Consultant Chief Engineer (AHT)

0891 DS - Advanced Weapons - Northridge; United States; On-site; USD 212,100 - 318,100; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Savings plan

Company paid holidays

PTO

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems in Northridge, CA seeks a Consulting Chief Engineer for the Advanced Weapons Business Unit. This full‑time, on‑site role leads technical strategy for AARGM and AARGM‑ER across development, production, and sustainment.

The position requires broad engineering leadership, a DoD Secret clearance, and a proven ability to manage cost, schedule, and technical quality while coordinating across IPTs and technical reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or STEM‑related discipline with 16 years of experience, or 14 years with a master’s degree and 12 years with a Ph.D.
• Experience leading engineering teams through design, integration and production of complex systems.
• Active DoD Secret clearance (background investigation completed within the last 6 years or in CE).

Responsibilities

• Drive innovation and technical excellence to ensure successful delivery of AARGM and AARGM‑ER across development, production, and sustainment.
• Balance technical performance with cost and schedule to achieve KPIs and TPMs.
• Promote hardware–software integration standards and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Lead technical reviews and chair configuration control boards across AWS programs.
• Support decision boards and risk/opportunity management at program/portfolio levels.
• Provide technical oversight and deep dives into hardware, software and integration deliverables.

Skills

Leadership

Engineering leadership

Cost & schedule management

Technical judgment

Cross-team collaboration

Presentation to senior leadership

Education

Bachelors in engineering or STEM

Advanced degree (MS/PhD) optional path

Job description

Job Summary

Consulting Chief Engineer – Advanced Weapons Business Unit, Air Warfare Systems – Northrop Grumman Defense Systems (NGDS)

Location: Northridge, CA (full‑time, on site). Relocation assistance may be available.

Responsibilities

• Drive innovation and technical excellence to ensure the successful delivery of AARGM and AARGM‑ER across development, production, and sustainment phases.
• Ensure adherence to rigorous engineering processes across development, verification, production, and sustainment while maintaining compliance with company policies, procedures, and quality standards.
• Balance technical performance with cost and schedule to achieve Key Performance Parameters and Technical Performance Measures.
• Work across teams to promote the Integrated Functional Capability Strategy, advancing standards for hardware–software integration, testing, and delivery.
• Partner with the Advanced Weapons Chief Engineer to ensure alignment of Air Warfare Operating Unit missiles with Advanced Weapons Product Line objectives.
• Lead technical reviews and chair AWS Engineering and Software Configuration Control Boards, ensuring seamless integration across functions and programs.
• Support decision boards such as Advanced Weapons Technical Review Board, Heads‑Up Display meetings, Test Readiness Reviews, Program Management Reviews, and AWS Risk & Opportunity Management Board.
• Champion long‑term strategic technical objectives at the program and portfolio levels.
• Identify opportunities to improve engagement and collaboration across Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and deliverables.
• Provide technical oversight and conduct focused deep dives into hardware, software, and integration deliverables.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or STEM‑related discipline with 16 years of experience, or 14 years with a master’s degree and 12 years of experience with a Ph.D.
• Experience leading engineering teams through design, integration and production of complex systems.
• Demonstrated performance addressing cost, schedule and technical quality for an engineering development or systems integration project.
• Excellent technical leadership skills, decisiveness, and ability to make sound technical judgments with limited information.
• Demonstrated ability to formally present technical solutions to senior leadership.
• Must have an active DoD Secret clearance (background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled in Continuous Evaluation).

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of aerospace systems, including aircraft, missile, avionics, and software systems, and their design drivers.
• Proven expertise in Air Launched Weapon/Missile Systems Development with hands‑on experience integrating missile seekers, sensors, and software.
• Deep technical foundation in hardware/software integration, embedded systems, and lifecycle management—from concept through production and operations.
• Leadership experience such as technical lead, IPT lead, or program‑level leadership, with demonstrated success in team building, organizational development, and interpersonal communication.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary range: $212,100 – $318,100 (USD) per year. Base salary is adjusted based on scope, responsibilities, and experience.

• Eligibility for overtime, shift differential, and discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.
• Annual bonuses reward individual contributions and allow sharing in company results.
• Employees at Vice President or Director levels may be eligible for Long Term Incentives.
• Health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan.
• Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation or personal business.

Travel & Security

Travel: Yes, approximately 10% of the time.

Clearance: Secret clearance required at start.

EEO Statement

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For a complete EEO and pay transparency statement, visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO.

Citizenship Requirement

U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.