Sr Principal Engineer - Digital
Northrop GrummanJob Title
Sr Principal Engineer - Digital
Role Summary
Lead design, implementation and verification of digital/FPGA subsystems for multi-function software defined radios in the Advanced Digital Design team at Northrop Grumman Northern California (McClellan, CA).
Work spans architecture, board-level validation, algorithm implementation, and cross-discipline integration; role may include leading a team of digital VHDL engineers.
Experience Level
Senior. Typical experience guidance in the posting: Bachelor's +8 years, Master’s +6 years, or PhD +4 years of relevant experience.
Responsibilities
Primary technical responsibilities include design, verification, test, and integration of FPGA-based digital systems for communications and signal processing.
- Research, design, and develop digital designs for multi-function software defined radios (SDRs).
- Implement FPGA hardware architecture and digital algorithms (VHDL/Verilog).
- Test and validate designs using evaluation boards and lab test equipment; perform board/system-level debug.
- Collaborate with Systems Engineering to ensure firmware meets system-level requirements and perform design reviews and analysis.
- Develop and generate test benches for verification; support formal verification efforts as needed.
- May lead or mentor a team of digital/VHDL engineers.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and conditions are listed first; preferred skills follow.
- U.S. citizenship required (ability to obtain and maintain Secret clearance).
- FPGA design experience using VHDL or Verilog.
- Experience with AMD/Xilinx device families (Zynq, Kintex, Ultrascale, Versal).
- Experience with EDA tools such as Vivado and QuestaSim.
- Board- or system-level debug experience using test equipment and internal hardware analyzers.
- Experience writing and using test benches for verification.
Nice-to-have:
- Experience achieving timing closure and applying FPGA physical constraints.
- DSP experience and MATLAB proficiency.
- Experience with formal VHDL verification methodologies.
- Active/current Secret clearance.
Education Requirements
Posting specifies a STEM degree requirement: Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline plus 8 years' related experience, or Master's in a STEM discipline plus 6 years, or PhD in a STEM discipline plus 4 years. Fields mentioned include electrical or computer engineering (STEM). Degree must be from an accredited university.
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.
