Jobs Companies Northrop Grumman Sr. Principal Systems Test Engineer – Test Director

About this Sr. Principal Systems Test Engineer – Test Director role at Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman · Onsite · United States-California-Edwards AFB
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 has an opening for a Sr. Principal Systems Test Engineer – Test Director to join the team of qualified individuals. Position will be in Edwards AFB, CA or Palmdale, CA.

The System Test IPT is seeking a Sr. Principal System Test Engineer to serve as a Test Director for the Flight Test Department.  The Test Director supervises the execution of test missions, with a primary focus on safety, execution efficiency, standards, and test discipline.  The Test Director ensures mission preparation is completed in accordance with local procedures, oversees the scheduling of resources and assets, and coordinates with all engineering disciplines and external agencies to ensure successful test execution.  The Test Director safeguards sensitive and critical test information and adheres to the relevant Security Classification Guide. The Test Director has the authority to terminate the test event if the technical validity of the test is in question or safety jeopardized.  Finally, the Test Director also helps to develop and review flight test plans and safety plans.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Brief pre- and post-event meetings
  • Supports test readiness reviews
  • Provides mission control room support and makes real-time decisions regarding safety, security, effectiveness, and efficiency. 
  • Supports simulations
  • Conducts and contributes to pre and post-test data analyses to support anomaly identification and resolution. 
  • Instructs other test directors, experience permitting
  • Brief upper management on event outcomes and planning

This position requires outstanding written and oral communications skills. Individuals must be able to work without appreciable direction to develop solutions to complex problems; must be able to work both within a team environment and independently; must be self-motivated, thorough, and detailed; and must be willing to learn additional engineering discipline areas.

Position requires willingness to accept changing and evolving roles & responsibilities in support of customers’ requirements and need.

We offer flexible work arrangements, 4/10 work schedule with every Friday off, phenomenal learning opportunities, exposure to a wide variety of projects and customers, and a very friendly team environment. We are looking for self-motivated, proactive, and goal-oriented people to help us grow our services and become even better at what we do.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM discipline AND 8 years of related professional/military experience OR a Master's degree AND 6 years of related professional/military experience OR a Ph.D. AND 4 years of related professional/military experience.
  • Must have an active US Government Top 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.
  • Maturity and professionalism to lead the execution of flight test missions, briefings and oversee team of test control and discipline engineers in Mission Control Room.
  • Effectively function and make decisions in dynamic, high-pressure environments
  • Mission control experience
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office
  • Ability to work odd shifts, weekends and/or overtime.
  • Work well in a team environment as well as independently.
  • Ability to adhere to rules and regulations, and willingness to help change rules and regulations as applicable.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • FAA pilot rating
  • Military operations experience
  • Previous experience as aircrew member (Pilot, EWO, NAV, etc.)
  • Advanced Flight Test Operations and Control Room experience
  • Developmental Test and Operational Test operations experience.
  • Previous qualification as a Test Conductor/Director
  • Test Pilot School Graduate

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

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.
Ready to apply to Northrop Grumman?
Apply to Northrop Grumman

How this QA Engineer salary compares

This role pays $161,600/yrabove the typical range for QA Engineer roles.

$129,500 median $129,500 $177,440

Typical range $129,500–$142,500/yr, from 18 comparable QA Engineer listings on JobsRadar (pay annualized to USD). See QA Engineer salary insights →

About Northrop Grumman

We are a pioneering company. With careers across all areas: air, cyber, land, sea and space – our 90,000 employees work as one to defend and define the future. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will give you every opportunity to do your best work. Working together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines, we share a drive to push the boundaries of science, technology and engineering to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide.

See all jobs at Northrop Grumman →

Similar jobs

Northrop Grumman
Principal/Sr Principal Flight Test Engineer-Ground Navigation & Controls(GNC)
Northrop Grumman
⚡ Apply early United States-California-Edwar... Onsite $103,600–$155,400
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 4d ago
Northrop Grumman
Principal / Senior Principal Engineer Systems Test - Aviation Safety Official
Northrop Grumman
⚡ Apply early United States-California-Edwar... Onsite $103,600–$155,400
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 1w ago
Northrop Grumman
Sr Principal/Principal Flight Test Engineer (Weapons)
Northrop Grumman
⚡ Apply early United States-California-Edwar... Onsite $103,600–$155,400
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 2w ago
Anduril Industries
Manager, Test & Evaluation Engineer, CW
Anduril Industries
⚡ Apply early Costa Mesa, California, United... Onsite $146,000–$194,000
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 24m ago
Anduril Industries
Senior Engineer, Integration & Test
Anduril Industries
⚡ Apply early Llanbedr, Wales, United Kingdo... Onsite £66,000–£88,000
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 24m ago
Anduril Industries
Electro-Mechanical Test Engineer
Anduril Industries
⚡ Apply early Costa Mesa, California, United... Onsite
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 27m ago
Northrop Grumman
Senior Financial Accountant
Northrop Grumman
⚡ Apply early Australia-Fortitude Valley Onsite
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 10h ago
Northrop Grumman
U103 Janitor B
Northrop Grumman
⚡ Apply early United States-California-Sunny... Onsite
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 1d ago
Northrop Grumman
Systems Engineer - Level 3/4 (AHT)
Northrop Grumman
⚡ Apply early United States-Colorado-Aurora Onsite $114,000–$171,000
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 1d ago

Sign up for suggestions tailored to the jobs you open and the searches you save.

More jobs at Northrop Grumman

See all jobs at Northrop Grumman →

Apply now
🤖

Whoa — hold up

JobsRadar was built for real people having a rough time in their job search — not for automated requests. You're clicking way too fast and you're now temporarily blocked.

Come back later. If you're genuinely job hunting, we've got your back — just act like a human.

Catch your next role the second it’s posted.

Create a free account and we’ll watch the boards for you — the instant a job matches your search, it lands in your inbox or Telegram. No digging, no refreshing.

Create free account

Free forever · takes 30 seconds · already have one?

Get an edge on your job hunt.

Join our Telegram channel for the stuff that helps you land the role — salary benchmarks, the weekly market pulse, and new-feature drops. No spam, just signal.

Join the channel — it's free