Hardware Engineer - Manufacturing Test Engineering (RF Systems) 

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. We have a wide portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, and multi-domain systems and technologies. Our differentiated battle management and cyber solutions deliver timely, mission-enabling information and provide superior situational awareness and understanding to protect the U.S. and its global allies. 

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (NGMS) is looking for you to join our team as a Hardware Engineer - Manufacturing Test Engineering (RF Systems) based out of Rolling Meadows, IL. 

Manufacturing Engineers thrive in an environment of daily unique challenges and close proximity to products. Partnering with production, successful test engineers lead troubleshooting and ensure excellence in hardware and software. Engineers who do well in this setting enjoy seeing their work perform in a test or a product, collaborate and communicate well across functions, and are innovative problem solvers. Best suited to this role are those who enjoy learning and bring a sense of urgency and energy to their tasks. 

This position will support hardware efforts associated with testing Radio Frequency (RF) production hardware in a dynamic, fast-paced and technically challenging production environment. 

Behavioral Traits sought out: 

• The Manufacturing Hardware Engineers are expected to be problem solvers with the ability to provide results that are innovative and often achieved through collaboration across functional groups. 

• We seek individuals with proven excellence in the following 6 core competencies: 

a) High levels of Self-accountability and Ownership 

b) Acts with Speed 

c) Responds to Challenges with Resilience 

d) Leads with Courage 

e) Sets vision for the assigned products 

f) Builds a High Performing Team 

This individual will be responsible for all aspects of test software development from requirements capture through final validation and release. A successful person in this role will be very effective at leading collaboration with the product Design Engineer, the Test Hardware Engineer, the Quality Assurance Engineer and the Manufacturing Technician. This position would include providing needed efforts to set up and support the acceptance testing of the Shop Replaceable Units, as well as acceptance testing and environmental screening at the payload (Line Replaceable Unit) level. This position will support aerial, military-grade, or space-grade Electronic Warfare Systems and Subsystems. 

What you will get to do: 

• Support to Production: Review and make needed updates to hardware governing how test equipment operates. Troubleshoot discrepancies in hardware designs. Coordinate with Electrical Design Engineering, Software & Firmware Engineering, Production technician, Project Management, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Quality organizations to meet contractual acceptance testing and environmental screening commitments. 

• Hardware design – schematics, coding & integration/validation: Investigate, design, and provide solutions to meet new or modified testing requirements. 

• Test procedure development/Maintenance: Generate and maintain/revise Manufacturing Acceptance testing procedures, Environmental Screening procedures, hardware drawings of test equipment and fixtures. 

• Continuous improvement: Review of quality metrics to identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to reduce cost, cycle time, defects. 

• Testability reviews: Collaborate with design engineering to achieve testability in new and updated product design. 

• Test station/fixture development: Design and maintain/revise Manufacturing Acceptance testing fixture and stations for functional and environmental testing. This includes test station concepts (Schematics, block diagram, simulations, test requirement creation) 

• Ability to interface/communicate with multiple levels of leadership, clients, and vendors. 

Building a strong professional relationship with other Manufacturing disciplines (Process Engineering, Project Management, Shop Operations, Mission Assurance), strong decision-making skills and a high-level ethical standard is essential.  

Basic Qualifications for the Manufacturing Test Engineer (RF Systems): 

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and/or Computer Engineering or a related STEM field with a minimum of 5 years relevant experience; OR a Master of Science (MS) degree in equivalent fields with 3 or more years of experience. 

• Experience with programming languages such as C#, C, Java or Lab Windows CVI 

• Experience with troubleshooting of hardware, software, or firmware issues 

• Experience completing Hardware projects involving hardware & software design / development activities and/or integration and validation activities on schedule and on budget. 

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance. 

• US Citizenship required. 

Preferred Qualifications for the Manufacturing Test hardware Engineer (RF Systems): 

• Python and MATLAB experience. 

• Experience with schematic generation such as Cadence. 

• Prior hardware troubleshooting experience of test equipment or prime hardware. 

• Experience in troubleshooting unit under test. 

• Experience with RF Electronic systems in manufacturing or design (software, firmware, etc.) environment. 

• Experience working with use of any test instruments such as (but not limited to) Oscilloscope, Signal Generator, Spectrum Analyzer, Network Analyzer, etc. 

• Experience reading schematics and interpreting electrical one-lines. 

• Experience using GitHub. 

• Active Secret Security Clearance. 

What We Can Offer You: 
Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a work environment which encourages your growth and supports the mutual success of our people and our company. Northrop Grumman benefits give you the flexibility and control to choose the benefits that make the most sense for you and your family.  

 
Your benefits will include the following: Health Plan, Savings Plan, Paid Time Off and Additional Benefits including Education Assistance, Training and Development, 9/80 Work Schedule (where available), and much more!