Northrop Grumman Missions Systems is looking for you to join our team as a Principal Field Test Engineer based out of Sunnyvale, CA supporting our Launcher Systems/Propulsion and Power Generation (PPG) business unit.
In this role at Northrop Grumman, you will have a challenging and rewarding opportunity to be a part of our Enterprise-wide digital transformation. Through the use of Model-based Engineering, DevSecOps and Agile practices we continue to evolve how we deliver critical national defense products and capabilities for the warfighter. Our success is grounded in our ability to embrace change, move quickly and continuously drive innovation. The successful candidate will be collaborative, open, transparent, and team-oriented with a focus on team empowerment & shared responsibility, flexibility, continuous learning, and a culture of automation.
The rotating machinery team within the Test Engineer group is seeking an innovative, self-driven Principal Field Test Engineer to join our dynamic, multifaceted team. As one of us, your mission will be to ensure that the devices we create here to turn steam into electricity and propulsion for our nation’s newest submarines and aircraft carriers meet the stringent standards our nation’s fleet requires.
What You’ll get to Do:
In this role, you will have the opportunity to complete a wide variety of challenges that span the gamut of effort required to accomplish system-level tests of our turbine-generators and gear-driven propulsion units—from integrating data-acquisition systems and programming automation routines to acquiring and analyzing data and writing procedures and reports. Along the way, you will learn all about the technologies that make our power-generation and propulsion systems unique, gaining valuable insight to ensure our tested products are assets our nation’s bravest service members can trust.
One more thing: The role we perform requires 12.5-hr shifts to support 24/7 system-level test campaigns in our factory and may include night shift support 30-50% of the time. The workload may span two and three weeks continuously in some cases. A quarter of the year, the role involves field engineering testing support aboard ships at various customer sites around the US. Aboard ship, the workload is typically 12.5 hrs per day with a duration of between two and four weeks. Although the workload may sound intense, we do offer flexibility in taking paid time off and compensate for all additional hours worked on shift during testing campaigns. If this type of work plays to your strengths and goals, then we’d like to hear from you!
Basic Qualifications for level 2:
- Microsoft office suite
- Bachelor's Degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) discipline with 2 years relevant work experience; or Master’s Degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) with no relevant experience.
- Experience using benchtop instrumentation (e.g. spectrum analyzers and digital multimeters).
- Ability to interpret basic circuit diagrams.
- Must be willing to work night shift.
- Must be willing to work at field sites up to 75% of the time.
- Must be a US citizen and be able to obtain a DoD Secret Clearance.
Basic Qualifications for level 3:
Microsoft office suite
Bachelor’s Degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) discipline with 5 years relevant work experience; or Master’s Degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) discipline with 3 years relevant work experience.
Experience using benchtop instrumentation (e.g. spectrum analyzers and digital multimeters).
Ability to interpret basic circuit diagrams.
Must be willing to work night shift.
Must be willing to work at field sites up to 75% of the time.
Must be a US citizen and be able to obtain a DoD Secret Clearance
Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Aerospace Engineering Industry experience related to testing and troubleshooting
Experience troubleshooting analog or high-voltage circuitry
Programming and/or automation experience (e. g. MATLAB)
PLC programming experience (e.g. Allen Bradley)
Experience testing magnetic bearings or other rotating machinery
Acoustics, dynamics, or control-systems testing experience
Experience using multi-channel data acquisition (DAQ) systems
Experience testing large structures
Systems-Engineering experience
Navy experience
Skills Required
- Microsoft Office suite
- Bachelor's Degree in STEM with 2 years relevant experience or Master's in STEM with no experience (Level 2)
- Bachelor's Degree in STEM with 5 years relevant experience or Master's in STEM with 3 years relevant experience (Level 3)
- Experience using benchtop instrumentation (spectrum analyzers, digital multimeters)
- Ability to interpret basic circuit diagrams
- Willingness to work night shift (12.5-hr shifts, night support 30-50% of the time)
- Willingness to work at field sites up to 75% of the time, including shipboard deployments
- U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a DoD Secret clearance
- Experience troubleshooting analog or high-voltage circuitry
- Programming and/or automation experience (e.g., MATLAB)
- PLC programming experience (e.g., Allen Bradley)
- Experience using multi-channel data acquisition (DAQ) systems
- Experience testing magnetic bearings or other rotating machinery
- Acoustics, dynamics, or control-systems testing experience
- Experience testing large structures
- Systems-engineering experience
- Navy experience
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.







