Sr. Principal Air Vehicle System Test Engineer ( Int'l Locations - R102078217

Sr. Principal Air Vehicle System Test Engineer (Various Int'l Locations) - R

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Sr. Principal Air Vehicle System Test Engineer to join our Aeronautics Systems Test and Evaluation organization. The role combines engineering, ground test operations, and support of U.S. Navy units across multiple international locations.

Relocation assistance is not available. A top‑secret clearance is required, with the ability to obtain a top‑secret/SCI and Special Program Access in a reasonable timeframe. The position requires extensive travel: 100 % of the time for deployment to Japan, Italy, United Arab Emirates, or Guam for a minimum of 24 months. Initial training (6+ months) is conducted in Pax River, MD and Rancho Bernardo, CA.

Sr. Principal System Test Engineer

Responsibilities Include:

• Interfacing with NGC and customer Flight Engineers, aircraft maintenance technicians, U.S. Navy service members, and subsystem SMEs to sustain operations.
• Acting as the primary interface between maintenance, design, and flight test engineering.
• Operating Vehicle and Payload Test Controller (VTC/PTC) activities during aircraft start‑up/shut‑down for launch and recovery, conducting static ground tests, and troubleshooting.
• Providing inputs to update Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMS).
• Reviewing and providing input during engineering development, executing detailed test requirements, acceptance test procedures, and ground test plans.
• Installing, operating, troubleshooting, maintaining, repairing, and modifying equipment in accordance with IETMS and other engineering directives.
• Performing organizational/department‑level maintenance and technical support on equipment, integrated systems, subsystems, and software at customer and field locations.
• Developing general knowledge of all aircraft systems, VTC/PTC, engineering design, and software; performing field integration, troubleshooting, and repair at customer locations.
• Interpreting and tracing electrical and air‑vehicle schematics; performing essential electrical and RF troubleshooting using equipment such as multimeters, network/spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and time‑domain reflectometers.
• Supporting review and analysis of engineering schematics, supplier design data, and functional test requirements, including acceptance, qualification, and system integration on the air vehicle.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Science, Technical, Engineering, or Math (STEM). 8 years of engineering experience with a BS or 6 years with an MS or 4 years with a PhD.
• Willingness and ability to complete required training in Pax River, MD and Rancho Bernardo, CA.
• Willingness and ability to support an international assignment for a minimum of 24 months.
• Willingness and ability to relocate to a core U.S. location if necessary.
• Ability to pass a new‑hire physical if required.
• Active DoD Secret clearance in scope; ability to obtain Top‑Secret/SCI and Special Program Access within a reasonable time.
• Experience with aircraft ground test operations.
• Capable of extensive travel for customer support, management reviews, and leadership demonstration.
• Working knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and strong communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and briefing skills for senior leadership.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Can support a new or extended assignment in an additional international or Guam location after the initial 24‑month assignment.
• Active DoD Top‑Secret clearance in scope.
• Previous unmanned air‑vehicle system test or maintenance experience, including MQ‑4
  
  Vehicle Test Controller or Triton BETTIE operator experience.
• Aircraft test or lab test experience.
• Experience with equipment to test and troubleshoot aircraft systems.
• Experience with loading data and configuration files to aircraft assemblies.

Salary Range: $ – $. The actual salary will be determined based on the scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate qualifications, and market conditions.

Benefits include health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, company‑paid holidays, paid time off, overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonuses, and potential long‑term incentives for eligible positions.

The application period is approximately 20 days from the posting date but may vary.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made 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 our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit Northrop Grumman EEO. U.S. citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance.