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Test Conductor/Principal Test Conductor

Northrop Grumman

Palmdale, CAFull-time$83–155K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$83–155K/yr
Location
Palmdale, CA
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
US work authorization required

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Top Secret clearance, required

Job overview

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems seeks a Test Conductor or Principal Test Conductor in Palmdale, California, to oversee operational aspects of engineering tests and support mission objectives. The role conducts production testing, resolves anomalies, refines procedures, and coordinates test readiness and schedules. It is full-time and on-site, with travel up to 25%. The position requires an active Secret clearance and may be filled at either level based on qualifications.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Production Testing, requiredTroubleshooting, requiredTest Procedure Development, requiredTest Readiness Reviews, requiredCross-Functional Collaboration, requiredSchedule Coordination, requiredAviation Systems, requiredCommunication, requiredBlueprint Reading, requiredMicrosoft Office, requiredRF Testing, nice to haveEthernet Testing, nice to haveElectrical Cable Testing, nice to haveTeamcenter, nice to have

Qualifications

HS+6, Bachelor's+2 or Master's, requiredHS+9, Bachelor's+5, Master's+3 or PhD+1, requiredActive US Secret Clearance, requiredTop Secret Clearance, requiredSpecial Access Program Clearance, requiredCurrent SAP Clearance, nice to haveActive DoD Top Secret SCI Clearance, nice to have

Benefits

401(k) Match
Paid Time Off
Relocation Assistance

Full job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 25% 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 Test Conductor/Principal Test Conductor to join the team of qualified individuals. Position is located in Palmdale, CA.

Exciting position offers the opportunity to ensure engineering tests serve mission objectives and mechanisms are in place to execute the tests. Where you will oversees the operational aspects of engineering tests and serves as liaison to program, engineering and line management.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Conduct comprehensive production testing at various integration levels

  • Troubleshoot and resolve test anomalies efficiently

  • Update and refine test procedures to enhance accuracy and efficiency

  • Actively participate in Test Readiness Reviews and test-preparation briefings

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless test progress

  • Coordinate test schedules with Managers, Operators, and Manufacturing Managers

  • Support overtime and adapt to off-hour schedules as needed

  • The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility. There is no remote / hybrid / telework available for this position.

  • Travel up to 25% may be required.

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.

This position may be filled at either level depending on qualifications below

Basic Qualifications for Test Conductor:

  • Must have a High School Diploma AND 6 years of related professional/military experience OR Bachelors degree AND 2 years of related professional/military experience, OR a Master's degree AND 0 years of related professional/military experience.

Basic Qualifications for Principal Test Conductor:

  • Must have a High School Diploma AND 9 years of related professional/military experience OR Bachelors degree AND 5 years of related professional/military experience, OR a Master's degree AND 3 years of related professional/military experience, OR a Ph.D. AND 1 year of related professional/military experience.

Basic Qualifications for Both Levels:

  • Must have an active US Government Secret clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).

  • Ability to obtain and maintain US Government Top Secret clearance

  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance, within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.

  • SAP/PAR will be upgraded once selected candidate is in role. Therefore, candidate must also be able to obtain and maintain upgraded SAP/PAR.)

  • General knowledge of aviation systems

  • Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills

  • Ability to read/understand engineering blueprints/drawings.

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Current applicable Special Access Program (SAP) clearance.

  • Active DoD Top Secret SCI clearance (with a background investigation within the past 5 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).

  • Experience testing RF, ethernet, and electrical cables

  • Experience with Teamcenter

Primary Level Salary Range: $83,400.00 - $125,200.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 - $155,400.00

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.

Job Category: Mission and Quality Assurance

How this job compares

Set against the 594 open Test Engineering jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 12, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$83–155K/yr
  • California median$146–220K/yr98 salary ranges
  • US median$118–180K/yr346 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $119K, is 34% below the California median midpoint ($180K) — in the lowest quarter of Test Engineering salary ranges in California.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 155 open Test Engineering jobs in California and 594 across the US. 2% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
Test Engineering postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 3 to 8 years (436 postings).
Education
239 of the 594 open Test Engineering jobs (40%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 12, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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