Principal / Sr Principal Systems Engineer

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% 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 Defense Systems Sector has a need for a Principal/Sr. Principal Systems Engineer at its Integrated Mission Solutions (IMS) organization in Warner Robins, GA. This engineering position is for a role on our Systems Engineering Team. In this role you will be supporting automated test station development and sustainment programs. Our ideal candidate will possess technical expertise, a drive to lead from where you are, collaborative people skills, and the proven ability to work within a technically diverse and fast-paced team. This position is in Warner Robins, GA and requires that you work on-site daily.

 

 

Your responsibilities will include:

 

• Design, develop, and maintain automated test stations

• Integrate custom hardware (sensors, actuators, power supplies, DUT adapters, etc.) with test rigs, ensuring signal integrity and safety compliance.

• Develop, debug, and optimize LabVIEW applications for test sequencing, data acquisition, analysis, and reporting.

• Create and maintain reusable LabVIEW libraries, instrument drivers, and UI components.

• Collaborate with product engineering, QA, and manufacturing to define test requirements and acceptance criteria.

• Build and validate test fixtures, PCB test harnesses, and mechanical interfaces; perform cable routing and connector selection.

• Implement automated test procedures, including fault detection, self‑diagnostics, and yield analysis.

• Manage version control (e.g., Git, SVN) for LabVIEW code and hardware design documentation.

• Conduct root‑cause investigations on test failures and recommend hardware or software improvements.

• Document test station architecture, wiring diagrams, software flowcharts, and standard operating procedures.

• Support pilot production and field service teams by troubleshooting test stations and providing training.

This position may be filled at either Principal or Sr. Principal level.

 

Basic Qualifications:  

• Principal Systems Engineer: Minimum of 5 years of direct relevant experience with B.S. degree; Minimum of 3 years of direct relevant experience with Master’s degree; Minimum of 1 year of direct relevant experience with PhD. B.S, M.S., or PhD must be in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or an equivalent STEM related discipline.

• Sr. Principal Systems Engineer: Minimum of 8 years of direct relevant experience with B.S. degree; Minimum of 6 years of direct relevant experience with Master’s degree; Minimum of 4 years of direct relevant experience with PhD. B.S, M.S., or PhD must be in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or an equivalent STEM related discipline.

 

• Proficiency in LabVIEW (NI‑Certified LabVIEW Developer certification is a plus).

• Strong hands‑on skills with hardware integration: wiring, PCB layout basics, connectors, power supplies, and signal conditioning.

• Experience with common test instrumentation (oscilloscopes, DMMs, spectrum analyzers, source‑measure units, function generators, etc.).

• Knowledge of communication protocols such as GPIB, USB, Ethernet, RS‑232/485, and CAN.

• Ability to read and interpret schematics, mechanical drawings, and test specifications.

• Familiarity with version‑control systems (Git, SVN) and basic software development practices (code reviews, unit testing).

• Excellent problem‑solving skills and the ability to work independently or in a cross‑functional team.

• Must currently hold or be able to maintain a U.S Department of Defense (DoD) Secret level security clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

• Currently hold a U.S Department of Defense (DoD) Secret level security clearance (or higher)

• Experience with real‑time or PXI platforms and FPGA‑based LabVIEW implementations.

• Proficiency in additional programming languages (Python, C/C++, MATLAB) for data processing or instrument control.

• Background in designing custom test fixtures or enclosures using CAD tools (SolidWorks, Altium, or similar).

• Ability to write technical documentation and create training materials for end‑users.

Primary Level Salary Range: $98,400.00 - $147,600.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $122,800.00 - $184,200.00

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.