Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. Our Engineering and Sciences (E&S) organization pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered with providing the skills, innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter. Come be a part of our mission!
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems develops Operational Electronic Warfare (EW) and targeting systems that provide situational awareness, self-protection, and offensive electronic attack capability to platforms across the spectrum from visible light IR to millimeter wave RF.
By joining us, you’ll work on projects that help safeguard our nation related to land forces, rotary wing survivability systems, international and U.S. military electronic warfare systems, communications systems, missile warning systems (MWS), and sensors, infrared countermeasure systems (IRCM), automatic test equipment, modeling and simulation, and situational awareness programs. The Hardware Engineering organization plays a key role in developing these solutions.
The Sr. Principal RF role involves full life-cycle product development from system concept and requirements through design, production, verification, and field support while working in integrated product teams spanning Engineering, Manufacturing, and Program Management. RF/Analog subsystem and circuit card designs utilize the latest MMIC and discrete device technologies from all major vendors including internal Northrop Grumman designed devices, Electro-Optical (EO) circuitry, controls, detectors and data converters. As an RF/Analog Electrical Engineer, you will join our diverse team and be responsible for research, design, development of signal conversion and analog/mixed signal products. Your expertise in RF, mixed signal, and/or Electro-Optical component design and analysis, modeling and simulation, and circuit level design and test are desired for this position.
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This position will be full-time and on-site at our Rolling Meadows, IL. Location
Basic Qualifications for Sr. Principal RF Engineer:
· Bachelors’ degree in STEM field with a minimum 8 years of electronics design experience or MS degree in STEM field with 6 years of electronics design experience.
· RF/Analog circuit design experience, including schematic capture through test and integration
· Hands-on prototyping and debug experience testing complex RF subsystems, such as complex circuit card development involving amplifiers, mixers, control systems, ADCs, DACs, and/or phase lock loops
· Demonstrated ability to translate system performance and operational specifications into hardware requirements, design, and test specifications
· Familiarity with documentation, revision control and review systems like DOORS, ClearCase, and ClearQuest
· US Citizenship
· Must have Interim Secret clearance prior to starting and once started, must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications:
· An advanced degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering
· Minimum 7 years of RF and/or mixed signal electronics design experience
· Working knowledge of Electronic Warfare systems
· Recent circuit card design experience utilizing circuit-related tools including Cadence Concept, Allegro, and/or Mentor DxDesigner, Expedition
· Experience with Advanced Design System (ADS) and MatLab modeling tools
· Experience with SPICE modeling tools
· Proven skills to include: communicating with all levels of an organization internally and externally, adaptable, creative, collaborative and comfortable working independently and enjoy solving difficult problems
· Current Secret or Top-Secret security clearance
Primary Level Salary Range: $135,800.00 - $203,600.00The 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 STEM with 8+ years electronics design experience OR MS in STEM with 6+ years
- RF/Analog circuit design experience, including schematic capture through test and integration
- Hands-on prototyping and debug experience testing complex RF subsystems (amplifiers, mixers, control systems, ADCs, DACs, PLLs, circuit card development)
- Ability to translate system performance and operational specifications into hardware requirements, design, and test specifications
- Familiarity with documentation, revision control and review systems (DOORS, ClearCase, ClearQuest)
- U.S. Citizenship
- Must have Interim Secret clearance prior to starting and ability to obtain and maintain Secret clearance
- Advanced degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering
- Minimum 7 years of RF and/or mixed signal electronics design experience
- Working knowledge of Electronic Warfare systems
- Recent circuit card design experience using Cadence Concept, Allegro, Mentor DxDesigner, or Expedition
- Experience with Advanced Design System (ADS) and MATLAB modeling tools
- Experience with SPICE modeling tools
- Current Secret or Top-Secret security clearance
- Strong communication, adaptability, creativity, collaboration, and independent problem-solving skills
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.








