Principal​/Sr. Principal Research and Advanced Design Test Engineer - R10217114

Principal / Sr. Principal Research and Advanced Design Test Engineer – Northrop Grumman

Key details:
Relocation assistance may be available.

Clearance required:

Secret. Travel:
Yes, up to 25% of the time.

At Northrop Grumman, employees work on revolutionary systems that impact people worldwide today and for future generations. Our pioneering spirit has led us to many technological milestones, from the first trans‑Atlantic flight to stealth bombers and moon landings. We seek individuals with bold ideas, courage and the curiosity to invent the future while having fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity, and authenticity.

The position is located in the Test & Evaluation organization in Melbourne, FL, with a primary base in Melbourne and occasional travel to Space Park, CA. The candidate will support the Battlespace Architecture Systems Technology (BAST) Research and Advanced Design (RAD) portfolio Program Director and provide technical leadership across all business‑area activities.

• Develop comprehensive test plans
• Create CONOPs (Concept of Operations) documents
• Oversee instrumentation setup and management
• Provide support for demonstrations and field‑exercise tests
• Collect metrics and perform result analysis
• Deploy and configure systems
• Configure and test cloud systems
• Conduct RF system testing

• All basic qualifications and some/most preferred qualifications
• Foundation in test engineering
• Thrives in dynamic environments
• Comfortable with multi‑tasking and reprioritizing daily tasks
• Can draft whitepapers and proposals
• Can create and deliver engaging PowerPoint presentations
• Self‑educated and independent on a wide range of projects
• Thorough understanding of common Test Engineering methodologies and practices

Principal Research and Advanced Design Test Engineer (Level 3):

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline and 5 years of related professional/military experience; OR Master’s and 3 years; OR Ph.D. and 1 year.
• Active DoD Secret clearance or higher, with background investigation within the last 6 years or ongoing Continuous Evaluation; capable of obtaining SAP clearance.
• Experience with RF testing (plan development, execution, lab testing, customer testing, formal qualification, etc.)

Senior Principal Research and Advanced Design Test Engineer (Level 4):

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline and 8 years of related professional/military experience; OR Master’s and 6 years; OR Ph.D. and 4 years.
• Active DoD Secret clearance or higher, with background investigation within the last 6 years or ongoing Continuous Evaluation; capable of obtaining SAP clearance.
• Experience with RF testing (plan development, execution, lab testing, customer testing, formal qualification, etc.)

• Professional experience with cloud and virtualized environments
• Professional experience with MATLAB and Python
• Familiarity with cellular networks
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret clearance
• Experience creating Basis of Estimates (BOEs)
• Experience testing systems across multiple domains (on‑prem, cloud)
• Experience in device management and configuration

Primary Level Salary Range: $95,300.00 – $. Secondary Level Salary Range: $ – $. Salaries may vary based on scope, responsibilities, experience, education, skills, and market conditions. Eligible employees may receive overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonuses, and, for senior positions, long‑term incentives. Benefits include health, life, and disability insurance; savings plan; company‑paid holidays; paid time off for vacation or personal business.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer and makes 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 full EEO and pay transparency statements, visit  U.S. citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.