Principal / Sr. Principal Electronics Engineer
Northrop GrummanDescription
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.The successful candidate will join Northrop Grumman’s Defense Systems (DS) Specialized Tactical Electronic Warfare Systems (STEWS) team in Rolling Meadows, IL. The role focuses on the development, testing, and sustainment of legacy and advanced electronic systems for U.S. Air Force platforms, including RF microwave airborne RADAR, infrared (IR) sensors, laboratory test stations, and transportable flightline electronic warfare combat test sets.
Our team provides sustainment support for the US Air Force platforms. Our team members complete engineering, reverse engineering, and logistics solution efforts to solve complex obsolescence problems and ensure warfighter training, combat and supportability.
You will support execution of various program activities to include test system design and evaluation, design and development of RF systems and components, radar, power and/or electrical systems architecture, components, circuits, and products for aircraft and flight line. The position will research, develop, design, and test electrical components, perform equipment, systems, and design evaluations and provide general engineering support for defense or commercial systems.
The role demands hands‑on troubleshooting of field failures, supplier coordination, and the ability to mentor junior engineers while interfacing with customers and program leadership.
Roles and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Lead or support system integration activities, coordinating with cross‑functional teams to deliver end‑to‑end system functionality.
Design, develop, integrate, test, and deploy hardware and system modifications.
Create and execute Verification and Validation (V&V) plans that ensure radar‑system requirements satisfy mission objectives and customer needs.
Diagnose hardware and sub‑assembly failures, determine root causes, and implement corrective actions.
Facilitate smooth transitions from design to production.
Produce and maintain engineering documentation, including specifications, change notices, parts lists, bills of materials, test plans, test procedures, and test reports to support the engineering development lifecycle and program goals.
Establish milestones and monitor adherence to master plans and schedules.
Evaluate, integrate, and test hardware and software components to reduce development risk and investigate anomalies.
Interface with internal and external customers, delivering clear presentations and status updates.
Provide troubleshooting support for field failures, leveraging deep knowledge of both hardware and software interfaces within the system and subsystem components.
Offer technical assistance to Northrop and USAF technicians and collaborate with suppliers to resolve hardware issues.
**This position may be filled at either Principal or Sr. Principal Level.
Principal Electronics Engineer Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 5 years of related engineering experience; or a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of related engineering experience with:
Exposure to airborne RADAR and Electronic Warfare (EW)
Familiarity in C++, Python or MATLAB development and/or debugging
Familiarity with National Instruments (NI/Emerson) LabWindows/CVI or LabVIEW.
Understanding of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) algorithms implemented on FPGAs.
Familiarity with PathWave RF Synthesis (Genesys)
U.S. Citizenship and eligibility to obtain a US Government Secret security clearance.
or
Sr. Principal Electronics Engineer Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline, with a minimum of 9 (nine) years of relevant experience or a Master’s degree in a relevant STEM discipline and 7 (six) years of related engineering experience with:
Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication abilities, coupled with excellent organizational skills.
Proficiency with airborne RADAR and Electronic Warfare (EW)
Proficiency in C++, Python or MATLAB development and/or debugging
Proficiency with National Instruments (NI/Emerson) LabWindows/CVI or LabVIEW.
Proficiency of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) algorithms implemented on FPGAs.
Proficiency with PathWave RF Synthesis (Genesys)
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Altium Designer, RF and Digital test and measurement equipment.
U.S. Citizenship and eligibility to obtain a US Government Secret security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications:
Proven experience with airborne RADAR Electronic Warfare (EW)
Proficiency in C++, Python or MATLAB development and/or debugging
Proficiency with National Instruments (NI/Emerson) LabWindows/CVI or LabVIEW.
Strong understanding of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) algorithms implemented on FPGAs.
Proficiency with PathWave RF Synthesis (Genesys)
Professional Experience in any of the following:
RADAR product data analysis
Software requirements definition and verification
Supplier Management of Hardware/Embedded Software system
Operations and Sustainment of fielded systems
Proposal development and review
Root Cause and Corrective Action Investigations
Test and evaluation of Software design solutions and tools
Experience with data analysis, simulation, and modeling tools (e.g., MATLAB toolboxes,)
Experience with configuration management, issue tracking/trending, and basic software engineering practices.
Proficiency in one or more technical languages: MATLAB/Simulink, Python; C/C++ embedded/real time implementations.
Ability to comprehend and analyze complex problems, develop solutions, and make decisions that impact the organization’s credibility, operations and services.
Documented ability to interpret numerical data for reporting purposes and prepare and analyze data and figures.
Demonstrated ability to lead and collaborate in a team environment across with multiple engineering disciplines.
Ability to diagnose/troubleshoot/repair hardware components
Experience with test planning at the circuit card, equipment, and system level
Experience generating and diagnosing automated test software
Analog, Digital, RF, EMI / EMC signal integrity experience