Principal/senior Principal Engineer Electronics - Communications Integration (california)

Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman · Aerospace · Palmdale, CA +2 · Electrical

This role focuses on the integration and testing of communications equipment, including configuring and validating advanced communications methods and hardware. Responsibilities include developing and executing test procedures, troubleshooting integration issues, and managing test artifacts. The role requires practical RF experience, proficiency with test equipment, and scripting for automated tests. A Top Secret clearance is mandatory.

What you'd actually do

  1. Lead hands on integration and test of communications equipment in a lab environment, configuring and validating advanced communications methods, and hardware for planned test scenarios
  2. Develop, execute, and document lab test procedures and validation plans (including signal chaining, link budgets, interference checks, and pass/fail criteria) and capture test results and anomalies
  3. Configure and operate RF and network testbeds/emulators (including channel emulators, attenuators, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and protocol/network simulators) to reproduce operational environments
  4. Troubleshoot hardware/software integration issues across RF front end, digital baseband, modem stacks, and network interfaces
  5. Support configuration management and lab readiness: maintain test fixtures, instrumentation calibration records, test scripts, version control for test artifacts, and produce concise technical reports for stakeholders

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM discipline
  • Practical RF experience covering HF and UHF systems
  • Familiarity with Beyond Line Of Sight (BLOS) technologies (satcom, troposcatter, or similar)
  • Proficiency with test equipment: spectrum/logic/oscilloscopes, vector network analyzers, signal generators, and RF channel emulators
  • Experience scripting automated tests (Python, MATLAB, or similar)
  • Experience in technical integration of communications, payloads or avionics electronic subsystems
  • Active U.S. Government Top Secret Security Clearance

Nice to have

  • Current applicable Special Access Program (SAP) clearance
  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Communications Engineering, Computer Engineering, or closely related field

What the JD emphasized

  • An active U.S. Government Top Secret Security Clearance is required to apply and to start the role, with the ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the Company to meet its business needs