Advanced Programs - Principal​/Sr. Principal Test Engineer

Principal Systems Test Engineer / Senior Principal Systems Test Engineer

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 is seeking a Principal Systems Test Engineer / Senior Principal Systems Test Engineer. This position will be located in Huntsville, AL, supporting the Advanced Programs.

What You'll Get to Do:

• Prepare and configure test facilities and HWIL/SWIL laboratories, including planning, procurement, builds, and readiness for Phase 2 and future phase test activities.
• Translate customer contractual requirements into integrated test concepts and solutions that balance technical performance, schedule, and cost constraints.
• Develop and lead preparation and execution of comprehensive test plans, procedures, and schedules for subsystem, system, and lab-based testing, including In Air Eject Test and Underwater Eject Test events.
• Coordinate integrated test activities, resources, and configurations across internal engineering teams, test operations, and external suppliers to ensure test readiness and efficient execution.
• Contribute to and maintain the program Integrated Test Plan (ITP), ensuring completeness, consistency, and traceability of test requirements through verification and validation.
• Perform technical analysis of test data and system performance, generating clear, data-driven evaluation reports and recommendations to drive design and risk-reduction decisions.
• Review and assess supplier test plans, procedures, and results, including verification of delivered components and formal test data review for compliance to requirements.
• Design and implement proof-of-concept and early risk-mitigation test methods, fixtures, and configurations to support Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction objectives.
• Manage test data acquisition, configuration control, analysis, and documentation using appropriate digital tools to ensure traceability and reusability.
• Provide first line engineering support for maintenance, repairs, and modifications to systems under test, supervision, and direction to maintenance personnel for maintenance, repairs, and modifications to systems under test.
• Serve as a technical liaison on test-related matters with customers, subcontractors, and senior stakeholders, ensuring alignment on test strategy, execution status, and results while maintaining safety, security, and export-control compliance.

This role is contingent upon contract award.

Basic Qualifications:

• Principal Test Engineer:
  Bachelors degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university and 5 years of relevant experience, OR a Masters degree and 3 years of relevant experience, OR a PhD and 1 year of relevant experience.
• Sr. Principal Test Engineer:
  Bachelors degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university and 8 years of relevant experience, OR a Masters degree and 6 years of relevant experience, OR a PhD and 4 years of relevant experience.

For both levels:

• Must be a US Citizen with an active DoD Secret Clearance, at time of application, current and within scope, with an investigation date within the last 6 years
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Top Secret Clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs
• 5+ years of experience developing and executing integrated test plans and procedures for complex defense or aerospace systems, including requirements traceability within a systems engineering framework (e.g., DOORS or equivalent)
• 5+ years of experience planning and executing hardware-in-the-loop and/or system-level hardware test activities, including coordination across multi-disciplinary teams in a fast-paced environment
• 5+ years of experience in development of innovative Test Automation solutions.
• Document test requirements and methodologies in the requirements management system.
• Assesses anomalies and develops resolutions to documented procedures in conjunction with Test and Quality Engineering.
• Reviews status of test requirements, manages schedules and prepares reports. Selects and supervises technicians during test.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active DoD Top Secret…