Sr. Principal PWB Design Engineer

Company: Northrop Grumman
Location: Rolling Meadows
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE TYPE: 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 Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. Our Engineering and Sciences (E&S) organization pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered by providing the skills, innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter. Come be a part of our mission! Northrop Grumman offers challenging career opportunities in Hardware Engineering within the Mission Systems Sector that play a key role in the mission to protect our military personnel. The Hardware Engineering organization is dedicated to consistently providing high quality product designs in support of multiple product areas. The Design Data and Product Integrity Engineering (DDPIE) organization provides engineering support services for all programs at the Rolling Meadows campus including CCA Design Layout Technology, Configuration Management, Data Management, Drafting, Standards and Components, Product Follow, and Product Integrity Engineering. Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking an experienced Principal Design Engineer to join its Design Layout Technology team. The Principal Design Engineer plans, lays out, draws and revises parts, assemblies and fabrication engineering drawings from basic layouts, establishing references and standard data for PWB design artifacts. Utilizes computer-aided design graphic tools such as Cadence Allegro. Completes details of major layout drawings in accordance with standard engineering drafting practices, military specifications, as well as industry standards. Primary Functions: - Layout of PWBs/PCBs, flex circuits, interconnect routing, and drawing generation -Calculates layer stack-up based on industry standards, supplier capabilities, and engineering requirements -Creates and documents the required electronic data file outputs for fabrication and manufacturing -Responsible to interface with electrical and mechanical engineers to work through component placement, routing, mechanical fitment for rigid, flex, and rigid-flex assemblies -Understands technical theories of electrical and mechanical behavior of PWBs/PCBs to influence layout decisions (i.e. impedance matching, differential pairs, strains and stresses, orientation of components, etc.) -Incorporates PWB/PCB change notices. -Checks designs and drawings for manufacturability. -Excellent interpersonal skills. Be able to coordinate and lead design reviews with engineering, quality and manufacturing personnel. This position is On-site and full-time at our Rolling Meadows, IL. location Basic Qualifications for Sr. Principal Design Engineer : - Bachelor's degree in STEM field with 8 years of directly related professional working experience or Master's degree in STEM field with 6 years of directly related professional working experience or 1 2 years of directly related professional working experience in lieu of degree. - Drafting and design experience in PCB design for fabrication and PWB layer stack up for digital, RF, mixed signal, and power supply CCAs - Experience with Cadence Allegro or similar CAD tool - Knowledge of industry specifications and design for manufacturing (DFM) rules for CCA and PWB design, fabrication and manufacturing - Must be able to read drawings and schematic diagrams - US Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain security clearance. Preferred Qualifications for Sr. Principal Design Engineer : - Advanced degree in STEM field - Experience in PCB fabrication, testing, and quality - Good self-organization, and communication skills Primary Level Salary Range: $123,400.00 - $185,000.00 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.

Keywords: Northrop Grumman, Glenview , Sr. Principal PWB Design Engineer, Engineering , Rolling Meadows, Illinois