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Principal Electrical Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Principal Electrical Engineer

Novi, MI · On-site

$131K - $160K/yr

Principal Electrical EngineerShape the Future of Hardware Engineering. At GHSP, we develop the mechatronic technologies behind millions of vehicles around the world. We're looking for a Principal ...

Principal Electrical Engineer

Holland, MI · On-site

$129K - $158K/yr

Principal Electrical EngineerShape the Future of Hardware Engineering. At GHSP, we develop the mechatronic technologies behind millions of vehicles around the world. We're looking for a Principal ...

Principal Electrical Engineer

Osseo, MN · On-site

$130K - $160K/yr

As a Principal Electrical Engineer , you will play a critical role in the design, development, and testing of electrical and electronic systems for medical devices. You will work collaboratively ...

Principal Electrical Engineer

Osseo, MN · On-site

$130K - $160K/yr

As a Principal Electrical Engineer , you will play a critical role in the design, development, and testing of electrical and electronic systems for medical devices. You will work collaboratively ...

Principal Electrical Engineer

Irvine, CA · Hybrid

$125K - $195K/yr

Principal Electrical Engineer Job Location: Irvine, CA Job Type: Full-time / Hybrid Position Summary ETAP is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer with extensive knowledge of design, modeling, and ...

Principal Electrical Engineer (Confidential) Travel: ~20% (domestic + occasional international) Who We Are We are a long-established leader in sustainable industrial solutions, partnering with ...

Principal Electrical Engineer Job Location: Irvine, CA Job Type: Full-time / Hybrid Position Summary ETAP is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer with extensive knowledge of design, modeling, and ...

Principal Electrical Engineer, NA

$142K - $174K/yr

The Principal Electrical Engineer, typically reporting to the Electrical Engineering Director, assumes a pivotal leadership role within the Electrical Engineering department. With the potential to ...

Principal Electrical Engineer (Confidential) Travel: ~20% (domestic + occasional international) Who We Are We are a long-established leader in sustainable industrial solutions, partnering with ...

Showing results 41-60

Principal Electrical Engineer information

See salary details

$98.5K

$154.8K

$205K

How much do principal electrical engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal electrical engineer in the United States is $154,823.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $139,000.00 and $170,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a principal electrical engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during large-scale projects?

As a Principal Electrical Engineer, you will frequently work with multidisciplinary teams including mechanical, civil, and software engineers, as well as project managers and clients. Your role often involves leading technical discussions, providing guidance on electrical design solutions, and ensuring that electrical systems integrate seamlessly with other engineering disciplines. Effective communication and coordination are key, as you may also mentor junior engineers and facilitate design reviews to align project goals. This collaborative environment fosters innovation and ensures that complex projects are delivered efficiently and safely.

What does a principal electrical engineer do?

A principal electrical engineer leads the design, development, and testing of electrical systems and components, often overseeing projects and providing technical guidance. They typically have advanced knowledge of circuit design, power systems, and industry standards, and may hold certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE). Their role involves collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and ensuring compliance with safety and quality regulations.

How much does a principal electrical engineer earn?

A principal electrical engineer typically earns between $120,000 and $180,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Senior-level roles often require advanced skills in circuit design, project management, and relevant certifications such as PE (Professional Engineer).

What is a principal electrical engineer?

A principal electrical engineer serves as a project manager for electrical-related building or construction projects. In this role, your job duties may include designing electrical devices, ensuring proper installation, inspecting completed electrical work, and providing work estimates. You may also supervise a staff of junior engineers, overseeing their work, and ensure that the project is completed within the allotted timeframe and budget. Principal electrical engineers are often the liaison between the engineering team and upper management. You must create reports and communicate regular updates on the status of each project to ensure each stage is meeting deadline expectations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal electrical engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Electrical Engineer, you need advanced expertise in electrical engineering principles, project management, and typically a bachelor's or master's degree in electrical engineering with a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Mastery of design software (such as AutoCAD and MATLAB), familiarity with industry standards (like IEEE), and experience with simulation and analysis tools are essential. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills enable effective team management and cross-functional collaboration. These skills ensure successful project delivery, innovation, and compliance with regulatory and safety standards in complex engineering environments.

What is the difference between Principal Electrical Engineer vs Electrical Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Electrical EngineerElectrical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in electrical engineering; often advanced certifications or extensive experienceBachelor's degree in electrical engineering; entry to mid-level certifications
Work EnvironmentDesign, oversee projects, lead teams in industries like manufacturing, power, or electronicsDesign, develop, test electrical systems, often under supervision
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in large corporations, consulting firms, and project leadership rolesCommon in engineering firms, manufacturing, and construction projects

The Principal Electrical Engineer typically holds more experience, leadership responsibilities, and advanced certifications compared to an Electrical Engineer. They focus on project oversight, strategic planning, and team leadership, while Electrical Engineers are more involved in technical design and development tasks.

What cities are hiring for Principal Electrical Engineer jobs?

Cities with the most Principal Electrical Engineer job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Principal Electrical Engineer jobs?

The most popular types of Principal Electrical Engineer jobs are:

Who are the top companies hiring for Principal Electrical Engineer jobs?

The top employers for Principal Electrical Engineer jobs are:

What states have the most Principal Electrical Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Principal Electrical Engineer jobs include:

Infographic showing various Principal Electrical Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $154,823 per year, or $74.4 per hour.

Electrical Engineer / Principal Electrical Engineer

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Warner Robins, GA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Posted 28 days ago


Northrop Grumman rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 363 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

88th of 539 rated manufacturers


Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No
CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret
TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescription
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 Defense Systems is seeking an Electrical Engineer / Principal Electrical Engineer to join our Integrated Mission Solutions (IMS) organization in Warner Robins, Georgia. This position supports the AAQ-24 program by providing electrical engineering expertise across manufacturing, depot repair, integration, test, sustainment, and continuous improvement activities for advanced airborne electronic systems.
The successful candidate will collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, Systems Engineering, Design Engineering, Test Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management, and Production Operations to ensure customer requirements are achieved while improving manufacturing efficiency, product quality, and program execution. The ideal candidate possesses strong troubleshooting abilities, technical leadership, excellent communication skills, and the ability to thrive within a technically diverse, fast-paced manufacturing environment. This position is located in Warner Robins, Georgia and requires on-site support.
Roles and Responsibilities
  • Provide electrical engineering support for AAQ 24 production, sustainment, depot repair, and startup/integration activities, including environmental, acceptance, and qualification testing.
  • Perform hands on electrical troubleshooting and test at system, subsystem, LRU, and component levels using schematics, wiring diagrams, engineering documentation, and electronic lab equipment (oscilloscopes, DMMs, power supplies, signal generators, spectrum analyzers).
  • Analyze electrical failures, manufacturing defects, intermittent issues, and customer returns to determine root cause and implement effective corrective and preventive actions (RCCA, MRB, FRB).
  • Develop, revise, and maintain engineering documentation and configuration control, including work/repair/test procedures, engineering reports, technical drawings, and PLM-driven engineering changes (ECRs/ECNs).
  • Collaborate closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Production, suppliers, and customers to resolve technical issues impacting cost, quality, schedule, reliability, and to support supplier evaluations, FAIs, qualification testing, and readiness reviews.
  • Support continuous improvement and Lean Manufacturing initiatives by identifying and implementing process improvements to reduce waste, standardize work, and increase throughput.
  • Ensure compliance with company procedures, customer specifications, IPC standards, quality systems, DoD requirements, and effectively represent engineering in technical reviews, program meetings, and customer briefings.
  • Support additional engineering assignments as required to meet program objectives.

This position may be filled at either Electrical Engineer or Principal Electrical Engineer level.
Basic Qualifications Electrical Engineer: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related STEM discipline with 2 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree with 0 years of relevant experience.
Basic Qualifications Principal Electrical Engineer: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline from an accredited institution and a minimum of 8 years of relevant engineering experience, or a Master's degree in Electrical.
Qualifications Required for Both Levels:
  • Experience supporting electrical engineering activities within manufacturing, production, depot repair, integration, or test environment.
  • Experience troubleshooting electronic systems utilizing engineering drawings, schematics, technical manuals, and electrical test equipment.
  • Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, interface control documents, engineering drawings, and Bills of Material (BOMs).
  • Experience operating standard electronic laboratory equipment including Digital Multimeters (DMMs), oscilloscopes, programmable power supplies, and signal generators.
  • Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot hardware to the system, subsystem, and component level.
  • Experience supporting cross-functional teams consisting of Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production personnel.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Active U.S. Department of Defense Secret Security Clearance.
  • Experience supporting aerospace, military, or defense electronics manufacturing.
  • Experience troubleshooting to the component level.
  • Experience using Altium Designer or equivalent PCB design software.
  • Experience supporting automated manufacturing systems, robotics, or automated inspection
  • Experience with SAP, MES, Teamcenter, or similar ERP and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.
  • Demonstrated working knowledge of firmware and software programming.
  • Demonstrated experience leading manufacturing process improvements utilizing Lean Manufacturing principles.
  • Experience supporting customer technical reviews, production readiness reviews, and manufacturing qualification activities.
  • Ability to operate an oscilloscope.

Primary Level Salary Range: $79,300.00 - $118,900.00
Secondary Level Salary Range: $98,400.00 - $147,600.00
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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About Northrop Grumman

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

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.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Falls Church, VA, US

Year founded

1939