Digital Hardware Design Engineer – Level 3/4 - Dulles

• Location: United States-Virginia-Dulles
• RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
• CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No
• CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret
• 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.

Northrop Grumman Space Systems is seeking an experienced Digital Hardware Design Engineer to join our Avionics Digital Hardware Development team in Dulles, VA.

Our team develops high-reliability digital and mixed-signal electronics for spacecraft applications, supporting a variety of satellite missions and avionics architectures.

In this role, you will take ownership of board-level digital hardware designs, from requirements development and component selection through schematic capture, circuit analysis, PCB layout coordination, hardware testing, and flight hardware delivery.

You will work closely with FPGA, software, systems engineering, mechanical, and manufacturing teams to develop reliable spacecraft electronics. This position offers the opportunity to lead technically challenging designs, solve complex hardware problems, and mentor developing engineers.

The position is 100% onsite and follows a 9/80 work schedule, with every other Friday off.

Key Responsibilities

• Design digital and mixed-signal electronic circuits for spacecraft avionics, including FPGA- and processor-based hardware architectures.
• Develop schematics and integrate digital components such as processors, FPGAs, memory devices, communication interfaces, and supporting circuitry.
• Select electrical components for spaceflight applications, considering performance, reliability, radiation tolerance, and component availability.
• Collaborate with FPGA, embedded software, and systems engineering teams to define hardware interfaces and translate system requirements into detailed circuit designs.
• Work closely with ECAD engineers to establish PCB layout constraints, review board layouts, and ensure proper implementation of signal integrity, timing, and design requirements.
• Perform detailed circuit analyses, including Worst-Case Analysis (WCA), Part Stress Analysis (PSA), signal integrity, timing analysis, and failure mode assessments, as applicable.
• Lead or participate in technical peer reviews and formal design reviews to ensure design maturity and compliance with requirements.
• Support board-level bring-up, functional testing, troubleshooting, and verification of engineering models and flight hardware.
• Investigate hardware anomalies, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions throughout development, integration, and manufacturing.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, including design specifications, analysis reports, and design review packages.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers while contributing to technical planning, schedule execution, and multidisciplinary problem-solving.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with 8 years of professional experience; OR Master’s degree with 6 years; OR PhD with 4 years.
• Hands-on experience designing digital or mixed-signal electronic circuit boards, including schematic development, component selection, and hardware integration.
• Experience with FPGA-based, processor-based, or other complex digital hardware designs at the circuit-board level.
• Experience using electronic schematic capture and circuit design tools.
• Working knowledge of digital communication interfaces, memory devices, and supporting digital circuitry.
• Experience performing circuit analysis, hardware verification, testing, or troubleshooting.
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional engineering teams and independently resolve complex technical challenges.
• Must be a U.S. citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience designing high-reliability electronics for spacecraft, aerospace, or defense applications.

Experience integrating FPGAs, processors, SoCs, and memory devices, including associated clock, reset, power sequencing, and interface circuitry.

Familiarity with digital interfaces such as Ethernet, SpaceWire, SPI, I2C, RS-422, CAN, or MIL-STD-1553.

Experience with high-speed digital circuit design, DDR memory interfaces, signal integrity, and timing analysis.

Experience performing Worst-Case Analysis (WCA), Part Stress Analysis (PSA), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), or radiation-related analyses.

Experience with Cadence schematic capture tools or equivalent ECAD design environments.

Experience developing and testing flight hardware, including board bring-up, functional verification, and troubleshooting using laboratory test equipment.

Familiarity with spaceflight component selection, radiation effects, derating, and reliability considerations.

Experience with requirements management and verification tools such as DOORS.

Demonstrated ability to lead technical design efforts, participate in design reviews, and mentor junior engineers.

Why Join Our Team?

Join a team developing the digital avionics hardware that enables complex spacecraft missions. You’ll have the opportunity to own designs through the full hardware development lifecycle, collaborate across engineering disciplines, and contribute directly to flight-ready spacecraft electronics.

Northrop Grumman offers a 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off, professional development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:

https://www.northropgrumman.com/space

Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.

Northrop Grumman Total Rewards

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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.

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.