Principal​/Sr Principal Engineer Systems Test- Active Secret Clearance Required

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE:
Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START:
Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE:
Secret

TRAVEL:
Yes, 10% of the Time

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Principal / Sr. Principal System Test Engineer (STE) to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals within our Test and Evaluation Organization. This position is located in Rancho Bernardo, CA.

Please note that this opportunity is contingent on program funding. Start dates are determined after funding confirmation.

We are seeking a highly motivated, detail-oriented System Test Engineer who focuses on first-time quality, engineering rigor, and Test Like You Fly methodology. This role is responsible for Test Planning and Execution, system‑level test coordination, and execution of integrated hardware/software verification in lab and operational environments. Responsibilities include working with STE teammates, Test IPT Leadership, Lab Operations Leadership, and TP&E teams to successfully plan and execute dry‑run and formal test activities to evaluate and certify hardware and software for ground and flight release.

Must be able to communicate up to leadership, and across to teammates and team members, and thrive in a fast‑paced work environment with high expectations, extensive assignments, and collaborative team settings across all levels.

• Plan, coordinate, and execute dry‑run and formal system‑level test activities to evaluate and certify hardware/software for ground and flight release.
• Develop, execute, and document integrated software/hardware test procedures to verify functional compliance with system requirements and support verification/validation of architecture and protocol upgrades.
• Design nominal, off‑nominal, end‑to‑end test scenarios assessing performance, reliability, interoperability, and operational effectiveness (including navigation, communications, and networking subsystems).
• Analyze system requirements and translate them into test strategies, detailed test plans, procedures, acceptance criteria, and requirement‑to‑test traceability.
• Support integration, functional, regression testing in laboratory and operational test environments; coordinate data collection, analysis, reporting, and closure of verification metrics.
• Drive lab configuration technical rigor, process rigor, and compliance with company/program/security requirements; support lab operations and hot bench activities as required.
• Apply Agile testing practices (including continuous integration and test‑driven development concepts as appropriate) to enable iterative development and rapid feedback.
• Collaborate across systems/software/hardware/cybersecurity/network & communications teams to integrate and verify subsystem changes.
• Communicate test status, findings, risks, and recommendations clearly to engineering leadership and program stakeholders; present at pre‑ and post‑test reviews.
• Work independently on assigned tasks, manage multiple priorities, and deliver against program schedules in a fast‑paced environment.
• Flexibility for weekends/multiple shifts/off‑hours as test schedules require.

• Bachelor’s of Science degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) discipline with 5 years of related engineering, professional or military experience; OR Master’s degree in STEM with 3 years of related engineering, professional or military experience; OR PhD in STEM with 1 year of related engineering, professional or military experience.
• Experience in System Test, Software Development, and/or Systems Engineering.
• Experience developing and executing system‑level test procedures and maintaining requirement‑to‑test traceability.
• Experience with Windows/Linux operating systems and Virtual Machines (VMs).
• Your ability to transfer and maintain the final adjudicated U.S. government Secret clearance (must be in‑scope or enrolled in Continuous Evaluation) and any program access(es) required for the position within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the Company.
• Flexibility to support weekends, multiple shifts, and off‑hours onsite as required.