Job Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: Top SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeAt 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.This position description does not represent a current opening but may be used to identify candidates with skills and experience for positions within Northrop Grumman that frequently become available. Candidates who express an interest may be considered for future positions at Northrop Grumman.

Northrop Grumman’s Space Systems Sector is known for pushing the boundaries of innovation, redefining engineering capabilities, and driving advances in various sciences through cutting-edge technology. Our team is chartered with providing the skills, and 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.

We are seeking a Senior Principal Hardware Lead for our Aurora, CO location As a part of the Hardware team, the Hardware Lead has an understanding of the Systems Engineering process across a product's lifecycle and gains a full appreciation for how the systems operate as well as experience executing full life-cycle development for complex mission systems (requirements, design, integration, test, deployment, and sustainment)

The successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to complete tasks with little direction and oversight. They will be an effective communicator and problem solver who are able to develop and begin working relationships with internal and external stakeholders and customers.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Strong systems engineering background, including system architecture definition and development of SRD/RTM and ICDs (interfaces, data flows, networks, ports/protocols/services).

• Hands-on experience planning and executing formal technical reviews and test events (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FAT/PAT) and documenting results.

• Lead hardware architecture and detailed design for land, maritime, and enterprise variants, ensuring requirements allocation, performance margins, and integration with system/software/network elements.

• Own fabrication and assembly documentation (schematics, BoMs, assembly drawings), driving design-for-manufacture/test and resolving hardware non-conformances with suppliers and internal teams.

• Plan and oversee hardware verification and qualification (environmental, vibration, shock, EMI/EMC, power, reliability), including test procedures, fixtures, and analysis of results.

• Maintain hardware configuration control across prototypes and production (baselines, change requests, CCB input, release packages), coordinating closely with configuration management and QA.

• Lead hardware risk and issue management (technical risks, obsolescence, supply chain, reliability/sparing) and present status, mitigations, and impacts at TIMs, design reviews (SRR/PDR/CDR), TRR/FAT/PAT, and PMRs.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of relevant experience, OR Master's degree with 6+ years of relevant experience is required. 4 additional years of experience is required in lieu of a degree.

• Must have an active U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with the ability to obtain and maintain SCI approval/access.

• Working knowledge of relevant military/environmental, EMI/EMC, and power standards (e.g., MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-167, MIL-STD-1399) and their application to design and test.

• Background in cybersecurity and configuration/risk management for DoD systems (RMF/NIST-based controls, SSP/STIG/ACAS artifacts, configuration control, and risk registers

• Experience with hardware design, performing integration and developing and executing test processes.

• Demonstrated knowledge of the impacts of requirement changes on hardware design.

• The ability to lift 50 pounds and work from elevated positions at heights above 8 feet.

• Ability to work in the field under austere weather conditions

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelors’ STEM degree is highly preferred.

• Experience with RF and Electrical testing tools, such as Spectrum Analyzer, Network Analyzers, Oscilloscopes, Signal Generators, RF Power meters, multimeters

• Experience with complex system architectures and hardware validation procedures.

• Knowledge of electronic components and their applications in communication systems.

• Previous experience in a fast-paced engineering environment with a focus on field support operations is desirable.

Primary Level Salary Range: $129,300.00 - $193,900.00The 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 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.