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Posted July 08, 2026
Northrop Grumman

Sr. Principal Digital Design Verification Lead - R10237881

San Diego, CA, US Full Time
$142200 - $213400
Reference: R10237881

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

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 Aeronautics systems Sector is seeking a highly skilled  Sr. Principal Digital Design Verification Lead to develop and execute verification strategies for complex FPGA-based designs. This role focuses on ensuring functional correctness, performance, and robustness of FPGA implementations through advanced simulation, testbench development, and verification methodologies. This position would be supporting our Core Vehicle Management Systems (CVMS) organization out of our San Diego Ca site. This is a hyrbid position however selected candidate must be from a commutable distance from the San Diego Site.

The ideal candidate has strong experience with SystemVerilog-based verification environments and industry-standard simulation tools such as Questa, along with a deep understanding of digital design and FPGA architectures.

The ideal candidate has strong experience with SystemVerilog-based verification environments and industry-standard simulation tools such as Questa, along with a deep understanding of digital design and FPGA architectures.

Essential Functions:

• Develop and maintain comprehensive verification environments for FPGA designs using SystemVerilog (UVM preferred)

• Create reusable, scalable testbenches for functional and performance verification

• Execute simulation-based verification using tools such as Questa/ModelSim

• Develop directed and constrained-random test cases to achieve high functional coverage

• Analyze simulation results, debug failures, and collaborate with design engineers to resolve issues

• Define and track coverage metrics (functional, code, toggle, etc.)

• Participate in design reviews and provide feedback from a verification perspective

• Support regression automation and continuous integration workflows

• Assist in hardware validation and bring-up when needed

Basic Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or another STEM field and 8 years of relevant experience; or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or another STEM field and 6 years of relevant experience

  • 5 or more years of experience in FPGA verification

  • Strong proficiency in SystemVerilog and modern verification methodologies (UVM strongly preferred)

  • Hands-on experience with Questa and/or ModelSim

  • Solid understanding of digital logic design, RTL (Verilog/VHDL), and FPGA architectures

  • Experience writing testbenches, assertions (SVA), and coverage models

  • Familiarity with scripting languages such as Python, Tcl, or Bash for automation

  • Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git)

  • Ability to obtain and maintain US Government Secret Clearance

  • Must have ability to obtain and maintain Program Access (PAR) within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Digital circuit design experience, including simulation & schematic capture through test and integration

  • Prior hands-on prototyping and debug experience testing complex digital subsystems, such as complex circuit card development involving FPGAs, and/or embedded processors, and/or high-speed interfaces.

  • Experience with OVM/UVM Verification methodologies.

  • Demonstrated ability to translate system performance and operational specifications into hardware requirements, design, and test specifications.

Primary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00

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.

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