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Principal OR Sr. Principal Payloads Field Service Engineer (DEPL

Northrop Grumman

Today
Secret
Unspecified
Unspecified
Engineering - Systems
Young, AZ (On-Site/Office)

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 25% 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 is looking to add a Principal OR Sr. Principal Payloads Field Service Engineer to our International Field Service Engineer team. This position will be in our Avionics Integration Organization supporting MQ-4C Triton Program.

This position reports to the Operations team lead within the Mission Systems Integrated Product Team (MS IPT). This position will receive daily tasking and prioritization from their site lead. The selected candidate will be responsible for operations and maintenance support of the MQ-4C Triton sensors and communications systems at a Forward Operating Base (FOB).

Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
  • Provide real time support to flight operations and maintenance addressing any issues related to communications and/or payloads to include MFAS Radar, EO/IR, airborne recorder, and link16 to include fault isolation, remediation, and resolution.
  • Coordinate work with site leadership and confirm that Maintenance Action Forms (MAFs) are in place for all required work.
  • Adhere to checklists and procedures to ensure repeated success. Provide redlines to procedures when necessary.
  • Communicate complex technical issues to local support, the Degrader Action Cell (DAC), Main Operation Bases (MOBs), and Responsible Engineers (REs).
  • Support and lead air crew engagement for proper techniques in solving complex analysis of technical problems that arise during operations.
  • Assist with trend analysis as needed for Responsible Engineers (REs).
  • Assist Air Vehicle Operator (AVO) with Main Operating Base comms (voice), networks, and other AVO interfaces.
  • Attain and employ expertise across all supported sensor and communications systems.
  • Potentially provide field support at various international sites.
  • Support assignment at location for a minimum of 24 months.


** This position requires 6+ months of training on a Domestic Assignment to San Diego (Rancho Bernardo), CA with some travel to other US locations such as Baltimore, MD and Jacksonville, FL. After training is completed, it is expected that the candidate will be available to deploy to Japan, Italy, United Arab Emirates, or Guam for a minimum of 24 months, based on current business needs. The international location will be selected by Northrop Grumman after training is completed and will be based on timing and available location(s), determined by business needs. Deployment benefits will be communicated once a location is selected. If no immediate international or Guam deployment location is available, the candidate may be relocated to work at one of our core U.S. locations for the immediate future. **

Initially, this position will work a 9/80 shift. As the program matures, the shifts may become 12-hour shifts that could include nights, weekends, and/or holidays.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at the designated facility. There is no remote work available for this role. Outside of traveling for initial training, this position requires the ability to travel up to 25% of the time.

This position can be filled at either the Principal Payloads Field Service Engineer level or the Senior Principal Payloads Field Service Engineer level, depending upon the qualifications below.

Basic Qualifications for Principal Payloads Field Service Engineer:
  • Bachelor's Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 5 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master's degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and 1 year of related engineering experience.
  • Competence in Linux, troubleshooting, engineering documents, tools, and equipment
  • Familiarity with payloads operations or comms/networking operations
  • Willingness and ability to successfully complete required training in San Diego (Rancho Bernardo), CA with some travel to other US locations such as Baltimore, MD and Jacksonville, FL.
  • Willingness and ability to support an international assignment in Japan, Italy, United Arab Emirates, or Guam for a minimum of 24 months. The location will be selected by the Company and the selection will be based solely on business needs.
  • Willingness and ability to relocate to one of our core U.S. locations, if necessary, based on business needs.
  • Ability to pass a new hire physical if determined necessary by Company, based on international location selected.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain DoD 8140 approved IAT Level II (or higher) compliant certification. Examples include: CCNA Security, Security+CE, CCNP, and CISSP. This certificate must be obtained within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
  • Must have a DoD Secret clearance that is in-scope or currently enrolled in Continuous Evaluation (CE), with the ability to obtain a Top-Secret/SCI clearance within a reasonable amount of time to meet business needs
  • Ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access (SAP/PAR).


Basic Qualifications for Senior Principal Payloads Field Service Engineer:
  • Bachelor's Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 8 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master's degree in a STEM discipline and 6 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and 4 years of related engineering experience.
  • Competence in Linux, troubleshooting, engineering documents, tools, and equipment
  • Familiarity with payloads operations or comms/networking operations
  • Willingness and ability to successfully complete required training in San Diego (Rancho Bernardo), CA with some travel to other US locations such as Baltimore, MD and Jacksonville, FL.
  • Willingness and ability to support an international assignment in Japan, Italy, United Arab Emirates, or Guam for a minimum of 24 months. The location will be selected by the Company and the selection will be based solely on business needs.
  • Willingness and ability to relocate to one of our core U.S. locations, if necessary, based on business needs.
  • Ability to pass a new hire physical if determined necessary by Company, based on international location selected.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain DoD 8140 approved IAT Level II (or higher) compliant certification. Examples include: CCNA Security, Security+CE, CCNP, and CISSP. This certificate must be obtained within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
  • Must have a DoD Secret clearance that is in-scope or currently enrolled in Continuous Evaluation (CE), with the ability to obtain a Top-Secret/SCI clearance within a reasonable amount of time to meet business needs
  • Ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access (SAP/PAR).


Preferred Qualifications for both levels:
  • Active DoD Top Secret clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).
  • Active DoD 8140 approved IAT Level II (or higher) compliant certification. Examples include: CCNA Security, Security+CE, CCNP, and CISSP.
  • Demonstrated understanding of MQ-4C sensors and communications payloads
  • Experience with test equipment: network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, signal generators
  • MPO/TC operator system knowledge
  • System Administrator experience
  • Operations and Maintenance experience at a field site
  • Ability to support a new and/or extended assignment at a company selected international or Guam location after the initial 24-month assignment.


Primary Level Salary Range: $91,200.00 - $136,800.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $113,500.00 - $170,300.00

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.
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Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever-evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees are Defining Possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will allow you to work together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines. © 2025 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.
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