Principal OR Sr. Principal Advanced Test Capabilities Physicist

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE TYPE: A US Government security clearance per customer's requirements.

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 Mission Systems (NGMS) is seeking candidates for the position of Principal or Sr. Principal Advanced Test Capabilities Physicist with a robust scientific background.  Our technology is built around superconducting electronics and energy efficient computation. You will work with a team of scientists and engineers to design, test and integrate software on our test platforms. We are a hard-working team that strives to foster a culture of belonging, mentorship, and personal growth. We are passionate about creating innovative solutions to exciting multi-disciplinary challenges! 

This position requires full-time on-site work at our Advanced Technology Laboratory (ATL) in Linthicum, MD location or our Annapolis Junction, MD location. 

As a member of our team, you will: 

• Develop and implement test protocols for novel experiments on superconducting devices.
• Support the current and future development of RF Validation, Modeling, Device  teams within function, cost and schedule constraints.
• Support experimental physics teams by developing novel measurement procedures and processes.
• Debug existing software tools and support implementation of new capabilities. 
• Document and implement test requirements and procedures. 
• Develop and/or review test plans for accuracy and completeness. 

What you need to be successful in the role:

• Thorough knowledge of superconducting physics and microwave EM field theory.
• Interest/excitement in research areas involving superconducting electronics.
• Tenacity when diving into problems to follow them through and find the optimal solution.
• Presentation and communication skills
• Ability to collaborate in a small group setting (4-7 people) as well as work independently.

This position can be filled at the Principal level OR the Sr. Principal level.  Qualifications for both are listed below:

Basic Qualifications for Principal Advanced Test Capabilities Physicist: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) with 5 years of relevant experience; Master's degree in STEM related field with 3 years' of relevant technical experience OR Masters’ degree in STEM related field and currently enrolled in a PhD program with a completion date prior to start with 1 year of relevant technical experience OR PhD in STEM related field with 1 year of relevant technical experience.
• Research lab experience using electrical/ computer equipment (e.g. Network Analyzer, Oscilloscope, Arbitrary Waveform Generator, FPGA etc.).
• Experience with hardware control and communication over TCP IP or GPIB. 
• The ability to demonstrate strong communication skills and to work on a diverse multi-disciplinary team.
• A strong ability to learn new topics quickly and independently solve problems in a fast-paced environment. 
• Experience and knowledge in the following programming languages: Python and Matlab. 
• This position requires the applicant to be a U.S. Citizen.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance per customer requirements. 

Basic Qualifications for Sr. Principal Advanced Test Capabilities Physicist: 

• Bachelor's degree plus 8 years of relevant technical experience; Master's degree plus 6 years of relevant technical experience; PhD in theoretical physics, applied mathematics, or a relevant engineering field plus 4 years of relevant technical experience.
• Research lab experience using electrical/ computer equipment (e.g. Network Analyzer, Oscilloscope, Arbitrary Waveform Generator, FPGA etc.).
• Experience with hardware control and communication over TCP IP or GPIB. 
• The ability to demonstrate strong communication skills and to work on a diverse multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience mentoring teams and providing leadership in a lab setting.
• A strong ability to learn new topics quickly and independently solve problems in a fast-paced environment. 
• Experience and knowledge in the following programming languages: Python, Matlab, or other programming languages. 
• This position requires the applicant to be a U.S. Citizen.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance per customer requirements. 

Preferred Qualifications for both Principal AND Sr. Principal Advanced Test Capabilities Physicist: 

• A PhD degree in either Physics, or a related STEM engineering field.
• Knowledge of the principles of Superconductivity, Quantum mechanics, and microelectronic device physics.
• Experience in cryogenic laboratory environment.
• Experience designing and executing experiments in physics or electronic device research. 
• Experience with superconducting electronics or digital circuits. 
• Experience in low current measurements, advanced test development, operations, and automation.
• Experience in applied noise characterization and applied RF testing of superconducting devices.
• Ability to automate experimental tasks using high level and built-in software languages.
• Experience in leading projects or small technical teams.
• Experience with integrating theory, design, and testing methodology to improve the product development cycle within an agile framework.
• An active U.S. government security clearance

Primary Level Salary Range: $127,400.00 - $191,200.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $158,600.00 - $238,000.00

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.