Principal/Senior Principal Systems Engineer Signals Processing - R10229546

Relocation Assistance

Relocation assistance may be available.

Clearance Required for Start

No.

Clearance Type

SCI.

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.

Position Overview

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer or a Sr Principal Systems Engineer with a signal processing background to work in Sacramento, California. Join a team that develops transformative signal processing solutions to solve complex challenges in Signals Intelligence (SIGINT). Your work will contribute to real‑world national security initiatives. We offer a wide variety of professional development opportunities, mentorship by senior engineers, and access to cutting‑edge tools and technologies like Ultra‑Wideband (UWB) Software‑Defined Radios (SDRs) and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) for deployment of advanced signal processing algorithms.

The engineer will be expected to have a basic understanding of core communications systems engineering concepts from their electrical engineering degree to perform analysis, devise requirements for and implement the signal processing algorithms.

Responsibilities

• Perform architecture trades, design analysis, and performance modeling.
• Provide engineering support for hardware development efforts.
• Design detection and characterization algorithms for radio frequency communication signals.
• Implement detection and characterization algorithms.
• Test signal processing algorithms and receivers in a lab environment.
• Design, test, and produce detection, characterization, and geolocation algorithms.
• Support the deployment of core products on new platforms (e.g., manned aircraft, drones, ships).

Basic Qualifications – Level 3 Principal Systems Engineer

• BS degree in STEM with 5 years relevant experience; or MS degree in STEM field with 3 years of related experience; or PhD in STEM field with 1 year of related experience.
• Domain expertise: Understanding tactical SIGINT operations, military capabilities, and geolocation concepts.
• Requirements translation: Ability to convert complex operational needs into technical system requirements.
• DSP fundamentals: Understanding of modulation/demodulation, FFT/spectral analysis, filtering (FIR/IIR), resampling, channelization, and detection/estimation theory.
• SIGINT/RF fundamentals: Experience with Software Defined Radios (SDR), RF front‑ends, IQ data, geolocation techniques (DF/beamforming), and signal characterization.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.

Basic Qualifications – Level 4 Senior Principal Systems Engineer

• BS in STEM degree with 8 years relevant experience; or MS degree in a STEM field with 6 years of related experience; or PhD in STEM field with 3 years of related experience.
• Domain expertise: Understanding tactical SIGINT operations, military capabilities, and geolocation concepts.
• Requirements translation: Ability to convert complex operational needs into technical system requirements.
• DSP fundamentals: Understanding of modulation/demodulation, FFT/spectral analysis, filtering (FIR/IIR), resampling, channelization, and detection/estimation theory.
• SIGINT/RF expertise: Experience with Software Defined Radios (SDR), RF front‑ends, IQ data, geolocation techniques (DF/beamforming), and signal characterization.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with the Atlassian tool suite (Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket).
• Practical experience or coursework in programming languages such as C++, Rust, or Python.
• Experience with simulating and processing RF communications in GNU Radio.
• Agile/DevOps: Experience in Agile software development and containerization tools like Docker or Kubernetes for deploying SIGINT applications.
• GPU Acceleration: Demonstrated experience with CUDA for algorithm optimization.
• Active TS with SCI clearance.

Salary

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 – $171,000.00.

Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 – $213,400.00.

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.

Benefits

Employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonus and long‑term incentive for certain positions. 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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 U.S. citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.