Jobs / United States / Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
Sr. Principal Systems Test Engineer – Test Director
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation · 🇺🇸 2 Locations
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.
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About the role
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: Top 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 Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Sr. Principal Systems Test Engineer – Test Director to join the team of qualified individuals. Position will be in Edwards AFB, CA or Palmdale, CA. The System Test IPT is seeking a Sr. Principal System Test Engineer to serve as a Test Director for the Flight Test Department. The Test Director supervises the execution of test missions, with a primary focus on safety, execution efficiency, standards, and test discipline. The Test Director ensures mission preparation is completed in accordance with local procedures, oversees the scheduling of resources and assets, and coordinates with all engineering disciplines and external agencies to ensure successful test execution. The Test Director safeguards sensitive and critical test information and adheres to the relevant Security Classification Guide. The Test Director has the authority to terminate the test event if the technical validity of the test is in question or safety jeopardized. Finally, the Test Director also helps to develop and review flight test plans and safety plans. Key Responsibilities: • Brief pre- and post-event meetings • Supports test readiness reviews • Provides mission control room support and makes real-time decisions regarding safety, security, effectiveness, and efficiency. • Supports simulations • Conducts and contributes to pre and post-test data analyses to support anomaly identification and resolution. • Instructs other test directors, experience permitting • Brief upper management on event outcomes and planning This position requires outstanding written and oral communications skills. Individuals must be able to work without appreciable direction to develop solutions to complex problems; must be able to work both within a team environment and independently; must be self-motivated, thorough, and detailed; and must be willing to learn additional engineering discipline areas. Position requires willingness to accept changing and evolving roles & responsibilities in support of customers’ requirements and need. We offer flexible work arrangements, 4/10 work schedule with every Friday off, phenomenal learning opportunities, exposure to a wide variety of projects and customers, and a very friendly team environment. We are looking for self-motivated, proactive, and goal-oriented people to help us grow our services and become even better at what we do. Basic Qualifications: • Must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM discipline AND 8 years of related professional/military experience OR a Master's degree AND 6 years of related professional/military experience OR a Ph.D. AND 4 years of related professional/military experience. • Must have an active US Government Top Secret clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 years or en