Principal/Sr Principal Engineer Systems - Radiometric

Description

*Please be aware that this position is contingent upon capturing program award(s) and obtaining and maintaining associated business and/or customer funding. Furthermore, this position is contingent upon the candidate obtaining final clearances and program access(es) within a reasonable period of time as determined by the company. Continued employment thereafter will be subject to maintenance at the level of clearance and program access required for the position in the future.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain Electro Optical Infrared (EO/IR) radiometric budgets, error‑budget models, and performance trade studies.
• Conduct end‑to‑end signal‑to‑noise‑ratio (SNR), radiometric resolution, and calibration analyses using tools such as MATLAB, Python, and/or specialized radiometric simulation software.
• Interface with hardware teams to define detector characteristics, optics throughput, and on‑board processing requirements.
• Support trade‑off studies for detector selection, optics designs, and data‑rate constraints.
• Participate in calibration and test planning, execution, and post‑test data analysis for laboratory, ground‑support, and flight‑test campaigns.
• Provide technical input for program schedules, risk assessments, and cost estimates.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and briefings for internal and external stakeholders.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to knowledge‑sharing initiatives within the EO/IR Radiometric Engineering community.

This position can be filled as either an Engineer Systems or Principal Engineer Systems level based on the qualifications listed below:

Basic Qualifications - Level 3

• B.S. with a minimum of 5 years of experience, M.S. with a minimum of 3 years of experience, or PhD a minimum of with 1 year of experience in Electrical Engineering Applied Physics, Optical Engineering, or related field.
• 3–5 years of engineering experience with radiometric analysis for imaging or hyperspectral sensors.
• Proficiency in MATLAB or Python for data analysis and modeling.
• Familiarity with optical design tools (e.g., Zemax, FRED, Code V).
• Understanding of detector physics, noise sources, point source characterization, and calibration methods.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.
• Strong written and oral communication skills; ability to produce clear technical documentation.

Basic Qualifications - Level 4

• B.S. with a minimum of 8 years of experience, M.S. with a minimum of 6 years of experience, or PhD a minimum of with 4 years of experience in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Optical Engineering, or related field (M.S. preferred).
• 7–10 years of relevant engineering experience with radiometric performance of complex sensor systems, including at least 3 years in a senior or lead role.
• Advanced expertise in radiometric modeling, simulation, and data‑fusion techniques.
• Proficient programming in MATLAB, Python, and C/C++ for algorithm development.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional technical teams.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top‑Secret clearance.
• Proven track record of technical mentorship, project leadership, and stakeholder engagement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active DoD Secret level or Top Secret Level Clearance
• Direct experience with space‑qualified remote sensing mission payloads.
• Hands‑on experience with radiometric test equipment
• Experience using statistical analysis methods (Monte‑Carlo, Bayesian inference) for error budgeting.
• Prior involvement in US Government program reviews (e.g., PDR, CDR, IRAD).
• Experience with interfacing radiometric modeling and simulation, and requirements management into Model Based Systems Engineering workflows
• Experience with infrared image processing in embedded systems (FPGA, GPU)
• Published technical papers or patents in radiometry, sensor calibration, or related fields.
• Experience leading system‑level performance trade studies for multi‑spectral or hyperspectral missions.
• Direct involvement with on‑orbit calibration strategies and post‑launch performance validation.
• Familiarity with model‑based system engineering (MBSE) tools (e.g., SysML, Cameo).
• Experience interfacing with US government customers and supporting acquisition processes (e.g., FAR, DFARS, EVM).
• Strong network within the radiometric and remote‑sensing community (conference participation, standards committees).

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

As a full-time employee of Northrop Grumman, you are eligible for:

• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
• 401k
• Educational Assistance
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions
• Paid Time Off
• Health & Wellness Resources
• Employee Discounts
• Flexible Schedules: for example, the ability to work a 9/80 work schedule, which allows an employee to work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday and take every other Friday off of work.

#LosAngelesSpace

#SpaceEngJobs

#SpaceSysEngJobs

#SPEnhancedERAP