Principal Cad Cam Engineer/senior Principal Cad Cam Engineer

Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman · Aerospace · Baltimore, MD +1 · Material/Process

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Principal/Senior Principal Board Designer to create high-quality printed circuit board (PCB) layouts for defense-grade products. This role involves component placement, routing, design rule checks, collaboration with cross-functional teams, DFM/DFA optimization, and generating production documentation. The position requires experience with PCB layout in complex environments and proficiency with tools like Mentor Graphics, along with knowledge of industry standards. A U.S. Government Secret clearance is required.

What you'd actually do

  1. Develop complete PCB layouts – From component placement to routing, create multi-layer board designs that meet signal integrity, power distribution, and EMC requirements.
  2. Perform design rule checks (DRC) and sign off – Run automated DRC, signal integrity simulations, and thermal analyses; resolve violations and document compliance.
  3. Collaborate on cross functional design reviews – Present designs to electrical, mechanical, and reliability teams; incorporate feedback and drive design closure.
  4. Support DFM/DFA initiatives – Work with PCB fabricators and assemblers to optimize stack up, trace widths, via strategies, and test point placement for cost effective manufacturing.
  5. Generate production documentation – Produce TGZ, drill files; ensure data integrity in the PLM system.

Skills

Required

  • PCB layout experience
  • Mentor Graphics
  • IPC 2221
  • IPC 6012 & 13
  • IPC 7351
  • GD&T for PCB design
  • U.S Citizenship

Nice to have

  • Mentor Xpedition software suite
  • high-speed digital design
  • RF/microwave PCB design
  • High Density Interconnect (HDI)
  • Array designs
  • power PCB designs
  • 3-D mechanical integration tools
  • ASME-Y14.5
  • collaborative, fast paced development teams
  • Expert written and verbal communication

What the JD emphasized

  • Secret clearance
  • Mentor Graphics