Skip to content

RF & Payloads

RF Microwave Design Engineer Level 4 - Baltimore

Northrop Grumman logoNorthrop Grumman$135,800–$203,600/yrBaltimore, MD, United StatesFull timePosted 1mo ago
  • US citizenship
  • TS/SCI clearance
  • Secret clearance

How this pay compares

This posting states $136k–$204k a year. Open RF engineer jobs in Maryland post a median of $147k a year, the middle half $124k–$187k, across 4 jobs that state their pay, so this one is within the middle half of what they post.

RF and communications engineers in Maryland: pay by town and employer

About the job

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time ## Description 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.

The Electronics and Payload Division within Northrop Grumman Space Systems, Eastern Region pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered with providing the skills, innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter.

Come be a part of our mission! Northrop Grumman Space Systems is seeking experienced engineers in the following areas: Antennas, Receiver/Processors and RF/Microwave design and test. Senior Principal RF Microwave Design Engineer will lead a team working toward the delivery of space production hardware across multiple test campaigns.

These positions will support our Electronics and Payloads Team, located in Baltimore, MD. ## Responsibilities include but not limited to Designs, develops, tests radio frequency (RF) and/or microwave systems architecture, Sub-systems, circuits, or products. Includes antenna design, both reflector and array systems, frequency synthesizers, transmitters, and receivers.

General frequent use and application of technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques. Demonstrates the skill and ability to perform moderately complex professional tasks. Provides solutions to a variety of technical problems of increasing scope and complexity as assigned.

In addition, this candidate should demonstrate familiarity/technical ability in one or more of the following areas: - Active electronically scanned arrays (AESAs) - Conducting Test Readiness Reviews (TRR) - Documentation experience, generating test procedures, test reports, RF requirements, data analysis, data presentations - Data Processing - Highly integrated subsystems including antenna hardware - Antenna/RF Performance Analysis - Antenna or Subsystem Control Design - Antenna Measurements and Data Reduction - Systems Architecture - Antenna range integration, test, and system integration - Subsystem requirements (hardware and software) derivation, flow-down, and configuration - Leading a team of antenna design engineers and RF analysts through the integration, test, and analysis of complex and highly integrated antenna systems. - Presenting to internal and external customers. - Mentoring junior engineers on antenna design and analysis. ## Basic Qualifications - Must have a Bachelor’s STEM degree or in a related discipline with 8 years of applicable work experience, 6 years of experience with a Master’s degree and/or 3 years of experience with a Ph.D. - Must have current and active Secret security clearance at time of application and have the ability to obtain and maintain an active TS/SCI clearance - Experience with AESA’s - Experience using RF test equipment (Signal Generators, Network Analyzers, Spectrum Analyzers, O-scopes) - Must be able collaborate in a team environment and lead/develop teams - Experience presenting complex technical programs and concepts to non-technical personnel and customers - Able to develop technical solutions to complex problems - Experience using MATLAB, Python, C# - Experience with high rate production hardware, tools and processes or hardware designed for space environments - Experience with debugging hardware and working through test failures. ## Preferred Qualifications - Active TS/SCI security clearance - Experience using modeling tools such as STK ## Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector?

Click the link below https://www.northropgrumman.com/space Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.

Northrop Grumman Total Rewards #SpaceEngJobs #BaltimoreSpace #SPEnhancedERAP Primary Level Salary Range: $135,800.00 - $203,600.00 The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives.

In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business. The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date.

However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making 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 our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

From Northrop Grumman's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.

Selected agencies hiring now

These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.

Sponsored

Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.

Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.

New RF, communications and payload jobs in space in Maryland, by email

One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.

About Northrop Grumman

Satellites, space telescopes, cargo spacecraft and rocket boosters, inside a defense prime.

Pay on its listings: 98% of its open jobs state an hourly rate

How it pays: Paid as an employee on Northrop Grumman's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).

More open jobs at Northrop Grumman

More RF, communications and payload jobs in space

An RF or communications engineer?

One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.

Create my profile

Northrop Grumman openings, sent to you weekly

Each week we send the newest postings from Northrop Grumman's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.