Principal/ Sr. Principal Test Engineer… at Northrop… · California

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the Time

Description

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.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is seeking a highly qualified Low Observables Test Engineer to join the Flight Test Engineering Survivability team at Edwards AFB, CA. This role (targeting a Principal/ Sr. Principal level) focuses on hands-on technical execution, providing deep subject-matter expertise in low observables (LO) and survivability testing throughout the flight test campaign.

The Low Observables Test Engineer will work with a variety of test disciplines in a Combined Test Force (CTF) environment at Edwards AFB, and with several Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) to complete tasks related to testing of LO and electronic warfare systems (EWS). The ideal candidate combines strong LO knowledge with the ability to develop and apply software/scripts to support test automation, data analysis, and tool development.

Core Responsibilities:

• Serve as a technical contributor on the Survivability Flight Test Engineering team, planning and executing tests for LO and EW systems on military aircraft.
• Apply electronic warfare and survivability expertise to design test points, define instrumentation needs, and evaluate system performance against requirements.
• Develop, maintain, and apply analysis tools, scripts, and models (e.g., in Python, MATLAB, or similar) to automate data processing, perform signal and spectral analysis, and generate test reports.
• Work collaboratively in an Integrated Product Team (IPT) environment to determine and communicate test requirements, testing methods, equipment/measurement selection, test setup, and pre/post-test reporting.
• Analyze flight test data to characterize system LO performance and contribute to test cards, quick-look products, and final test reports.
• Support integration, ground testing, operation/maintenance of Tier 0-3 RCS test/inspection tools, and pre-mission rehearsals to verify that aircraft configurations, range assets, threat systems, and data acquisition architectures are ready to execute planned scenarios.
• Identify, communicate, and help manage test risks, issues, and opportunities with internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of test processes, data analysis flows, and software tools to increase efficiency and repeatability.

The candidate should have a genuine interest in complex aerospace systems and a strong desire to grow as a technical expert. Intellectual curiosity, collaboration, and willingness to learn from and contribute to a multidisciplinary team are critical to success in this role. The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility. There is no remote / hybrid / telework available for this position. Travel up to 25% may be required.

Basic Qualifications

"This requisition may be filled at either a Principal or a Sr Principal Flight Test Engineer"

Basic Qualifications for Principal Test Engineer:

• Must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM discipline AND 5 years of related professional/military experience, OR a Master's degree AND 3 years of related professional/military experience.
• Experience in a systems test environment (e.g., flight test, HWIL, SIL, laboratory, or range-based test of complex avionics, sensors, or mission systems).
• Familiarity with survivability concepts (e.g., threat systems, mission-level survivability, LO/RCS, EW effects).
• Demonstrated experience with at least one programming or scripting language used for test and data analysis (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or similar).
• Must have an active US Government DoD Secret clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance, within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.
• Willingness to work overtime, odd-hour shifts, and occasional weekends to support test and range schedules.

Basic Qualifications for Sr. Principal Test Engineer:

• Must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM discipline AND 8 years of related professional/military experience, OR a Master's degree AND 6 years of related professional/military experience.
• Experience in a systems test environment (e.g., flight test, HWIL, SIL, laboratory, or range-based test of complex avionics, sensors, or mission systems).
• Familiarity with survivability concepts (e.g., threat systems, mission-level survivability, LO/RCS, EW effects).
• Demonstrated experience with at least one programming or scripting language used for test and data analysis (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or similar).
• Must have an active US Government DoD Secret clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance, within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.
• Willingness to work overtime, odd-hour shifts, and occasional weekends to support test and range schedules.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Current active U.S. Government DoD Top Secret clearance.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills; experience presenting mission concepts, test designs, and results to leadership, contractors, and/or customers.
• Direct test experience in flight testing of survivability capabilities, weapon systems, and/or mission systems of military aircraft.
• Demonstrated experience using Tier 1-3 diagnostics systems to categorize RCS performance.
• Demonstrated understanding of LO concepts: radar cross section (RCS) reduction, signature management, and material coatings.
• Understanding of electronic warfare fundamentals: electronic support (ES), electronic attack (EA), and electronic protection (EP).
• Hands-on experience developing or maintaining analysis tools, automation scripts, or visualization dashboards for test data (e.g., Python-based pipelines, MATLAB toolboxes, or C/C++ utilities).
• Experience working in classified environments and familiarity with implementing Safety Management System (SMS) processes for flight test operations.
• Familiarity with USAF 412th Test Wing processes and Combined Test Force operations at Edwards AFB.

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00

The 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.