Energetics Lead Engineer Propulsion – Level 3/4: Active Secret Clearance

Northrop Grumman; Chandler (AZ); On-site; USD 98,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Chandler, AZ seeks an Energetics Lead Engineer Propulsion at Level 3/4 with an active Secret clearance. The role focuses on leading a team to develop energetics systems for launch vehicle applications, managing design, testing, and supplier coordination.

The position requires a STEM degree with extensive engineering experience and familiarity with MATLAB, Python, and environmental testing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM with related engineering experience.
• Active US Government Secret Security clearance or higher.
• Experience with EVMS and project leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, testing, and integration of energetics hardware.
• Oversee supplier deliverables and ensure schedule adherence.
• Conduct pre-launch reviews and post-flight data analyses.
• Provide technical guidance across the engineering team.

Skills

Project leadership

EVMS reporting

Systems engineering

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master's degree in STEM

PhD in STEM

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Testing equipment

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

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.

The Mechanical Engineering & Energetics team is hiring an Energetics Lead Engineer Propulsion – Level 3/4: Active Secret Clearance professional at our Chandler, AZ location.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing performance predictions and conducting component- and system-level testing to validate design and functional requirements
• Overseeing supplier deliverables, ensuring technical compliance and schedule adherence
• Dispositioning nonconforming hardware and leading anomaly investigations, including root-cause analysis and corrective actions

The Energetics Lead will also support upcoming flight tests by:

• Overseeing integration and checkout of all energetics hardware at the field site
• Participating in launch operations to ensure safe and successful execution
• Leading post‑flight data review and documentation to capture performance, issues, and lessons learned

Essential Functions:

• Lead a team of highly skilled Energetics Engineers in the day-to-day system design, test, and integration of energetics hardware as integrated into a classified subsystem or launch vehicle
• Apply engineering principles, industry standards, company standards, and customer requirements to develop energetics systems for application in launch vehicle systems
• Leverage analytical data from previous products, identify the applicable technical principles, mathematically define problems, and compute engineering characteristics that meet specifications, design needs, and interface requirements with other elements of the product
• Define and scope engineering tasks required for project planning and execution; analyze project requirements and develop detailed plans, conceptual designs, and risk assessments
• Serve as Control Account Manager (CAM) and perform associated Earned Value Management System (EVMS) reporting
• Interface with internal and external customers; support the definition of system requirements and the development of specifications for products and subsystems
• Provide technical guidance and direction to the engineering team throughout the design, test, production, and maintenance phases of the project
• Develop and present technical and programmatic materials for project-related briefings, including design reviews, to internal and external customers
• Perform hands‑on test support of pneumatic and energetics components and systems, including functional and environmental testing
• Serve as the responsible engineer supporting the Integrated Product Team (IPT) for a medium-sized subcontract, coordinating supplier change notifications, nonconformances, hardware acceptance reviews, and related supplier interactions
• Conduct pre‑launch engineering reviews, including examination of as‑built vehicle hardware and pre‑launch data, assessment of flight readiness, and close coordination with flight field teams
• Conduct trade studies and evaluate alternative designs to optimize performance, cost, risk, and schedule
• For broadly defined problems, study basic design concepts and criteria for complex materials, components, or functional systems, and apply engineering principles to develop new or enhanced designs
• Anticipate customer needs and identify innovative solutions to address those needs
• Originate and develop constructive ideas; proactively seek opportunities to refine or improve existing methods and processes to enhance outcomes
• Determine engineering tasks required for project planning and execution; analyze project requirements and develop detailed plans, conceptual designs, and risk assessments
• Interact with internal and external customers; support definition of system requirements and generation of specifications for products and subsystems
• Support new business activities and contribute to the preparation of technical and cost proposal materials
• Travel up to 10% of the time to supplier and launch facilities

Basic Qualifications for Level 3:

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) with 5 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in STEM with 3 years of related engineering experience, or a PhD in STEM with 1 year of related engineering experience
• Active US Government Secret Security clearance, or higher at the time of application

Basic Qualifications for Level 4:

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) with 8 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in STEM with 6 years of related engineering experience, or a PhD in STEM with 4 years of related engineering experience
• Active US Government Secret Security clearance, or higher at the time of application

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active US Government Top Secret security clearance, or higher at the time of application
• Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering degree
• Experience with Matlab, and Python
• Environmental testing experience
• Data acquisition equipment operation
• Configuration change management
• Supply Chain Management of Subcontractors
• Presentation of technical data to internal and external customers
• Failure investigation techniques

Primary Level Salary Range: $98,400.00 - $147,600.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $122,800.00 - $184,200.00

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.