Job Description

Description

Climb to new heights on your journey when you start Defining Possible with Northrop Grumman. Enjoy a purposeful career in aeronautics that is crucial to the way we connect and protect our world across land, sea, and air. Bring your experience and take advantage of this opportunity to discover how you can start to push past possible and achieve your goals today. Enjoy a diverse, collaborative environment with professionals across the nation ready to help launch your career.

Our Aeronautics Systems sector is seeking a Sr. Principal Manufacturing Engineer focused on survivability and manufacturing development to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position will support our Advanced Manufacturing Technology amp; Innovation development team and will be located in El Segundo, CA.

Our organization is responsible for developing the manufacturing processes, tooling, and equipment necessary to implement advanced designs for aerospace applications. As a member of the Advanced Manufacturing Technology amp; Innovation team, you will identify, develop and implement unique processes, tooling, and equipment for production and prototype programs. The role will define, develop, and design manufacturing concepts and processes for production applications of manufacturing technologies with a focus on survivability manufacturing and applications.

The ideal candidate will possess a combination of applied basic mechanical and chemical engineering knowledge, and a good understanding of basic physics, in order to devise and execute unique manufacturing development test plans. The position requires experience in project management, including development of the necessary strategies, tactics, approaches, and test plans necessary to develop, demonstrate, validate, and implement manufacturing processes for advanced design concepts. Budget and technical personnel leadership experience is necessary, with knowledge of Earned Value type budget management techniques viewed as beneficial. Familiarity with survivability / observables design and / or manufacturing and testing / verification is very beneficial for this position. Experience with Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) and Technology Readiness Level (TRL) practices is helpful for this position, as is experience in conducting trade analysis / trade studies. Strong written and oral communication skills are required as the position involves extensive interfacing with internal and external customers, program offices, engineering disciplines, and industry suppliers. The role will require the individual to be comfortable working with a wide range of stakeholders and functional teams.

Essential Job Functions:

* Translate product design and performance requirements into manufacturing process and technology development requirements
* Interface with design teams to gain understanding of product design and performance requirements, and translate those requirements into manufacturing processes needed to achieve them
* Examine and interpret product design documents / files to gain understanding of product design and performance requirements, and translate those requirements into manufacturing processes needed to achieve them
* Plan and execute manufacturing technology development projects as the project manager
* Perform MRL and TRL analysis
* Evaluate technologies through testing and analysis using laboratory and shop practices
* Build, gain stakeholder approval, and execute technology development test plans based on product design and performance requirements
* Conduct trade studies to down-select optimal manufacturing approaches
* Manage project schedules and budgets using MS Project and cost account spreadsheets
* Communicate manufacturing process development strategies, tactics, and status across a diverse stakeholder community and gain concurrence among potentially conflicting interests

Qualification

Basic Qualifications:

* Bachelor rsquo;s Degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) with 9 years of experience in manufacturing and / or laboratory environments; OR Master 39;s Degree in STEM with 7 years of manufacturing and / or laboratory environments
* Strong MS PowerPoint skills and basic MS Excel skills
* Strong ability to define key resources necessary for successful technology development project execution, including personnel, materials, subcontracts, travel, and time / schedule
* Strong ability to write internally and externally executed technical statement(s) of work (SOW), ensuring project success through demonstration of success via task-oriented deliverables
* Ability to interface with suppliers in the role of project / technology development manager, and achieve successful results and written / communicated project deliverables
* Strong problem solving skills with an emphasis on production environments
* Proven ability to learn and master new technologies and techniques
* Self-starter who is able to work with minimal direction
* This position requires having a current active DOD Secret or Top Secret Clearance, as well as the ability to obtain Program Special access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs
* Ability to travel 10-15% of the time

Preferred Qualifications:

* A strong understanding of aerospace-grade materials and manufacturing processes in general, with experience in the application of polymers, adhesives, and sealants Ability to use MS Project to manage technology development projects
* Familiarity with electromagnetic physics and basic electromagnetic testing techniques, as well as quality assurance and non-destructive testing protocols for applied aerospace grade materials and processes.
* Experience in a fabrication and/or assembly manufacturing environment
* Experience in aerospace observables / survivability manufacturing and / or design
* Experience with graphite-epoxy manufacturing and tooling
* Experience in aerospace fastening, joining, bonding techniques
* Experience in non-destructive testing and electromagnetic testing techniques used in aerospace production
* Experience in chemical engineering, aerospace-grade polymers, sealants, and adhesives
* Experience with additive manufacturing
* Experience with quality assurance protocols within aerospace industries
* Experience in proposal development in military aerospace
* Experience interfacing with military aerospace customers