Principal Engineer NDT/ Sr. Principal Engineer NDT - Travel Team
Palmdale, CAJob$104–155K/yrSeen 1w agoSeen in employer's feed 4 days ago
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Job overview
Northrop Grumman seeks a Principal or Senior Principal NDT Engineer for its Mission Assurance organization in Palmdale, California. The role inspects composite aerospace components and other energetic and non-energetic articles, and develops and implements nondestructive inspection techniques, methods, and procedures. The engineer works with design, project, and quality engineers to select and implement NDT methods that support product quality and cost goals. Domestic and international travel is required.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Benefits
Full job description
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret
TRAVEL: Yes, 75% 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 sector is seeking an Principal Engineer NDT/ Sr. Principal Engineer NDT to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position will be located in Palmdale, CA. The qualified applicant will become part of Northrop Grumman's Mission Assurance organization working in a collaborative environment while promoting a positive and proactive teamwork environment. This role requires both domestic and international travel up to 90% of the time and must be based in Palmdale, CA.
Responsible for the inspection composite aerospace components, and other energetic and non-energetic articles. This position is responsible for developing and implementing unique nondestructive inspection techniques, methods, and procedures. Works with design, project and quality engineers through the development process to select and implement the best NDT method to ensure product quality at lowest cost.
Principal NDT Engineer Basic Qualifications:
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Bachelors degree and 5 years experience, with 5 plus years as a Ultrasonic Level III or High school Diploma with 9 years experience with 5 years as a Ultrasonic Level III in lieu of degree
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Active US Govt clearance and the ability to obtain Special Program Access
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Must be able to work any shift
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Must be able to travel up to 75%
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Must pass medical evaluation including eye exam
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Active US Passport
Sr. Principal NDT Engineer Basic Qualifications:
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Bachelors degree and 9 plus years experience with 5 years as a Ultrasonic Level III or High school Diploma with 13 years experience with 5 years as a Ultrasonic Level III in lieu of degree
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Active US Govt clearance and the ability to obtain Special Program Access
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Must be able to work any shift
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Must be able to travel up to 75%
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Must pass medical evaluation including eye exam
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Active US Passport
Preferred Qualifications:
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Multiple Level III ASNT certifications
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Special Program Access
Primary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 - $155,400.00
Secondary Level Salary Range: $129,300.00 - $193,900.00
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 520 open Quality Assurance Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 10, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$104–155K/yr
- California median$118–176K/yr46 salary ranges
- US median$104–160K/yr337 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $130K, is 17% below the California median midpoint ($157K) — in the middle half of Quality Assurance Engineer salary ranges in California.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 69 open Quality Assurance Engineer jobs in California and 520 across the US. 9% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 5 years of experience; Quality Assurance Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (407 postings).
- Education
- 190 of the 520 open Quality Assurance Engineer jobs (37%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 10, 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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