Principal / Sr Principal Digital Engineer

Job Title

Principal / Sr Principal Digital Engineer

Role Summary

Lead digital design efforts for sustainment and modernization programs in an integrated mission solutions organization. Work on-site in Warner Robins, GA as part of a cross-functional team delivering FPGA/ASIC/firmware-based systems.

Primary focus includes digital circuit and subsystem design, simulation and verification, and mentoring junior engineers. Travel up to 10%.

Experience Level

Senior-level. Role includes Principal and Senior Principal tiers; see Education Requirements for the experience guidance associated with each academic level (examples: Principal ~5+ years, Senior Principal ~8+ years of directly relevant experience).

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead design and development of digital circuits and subsystems (FPGAs, CPLDs, ASICs) and select components based on specifications and reliability analysis.
• Develop and maintain models, simulations, and test benches to validate firmware and hardware before hardware availability.
• Integrate and troubleshoot firmware with software and hardware; implement rigorous testing and validation processes.
• Collaborate with hardware, software, and systems engineers to deliver integrated solutions.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers in digital design, firmware, and signal processing techniques.
• Support sustainment and modernization activities for deployed systems.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and conditions:

• Proven experience evaluating, selecting, programming, and testing FPGAs for complex systems.
• Proficiency with MATLAB or equivalent programming/analysis languages.
• Experience building simulation frameworks and test benches for digital/firmware verification.
• Experience integrating and troubleshooting firmware with software and hardware.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secret clearance.

Preferred / nice-to-have:

• Experience with Xilinx Vivado and/or Simulink HDL Coder.
• Background in digital signal processing, digital beamforming, adaptive processing, or tracking algorithms.
• Experience on aviation or Department of Defense programs.

Education Requirements

Degree expectations listed in the source: Bachelor's (B.S.) in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering from an ABET-accredited school (Principal: ~5+ years directly relevant experience; Senior Principal: ~8+ years). Alternative degree experience mappings listed: Master's degree with reduced years (e.g. Master’s with ~3 years for Principal / ~6 years for Senior Principal) and PhD with further reduced years (e.g. PhD with ~1 year for Principal / ~4 years for Senior Principal). ABET accreditation specifically mentioned. (Summary only; equivalent practical experience is implied by the degree/years mappings in the original posting.)

About the Company

Company: Northrop Grumman

Headquarters: Falls Church, Virginia, United States

Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company that provides innovative solutions in mission systems, electronics, and software. With a legacy of significant advancements in technology, we empower employees to tackle complex challenges and create revolutionary systems that enhance global security. Our diverse teams focus on engineering innovation and product development, delivering solutions that support military and civilian customers worldwide.