Energetics Lead Engineer Propulsion – Level 4: Active Secret Clearance

Northrop Grumman; United States; On-site; USD 123,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Savings plan

Holidays and PTO

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Chandler, AZ is hiring an Energetics Lead Engineer Propulsion – Level 4 who will lead a team of energetics engineers across design, test, and integration of propulsion hardware for classified launch vehicle subsystems.

The role requires a STEM degree with extensive related engineering experience or an advanced degree with less or no experience, plus an active U.S. Government Secret clearance. Travel up to 10% and participation in flight tests are expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 8+ years of related engineering experience.
• Master’s degree in STEM with 6+ years of related engineering experience.
• PhD in STEM with no experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop performance predictions and conduct component- and system-level testing.
• Oversee supplier deliverables and ensure schedule adherence.
• Disposition nonconforming hardware and lead root-cause investigations.
• Provide technical guidance to the engineering team through design, test, and production phases.
• Coordinate with internal and external customers to define requirements and specifications.
• Travel up to 10% to supplier and launch facilities.

Skills

Energetics leadership

Mechanical aptitude

Technical guidance

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master's degree in STEM

PhD in STEM

Tools

MATLAB

Python

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 4: Active Secret Clearance professional at our Chandler, AZ location. This role will serve as the Energetics Lead for the Advanced Weapons Systems (AWS) product line with responsibility for a broad range of ordnance, pneumatic, hydraulic, and solid rocket motor (SRM) analysis and integration activities.

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:

• 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 no 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:

Primary 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.

We are a pioneering company. With careers across all areas: air, cyber, land, sea and space – our 90,000 employees work as one to defend and define the future. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will give you every opportunity to do your best work. Working together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines, we share a drive to push the boundaries of science, technology and engineering to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide.