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Avionics

Principal Engineer Electronics - Payloads (San Diego CA)

Northrop Grumman logoNorthrop Grumman$114,000–$171,000/yrSan Diego, CA, United StatesFull-timePosted 2mo ago

This posting asks for U.S. citizenship. It also names a Top Secret clearance.

The posting offers relocation. More space jobs with relocation

About the role

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top 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.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is looking to add a Principal Engineer Electronics - Payloadsto join our team in San Diego, CA and will be primarily based within our office spaces to support the program and business needs.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility. There is NO remote / hybrid / telework available for this position. Travel up to 10% may be required.

The selected candidate will provide key engineering support for a payloads subsystem and will report directly to the subsystem engineering technical lead and program manager.

Roles and Responsibilities will include

  • Meeting support responsibilities include readiness reviews, site specific training, test briefs and debriefs, security and coordination with test directors.
  • Post-test support responsibilities include review, analysis and defect investigation of test logs, and validation of test data files, hardware and software troubleshooting on the platform and defect duplication and analysis in a lab.
  • Pre-test support responsibilities include support and checkout of the system, including but not limited to test planning activities to ensure that test objectives are achieved, and results remain within operational specifications of the subsystem.

Responsibilities will also include coordination of anomalies with engineering and supplier Subject Matter Experts. This includes review of service bulletins, training for new software upgrades, review of new NG and supplier generated Discrepancy Reports and tracking existing Discrepancy Reports as new analyses become available.

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 5 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and 1 years of related engineering experience.
  • Practical experience working with payload systems.
  • Technical development and systems integration experience.
  • Experience with managing suppliers.
  • Active U.S. Government Top Secret SCI Security Clearance (with a background investigation within the past 5 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).
  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance, within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs

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Preferred Qualifications

  • Current Special Access Program access
  • Supplier Management Experience
  • Practical experience working with other payload systems in addition to EW systems.
  • Experience leading cross-discipline teams
  • Experience serving as a proposal estimator
  • Experience in technical writing such as tech volumes & white paper

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00

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.

Copied from the listing Northrop Grumman published, verified 30 Oct 2026.

About Northrop Grumman

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

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