Jobs / United States / Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
Principal / Sr Principal RF Microwave Design Engineer (AHT)
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation · 🇺🇸 United States-Colorado-Boulder
Sponsorship verdict
Posting rules out sponsorship
The posting rules out sponsorship or requires citizenship/clearance.
- No government sponsor record hereThis employer posted directly and does not match a government sponsor register.
- The posting doesn’t mention sponsorshipSilence isn’t a refusal — ask the recruiter before investing much time.
- No salary bar for this routeH-1B has no fixed salary bar: the employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the role and area. Cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level. Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/29/2025-23853/weighted-selection-process-for-registrants-and-petitioners-seeking-to-file-cap-subject-h-1b, rules effective 2026-02-27.
- Security clearance mentionedFrom the posting’s own wording.
- Confirmed live todayWhen a source last listed this job as open.
US H-1B: cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level — Level I gets 1 entry, Level IV gets 4 (DHS projected selection odds ≈15% at Level I to ≈61% at Level IV). Universities and non-profit research employers are cap-exempt. The $100,000 fee for new petitions from abroad is currently blocked by a court order (appeal pending).
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Why not apply?
The posting mentions a security clearance — usually restricted to citizens of that country.
No register record and no sponsorship wording in the posting. Worth asking the employer before investing significant time.
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Sponsor Radar — Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
This employer posted directly and does not match a government sponsor register.
Past sponsorship or register membership never guarantees sponsorship for this vacancy or for you. Full Sponsor Radar for Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation →
About the role
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes 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 Space Systems is seeking an Principal or Sr Principal RF Microwave Design Engineer to support our team in Boulder, CO. Job Responsibilities • Conducting RF/payload/communication system analysis, modeling, and simulation • Designing and developing RF systems and corresponding analyses • Designs, develops, tests radio frequency (RF) and/or microwave systems architecture, components, circuits, or products. Includes antenna design, both reflector and array systems, frequency synthesizers, transmitters and receivers. • Generating specifications and analyses for ambiguous customer requirements • Supporting RF engineering Basis of Estimates for proposals • Execute trades and analyses for Radio Frequency systems and circuitry • Design and develop RF systems and corresponding analyses, such as link budgets, cascade analyses, and frequency response • Model and simulate RF systems for high-frequency and microwave applications This position can be staffed at a Principal or Sr Principal level based on the basic qualifications below. Basic Qualifications: • Principal : Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 5 years of relevant experience – OR – Master’s degree with 3 years of relevant experience – OR – PHD with 1 year of relevant experience • Sr Principal : Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 8 years of relevant experience – OR – Master’s degree with 6 years of relevant experience – OR – PHD with 4 years of relevant experience • Must have an active U.S. Government Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope. • Understanding of Digital Communications and Signal Processing. • Experience in modeling, simulation, and/or analysis of RF Systems, including Space-to-Ground and Payload Systems • Design and integration of SATCOM ground terminals, RF‑over‑Fiber, high‑power transmitters, and phased‑array and parabolic antennas. • Experience performing Link Budget Analysis to design and optimize the communication link between the satellite and the ground station and/or Cascade Analysis to evaluate the overall performance of the payload and associated components • Proficient with MATLAB • Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite • Strong communication skills Preferred Qualifications • Extensive RF/payload/communication experience in system analysis, modeling and simulation. • Extensive knowledge and experience in the area of Satellite Communications (SATCOM) such as Analog-to-Digital and Digital-to-Analog analysis and testing; digital channelization, digital beamforming, digital receiver theory and technology • Knowledge of RF performance metrics (G/T, tracking performance, axial ratio, phase variation) and EMI/RFI shielding requirements • Ability to analyze and evaluate complex satellite test data, extensive experience working with spectru