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Principal Engineer Ground Systems Hardware Installation/Sr Principal Engineer Ground Systems Hardware Installation (Level 3/4)

Manhattan Beach, California, United States
Full Time On-site

Summary

Job Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE TYPE: SCI

TRAVEL: Yes, 50% 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.

Embark on a career putting innovative, reliable, and agile products and ideas into orbit, and beyond. Northrop Grumman has opportunities waiting for you that play a vital role in human space exploration, national defense, and scientific discovery, supporting multiple programs across the universe. With us, you’ll discover a culture of curiosity and collaboration that will have you Defining Possible from the day you start. Our space systems connect and protect millions of people on earth every day, now and for the future. Explore your future and launch your career today.

The Ground Systems Development & Products Department (part of Northrop Grumman Space Systems Sector) in Manhattan Beach, CA is seeking a Principal Engineer Ground Systems Hardware Installation/Sr Principal Engineer Ground Systems Hardware Installation (Level 3/4) to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position will be located in Redondo Beach, CA and will have opportunity to travel both domestically and internationally to support installation and upgrade support.

They will be responsible for testing, and delivering satellite ground station hardware to customers both domestically and internationally. The successful candidate will have a track record of successfully performing RF and digital hardware installation, testing, and troubleshooting.

The candidate will have an ability to operate in a team environment and collaborate across engineering disciplines to accomplish the team goals. This candidate will also be capable of coordinating with internal and external customers and preparing/presenting the results of their work. Applicant will interface with multiple disciplines including customers, program management, hardware design, system engineering, procurement, suppliers, and manufacturing.

The ideal candidate has a broad range of experience with:

  • Performing support for several different technical skillsets (Electrical, Mechanical, Software, etc.)

  • Integration, and test of:

    • Digital and Analog/RF circuits

    • Electronic drawers/units

    • Small to large electronic subsystems

Some responsibilities include both performing and leading the following:

  • Support test planning, test execution, sell-off, and post-delivery support for multiple off-site locations

  • Solving challenging critical digital and RF subsystem issues to meet requirements across all delivery variants

  • Performing Acceptance Testing for Mission Assurance, Customers, and Technical Representatives

  • Providing content for subsystem internal design reviews, test readiness reviews, and End Item Data Package review and sell-off to internal and external customers

As a full-time employee of Northrop Grumman Space Systems, you are eligible for our robust benefits package including:

  • Medical, Dental & Vision coverage

  • 401k

  • Educational Assistance

  • Life Insurance

  • Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions

  • Paid Time Off

  • Health & Wellness Resources

  • Employee Discounts


This position’s standard work schedule is a 9/80. The 9/80 schedule allows employees who work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday to take every other Friday off.

Basic Qualifications (Level 3):

  • STEM Bachelor's Degree with 5+ years of hardware engineering experience; OR a STEM Master's Degree with 3+ years of hardware engineering experience; OR a STEM PhD. Degree with 0+ years of hardware engineering experience

  • Demonstrated hardware testing experience at either the board, unit, or subsystem level

  • Experience in an electronic test environment that verifies specification requirements

  • Previous experience as an electrical engineering hardware designer

  • Candidate must have, and be able to maintain, at least ONE of the following active U.S. Government security clearances:

    • Dept of Defense Secret level with a background investigation date within 6 years

    • OR SCI access with a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) completed within 5 years

    • OR Dept of Energy Q clearance with a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) completed within 5 years

 Basic Qualifications (Level 4):

  • STEM Bachelor's Degree with 9+ years of hardware engineering experience; OR a STEM Master's Degree with 7+ years of hardware engineering experience; OR a STEM PhD. Degree with 4+ years of hardware engineering experience

  • Demonstrated hardware testing experience at either the board, unit, or subsystem level

  • Experience in an electronic test environment that verifies specification requirements

  • Previous experience as an electrical engineering hardware designer

  • Candidate must have, and be able to maintain, at least ONE of the following active U.S. Government security clearances:

    • Dept of Defense Secret level with a background investigation date within 6 years

    • OR SCI access with a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) completed within 5 years

    • OR Dept of Energy Q clearance with a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) completed within 5 years

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or STEM Degree

  • Experience presenting to technical leadership

  • Experience designing, developing, and delivery of ground system hardware

  • Experience in analog, RF, or digital test set development and testing

  • Experience with ground antenna subsystems

  • Experience with hardware installs at a customer site

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.

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States, building advanced systems across space, air, land, sea, and cyber domains. The company is known for some of the most complex defense programs in the world, including stealth aircraft, autonomous systems, missile defense technologies, satellites, and space-based intelligence platforms that support U.S. national security operations.

For job seekers, Northrop Grumman offers careers across a wide range of high-impact fields including aerospace engineering, software development, cybersecurity, systems engineering, manufacturing, program management, and intelligence support. The company is especially attractive to veterans, cleared professionals, and engineers who want to work on mission-critical systems that directly support the Department of Defense and intelligence community. Many roles involve long-term programs with significant technical depth and real-world operational impact.

Unlike smaller defense startups focused on narrow capabilities, Northrop Grumman operates across multiple major mission areas, giving employees exposure to highly advanced programs such as stealth platforms, space systems, autonomous vehicles, and next-generation command-and-control systems. The company is also a major leader in classified space and intelligence systems, where cutting-edge engineering and secure infrastructure play a critical role in national defense.

As global competition in space, cyber, and advanced military systems continues to intensify, Northrop Grumman remains one of the most strategically important employers in the defense industry. For professionals seeking stable, highly technical careers with long-term impact on national security, Northrop Grumman continues to stand out as a leading destination in aerospace and defense.

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