Principal/Senior Principal Engineer – Electronics, Communications Integration

Northrop Grumman

. Lead hands on integration and test of communications equipment in a lab environment, configuring and validating advanced communications methods, and hardware for planned test scenarios .

Posted 5/19/2026full-timePalmdale • California • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $115,400 - $171,000 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Python

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead hands on integration and test of communications equipment in a lab environment, configuring and validating advanced communications methods, and hardware for planned test scenarios
Develop, execute, and document lab test procedures and validation plans (including signal chaining, link budgets, interference checks, and pass/fail criteria) and capture test results and anomalies
Configure and operate RF and network testbeds/emulators (including channel emulators, attenuators, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and protocol/network simulators) to reproduce operational environments
Troubleshoot hardware/software integration issues across RF front end, digital baseband, modem stacks, and network interfaces
Support configuration management and lab readiness: maintain test fixtures, instrumentation calibration records, test scripts, version control for test artifacts, and produce concise technical reports for stakeholders
Integrate with the Integrated Communications Systems team

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM discipline and 5 years of related engineering experience OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of related experience OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and 1 year of related experience
Practical RF experience covering HF and UHF systems and familiarity with Beyond Line Of Sight (BLOS) technologies (satcom, troposcatter, or similar)
Proficiency with test equipment: spectrum/logic/oscilloscopes, vector network analyzers, signal generators, and RF channel emulators; experience scripting automated tests (Python, MATLAB, or similar)
Experience in technical integration of communications, payloads or avionics electronic subsystems
An active U.S. Government Top Secret Security Clearance is required to apply and to start the role, with the ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access within a reasonable amount of time

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health insurance coverage
Life and disability insurance
Savings plan
Company paid holidays
Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

RF integrationtest proceduresvalidation planssignal chaininglink budgetsinterference checkshardware/software troubleshootingscripting automated testscommunications systems integrationavionics electronic subsystems

Certifications

Bachelor’s Degree in STEMMaster’s Degree in STEMPhD in STEMU.S. Government Top Secret Security Clearance