Principal / Sr. Principal Digital Hardware Engineer (Alice Springs, AU) Alice Springs, AUS
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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.

Strategic Space Systems Division (SSSD) is an industry-leading provider for launch systems capabilities serving national security, military, civil and commercial customers. We are built on a heritage of providing innovative, affordable and reliable aerospace and defense products that our customers rely on to achieve mission success. Join the Space revolution and make the impossible, possible.

Northrop Grumman SSSD is seeking a Principal / Sr. Principal Digital Hardware Engineer to become a member of the Ground Terminal and Infrastructure Department, working as part of a motivated, diverse, and technically talented group located at a field site in Alice Springs, AU.

This role may be filled at a level 3 or 4.

This role requires a two (2) year commitment and the ability to successfully pass a physical and psychological exam. Shifts are typically from 7:30am to 4:00PM Monday - Friday with only the odd occasions of off hours or long hours needed for special activities. A comprehensive overseas compensation package is offered with this position including relocation assistance.

Role Summary :

The Principal / Sr. Principal Digital Hardware Engineer provides operation, maintenance, and repair for the ground terminal architecture at a customer's site as a part of a highly skilled and specialized team, insuring the availability of critical mission systems. You will leverage your background experience and skills to provide time-critical observation, assessment, repair, and monitoring of complex communications systems and data links providing sustained operation. Furthermore, you will articulate your recommendations to the customer to inform decisions on mission critical infrastructure and equipment.

  • Provide daily activities and after-hours 24/7 response for the technical operations, maintenance, and repair of end-to-end communications capabilities

  • Serve as Responsible System Engineer (RSE) for a series of ground subsystems for multiple generations of systems.

  • Review and support factory design working groups and future systems development activities for impacts to system operability

  • Oversee the operation, maintenance, and repair of communications systems and components for ground to space communication links

  • The successful candidate must also be able to satisfy the following physical demands: Ability to work on elevated structures at heights of ~100 feet, Ability to climb stairs (~300 stairs/day), Ability to lift and carry ~45lbs, Ability to work in narrow and confined spaces

  • Provide mentoring and daily tasking to junior engineers supporting O&M activities.

  • Apply technical knowledge of electronics principles to determine equipment malfunctions and apply skills to restore mission critical operations at the system, sub-system, line replaceable unit, and board level

  • Perform system, sub-system, Line Replaceable Unit, and board-level troubleshooting and repair

  • Document equipment failures, prepare status reports, and identify maintenance improvements

  • Operate, maintain, repair/replace, and install various types of electrical equipment and devices related to all aspects of satellite communications to include: transmitters, receivers, mixers, switches, modems, de/modulators, upconverters/downconverters, amplifiers, network analyzers, noise figure analyzers, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscope, power meters, signal generators, timing distribution systems, fiber optic transmitters/receivers, coaxial/ethernet/serial/fiber/optical and RF cabling, and associated wiring and peripherals

  • Apply Comprehensive technical knowledge to solve complex problems by interpreting manufacturer's manuals or similar documents.

  • Explain root cause and fault resolution to a technical and non-technical audience

  • Support development teams generating the next stages of mission execution infrastructure and systems culminating in integration, operation, and maintenance of these systems

  • Utilize sound technical writing to document equipment failures, prepare status reports, and assist in developing concepts of operations (CONOPs) and improvements to the operations of communication systems

  • Provide technical guidance to programmatic processes for future enhancements and system upgrades attend meetings with government employees and other contractor teams

  • Position may require planned and emergency travel throughout the year to various locations within the region

  • Perform other related duties as required

  • Provide COMSEC support, as required

Basic Qualifications for Level 3:

  • Bachelor's Degree plus (5) years of technical/engineering experience; OR Master's Degree plus (3) years of technical/engineering experience; OR nine (9) years of technical/engineering experience in lieu of degree

  • Knowledgeable in communication theory and be familiar with digital and analog modulation/demodulation techniques

  • Experience using oscilloscopes, BER testers, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, volt meters and other equipment used for testing digital communication systems

  • Understanding of AC & DC electronic theory as well as various communication protocols such as RS232, RS422, GPIB, etc.

  • Active DoD Top Secret Clearance & SCI Access

  • A bility to obtain/Pass CI Poly Examination

Basic Qualifications for Level 4:

  • Bachelor's Degree plus (9) years of technical/engineering experience; OR Master's Degree plus (7) years of technical/engineering experience; OR nine (13) years of technical/engineering experience in lieu of degree

  • Knowledgeable in communication theory and be familiar with digital and analog modulation/demodulation techniques

  • Experience using oscilloscopes, BER testers, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, volt meters and other equipment used for testing digital communication systems

  • Understanding of AC & DC electronic theory as well as various communication protocols such as RS232, RS422, GPIB, etc.

  • Active DoD Top Secret Clearance & SCI Access

  • A bility to obtain/Pass CI Poly Examination

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Possess system level test/maintenance experience working with antenna/ground hardware

  • Experience with BPSK & QPSK waveforms and methods for testing and troubleshooting systems that use such techniques

  • Previous experience working on location and/or in the field to support the Department of Defense and/or the Intelligence Community is highly desirable.

  • COMSEC experience beneficial

  • SATCOM experience beneficial

  • Active in scope DoD Top Secret Clearance, SCI access & CI Polygraph

Salary Range: $86,300 - $129,500

Salary Range 2: $107,000 - $160,400

Employees may be eligible for 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 health and safety of our employees and their families is a top priority . The company encourages employees to remain up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. U.S. Northrop Grumman employees may be required, in the future, to be vaccinated or have an approved disability/medical or religious accommodation, pursuant to future court decisions and/or government action on the currently stayed federal contractor vaccine mandate under Executive Order 14042 https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/ .

Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO . U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.

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