Principal Engineer - Product Development

AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION: Yes RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available CLEARANCE TYPE: AU- Secret (NV1) TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time Description We are Northrop Grumman Australia. Our 800 strong team is leveraging unparalleled global resources to deliver sovereign Defence capability aligned to the Government's priorities across Aeronautics, Mission Critical Systems, Space and Guided Weapons. As we build our business and our capabilities, we are also developing a reputation as a great place to work. Help us define what is possible for our nation and for your career. Turn ideas into real capability. This role sits at the very front of product development, before requirements exist. Before contracts are written. You will work from workshopped ideas from end users in secure communications. From here, you will: Understand their problems, then shape what gets built next. Explore ideas, test concepts, and build prototypes. Not just design on paper but prove what works. If you are stuck delivering defined work, this is different. Here, you help decide what is worth building. Location: Canberra or Brisbane. NV1 clearance required. Key Responsibilities You'll work across a mix of operational and complex advisory work, including: Understand user problems and identify capability gaps early Take workshop outputs and assess what is technically achievable Turn ideas into practical product concepts and working prototypes Explore solutions beyond traditional radio systems Work across systems, electronics, and software teams Balance creative ideas with real-world engineering constraints About You You thrive in environments where ideas are not fully defined, and you enjoy turning early concepts into practical, working solutions. You work best when collaborating across disciplines to take something abstract and make it real. You'll likely bring or be motivated by: Wanting more ownership early in your career Solving problems without clear answers Building and testing ideas, not just documenting A background in electronics, systems, aerospace or mechatronics Thinking beyond existing designs and finding better ways Focusing on what is achievable, not just ideal Taking initiative without waiting to be told You must be an Australian Citizen and currently hold a NV1 clearance. What we Offer We have built our benefits to help you define your possible. Professional Development – further education, leadership development, professional industry memberships and unlimited access to a range of online training Purchased annual leave – 2 weeks Salary packaging including novated car leases Generous paid parental leave – 18 Weeks Volunteer and enhanced Reservist Leave Health & Wellbeing program Employee Assistance Program Everyone Matters Doing the right thing and sharing success are two values underpinning how we behave at Northrop Grumman. Here, everyone matters including candidates from diverse backgrounds. We are particularly proud of our commitment to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as demonstrated through our Second Innovate RAP (2024-2026), and our support for Veteran employment, and welcome Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Veterans to apply to join our team. For more information or a confidential discussion, please contact the•••••••@au.ngc.com NB Files cannot be sent to this address. As a Defence security clearance is required for this role, you must be an Australian Citizen. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) are applicable, as such your nationality may be a factor in determining your suitability for this role. You will also need to satisfy police checks and employment screening verification. We are proud to be WORK180 accredited – check us out Northrop Grumman Australia | WORK180 Endorsed Employer Existing Applicants: Need to update your contact information or email address? Once logged in, click on Candidate Home in the upper right corner and scroll to the bottom of that screen to see buttons for: Update Contact information to update your legal name, address, and phone number Edit Account Settings to edit your email address We are a pioneering company. With careers across all areas: air, cyber, land, sea and space – our 90,000 employees work as one to defend and define the future. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will give you every opportunity to do your best work. Working together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines, we share a drive to push the boundaries of science, technology and engineering to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide.