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# Principal Chief Engineer/Hardware IPT Lead

- **Company:** Northrop Grumman
- **Location:** Dundalk, MD, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $135,800.0 - $203,600.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Hardware Design, Automation of Marketing, Systems Integration, Hardware Testing, SC Clearance
- **Published:** May 17, 2026
- **Apply:** https://find.jobs/jobs-near-me/sr.-principal-chief-engineer-hardware-ipt-lead-dundalk-maryland/2773124950-2/

## About the Role

* Must have an active/current U.S. Government Secret Clearance. Secret clearance is required to start. Must be able to maintain this level of clearance for continued employment.
 * Bachelor's Degree in a STEM field and a minimum of 8 years related experience, or Master's Degree in STEM and a minimum of 6 years related experience. An additional 4 years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
 * 2 years of experience as a Technical/Engineering Lead on an engineering project, in a team environment
 * 2 years of experience with Hardware design, Hardware test, or Hardware operations/manufacturing processes
 * Experience providing technical and/or programmatic presentations and status
 * Experience with Near Field or Far Field Range Testing, * Active and current Top Secret government clearance
 * 2 years of experience as an Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead, Technical lead, or other leadership role in a program office or business function with demonstrated team building, organizational, and interpersonal skills
 * Experience with hardware test on a low-rate initial production (LRIP) program or full-rate production (FRP) program
 * Experience with IRV/V&V test sets
 * Experience as a Control Account Manager (CAM) managing Earned Value Management System (EVMS) projects
 * Experience with Radio Frequency (RF) and Electromagnetic concepts and principles
 * Fluency with developing and executing project schedules

## Description

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems has an opportunity available for a Sr. Principal Chief Engineer to join our team of qualified and diverse individuals. The selected candidate will serve as a Hardware Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead on a production program within the Advanced Mission Capabilities organization. This position will be located in Baltimore, MD, and placement will be commensurate with qualifications.

What You'll Get To Do:

This individual will serve as a Hardware IPT Lead, leading a cross-discipline engineering team typically greater than 5 people for a low to medium risk project and interface with Engineering & Program Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Mission Assurance. The selected candidate will perform in a fast-paced work environment with high expectations, significantly diverse assignments, and collaborative/team settings. The selected candidates are expected to be self-motivated, highly organized, and detail oriented and possess effective verbal and written communication skills.

Roles & Responsibilities:

 * Work with the support and oversight of an Engineering Program Manager (EPM) to execute various system level hardware and hardware test projects on a production program
 * Control Account Manager: manage the cost and schedule of the system level projects
 * Lead engineering teams to define changes to hardware or hardware test sets (specifically Near Field Ranges and Far Field Ranges) to allow for increased production capacity and throughput
 * Lead test time reduction (TTR) initiatives
 * Work alongside manufacturing to provide recommendations to improve processes and reduce rework to increase production capacity and throughput
 * Work alongside supply chain teams to procure additional Near Field and Far Field test sets to increase production capacity and throughput
 * Work with external suppliers to assess their ability to meet increased production demand
 * Lead engineering team in hardware/software integration (I&T) of near field and far field test sets
 * Work alongside quality to lead IRV or V&V of additional near field and far field range test sets (test set certification)
 * Status/brief IPTs, Program Management, and Customer Leadership on assigned projects
 * Interface with functional departments as needed to secure team staffing

This role is contingent upon candidates having an active/current U.S. Government Secret Clearance, and program funding availability.


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