Principal/ Sr. Principal Electronics Engineer - Mission Systems

Northrop Grumman

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San Diego, California

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PERMANENT

Updated 09/17/2026

Job Description

Job Summary

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE

Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START

Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE

SecretTRAVEL:

Yes, 25 of the TimeDescriptionAt Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact peoples 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 nations 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, theyre making history.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is looking to add a Principal/ Sr. Principal Electronics Engineer - Mission Systems to join our team in El Segundo, CA or San Diego (Rancho Bernardo), CA.

This candidate will be Responsible for designing mission systems technical baselines (subsystems, components, software) to meet platform requirements. Lead trade studies, technical analysis, modeling & simulation, risk/opportunity management, and support strategic objectives. Decompose system-level requirements, track/report metrics, and maintain strong relationships with customers, suppliers, peers, and leadership.

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 25 may be required.

Northrop Grumman's Aeronautics Systems - Research & Advanced Design (R&AD) transforms breakthrough ideas into mission-ready capabilities through intelligent anticipation. We're the front-end design engine, defining what comes next. From developing cutting-edge next-generation future aircraft to trailblazing collaborative autonomous platforms, we push the boundaries of technology and forge industry-leading partnerships that set new standards for what's possible.

Our team owns the full lifecycle of advanced concept creation, from visionary early-stage designs and rapid prototyping to high-impact demonstrations and solving the toughest technical challenges in survivability, autonomy, and battle management. We seek curious, adaptable people who thrive on turning intuition into breakthrough solutions. If you're driven to invent the future, build what's next, and shape the landscape of national security, this is where you belong.

Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Mission system element design, capability assessment, interface decomposition, verification/validation planning, and mission integration during development
• Support technical business development (proposals, white papers)
• Engage customers/end users to translate requirements into deployable products
• Perform subsystem trades, analysis of alternatives, modeling, and simulation for mission effects, data, or capabilities (including air vehicles, payloads, ground segments, mission planning, CONOPS, DRM, system security, and interfaces)

•This position can be filled at either the Principal Electronics Engineer level or the Sr. Principal Electronics Engineer level, depending upon the qualifications below.

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Basic Qualifications:

Principal Electronics Engineer:

Must have a Bachelor's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university AND 5 years of related professional/military experience in Engineering; OR a Master's degree in a STEM discipline from an accredited university AND 3 years of related professional/military experience in Engineering; or a Ph.

D. AND 1

years of related professional/military experience in Engineering.

Sr.

Principal Electronics Engineer:

Must have a Bachelor's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university AND 8 years of related professional/military experience in Engineering; OR a Master's degree in a STEM discipline from an accredited university AND 6 years of related professional/military experience in Engineering; or a Ph.

D. AND 4

years of related professional/military experience in Engineering.

Experience supporting Supplier SSOW, SRD, and scope discussions

Significant experience in at least two of the following:

Technical leadership on DoD development projects

System architecture concepts/solutions

Performance modeling & simulation

Designing systems with

COTS/GOTS

components for:

DoD interoperability RF or EO/IR systems for sensing, EW, or communications Non-kinetic effects (cyber operations) DoD cyber requirements, RMF, and solutions

Identifying/managing system capabilities, producing architecture artifacts

Preparing/reviewing architecture designs and presenting at DoD customer reviews

Must have an active US Government Secret Clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 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

Preferred Qualifications:

Engineering experience on a DoD program

Active DoD Top Secret clearance

Prior SAP or SCI clearance

Significant architecture, design, integration, and test experience

Systems engineering experience (requirements derivation/flow-down, verification/validation)

Experience leading design of mission systems/subsystems

Primary Level Salary Range:

$114,000.00 - $171,000.00

Secondary Level Salary Range:

$142,200.00 - $213,400.00The 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 candidates 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.

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