sought out:
The Manufacturing Test Engineers are expected to be problem solvers with the ability to provide results that are innovative and often achieved through collaboration across functional groups.
We seek individuals with proven excellence in the following 6 core competencies:
a) High levels of Self-accountability and Ownership
b) Acts with Speed
c) Responds to Challenges with Resilience
d) Leads with Courage
e) Sets vision for the assigned products
f) Builds a High Performing Team
This individual will be responsible for all aspects of test development from requirements capture through final validation and release. A successful person in this role will be very effective at leading collaboration with the product Design Engineer, the Test Hardware Engineer, the Quality Assurance Engineer and the Manufacturing Technician. This position would include providing needed efforts to set up and support the acceptance testing of the Shop Replaceable Units, as well as acceptance testing and environmental screening at the payload (Line Replaceable Unit) level. This position will support aerial, military-grade, or space-grade Electronic Warfare Systems and Subsystems.
What you will get to do:
Support to Production: Coordinate with Design Engineering, Production technician, Project Management, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Quality organizations to test and provide solutions to support nonconformance systems for contractual acceptance testing and environmental screening commitments.
Test station design – debug & integration/validation: Investigate, design, and provide solutions to meet new or modified testing requirements.
Test procedure development/Maintenance: Generate and maintain/revise Manufacturing Acceptance testing procedures, Environmental Screening procedures, hardware drawings of test equipment and fixtures.
Continuous improvement: Review of quality metrics to identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to reduce cost, cycle time, defects.
Testability reviews: Collaborate with design engineering to achieve testability in new and updated product design.
Test station/fixture development: Design and maintain/revise Manufacturing Acceptance testing fixture and stations for functional and environmental testing. This includes test station concepts (Schematics, block diagram, simulations, test requirement creation)
Ability to interface/communicate with multiple levels of leadership, clients, and vendors.
Building a strong professional relationship with other Manufacturing disciplines (Process Engineering, Project Management, Shop Operations, Mission Assurance), strong decision-making skills and a high-level ethical standard is essential.
This Position is Contingent Upon Program Award.
Basic Qualifications for the Sr. Principal Manufacturing Test Engineer (RF Systems):
Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and/or Computer Engineering or a related STEM field with a minimum of 8 years relevant experience; OR a Master of Science (MS) degree in equivalent fields with 6 or more years of experience.
Experience with troubleshooting of hardware, and test issues
Experience with schematic generation such as Cadence.
Experience completing hardware projects involving hardware design / development activities and/or integration and validation activities on schedule and on budget.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.
US Citizenship required.
Preferred Qualifications:
Python and MATLAB experience.
Experience with programming languages such as C#, C, Java or Lab Windows CVI
Experience with schematic generation such as Cadence.
Prior hardware troubleshooting experience of test equipment or prime hardware.
Experience in troubleshooting unit under test.
Experience with RF Electronic systems in manufacturing or design (hardware, firmware, etc.) environment.
Experience working with use of any test instruments such as (but not limited to) Oscilloscope, Signal Generator, Spectrum Analyzer, Network Analyzer, etc.
Experience with reading schematics and interpreting electrical one-lines.
Experience using GitHub.
Active DoD Security Clearance.
What We Can Offer You:
Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a work environment which encourages your growth and supports the mutual success of our people and our company. Northrop Grumman benefits give you the flexibility and control to choose the benefits that make the most sense for you and your family.
Your benefits will include the following: Health Plan, Savings Plan, Paid Time Off and Additional Benefits including Education Assistance, Training and Development, 9/80 Work Schedule (where available), and much more!
#MPR
Skills Required
- Bachelor's in Electrical/Computer Engineering or related STEM with 8+ years experience (or MS with 6+ years)
- Experience troubleshooting hardware and test issues
- Experience with schematic generation such as Cadence
- Experience completing hardware design/development and/or integration and validation projects on schedule and budget
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance
- U.S. Citizenship
- Experience with test station design, debug, integration, and validation
- Experience supporting production acceptance testing and environmental screening
- Ability to interface and communicate with leadership, clients, and vendors
- Experience with continuous improvement and quality metric review
- Python and MATLAB experience
- Experience with C#, C, Java or LabWindows CVI
- Prior hardware troubleshooting of test equipment or prime hardware
- Experience troubleshooting unit under test
- Experience with RF electronic systems in manufacturing or design environments
- Experience using oscilloscopes, signal generators, spectrum/network analyzers
- Experience reading schematics and electrical one-lines
- Experience using GitHub
- Active DoD security 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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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.
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