Principal / Sr. Principal Engineer Test

Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman · Aerospace · Salt Lake City, UT +1 · Systems/Architecture/Test

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Principal / Sr. Principal Engineer Test to design, build, and maintain test systems for electronic devices. This role involves developing test hardware and software, creating test plans, executing tests, analyzing results, and mentoring junior engineers. The position requires a Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering or equivalent, with significant experience in testing electronic devices, LabVIEW, and electronic test tools. A Secret clearance is required.

What you'd actually do

  1. Design, prototype, and implement test hardware and software (signal generators, oscilloscopes, power supplies, custom sensors). Integrate existing tools (LabVIEW, ATEasy, Python/PowerShell) into automated test flows. Document test system architecture and maintain configuration management.
  2. Create comprehensive test plans, SOPs, and traceability matrices for standard & non‑standard devices. Configure test benches, set up fixtures, and develop fixture scripts.
  3. Collect, analyze, and report test results; identify trends, defects, and root causes. Drive changes in test procedures, manufacturing processes, or product designs based on data.
  4. Lead all customer‑sample testing, ensuring compliance with contract specs. Perform complex, custom, or non‑routine tests that cannot be automated in the test area.
  5. Coach junior engineers and technicians in test methodology, scripting, and troubleshooting. Lead cross‑functional workshops to disseminate best practices.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor's Degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering or equivalent STEM field
  • 5 years of experience testing electronic devices (Principal) / 8 years (Sr. Principal)
  • LabVIEW experience
  • Experience with electronic test tools (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters)
  • Experience with signal generators, function generators, and power supplies
  • Hardware Design experience (Prototyping & debugging of custom test hardware)
  • US Citizenship
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance

Nice to have

  • RF Testing Experience
  • Experience with design and conduct RF test setups, understand SWR, attenuation, frequency translation, and spectrum analysis
  • Industrial Automation experience
  • Experience with PLCs or industrial test rig controllers
  • Custom Automation Frameworks experience
  • Experience with building test frameworks beyond LabVIEW (e.g., C++, LabView RT)

What the JD emphasized

  • Secret Clearance