Engineer Electrical Level 4 - Power Subsystems - Dulles

0909 SP - Orbital Space Systems; United States; On-site; USD 142,200 - 213,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Space Systems seeks an engineer specializing in space environment solar array design to architect, manufacture, test, and verify solar array designs for spacecraft.

Responsibilities include developing requirements, conducting trade studies, performing power estimates, leading design concepts for solar array wings, and ensuring compliance with mechanical, electrical, structural and thermal requirements through reviews and analyses. Travel 25%.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant experience in electromechanical space systems.
• Expertise in space environment solar arrays design and analysis.
• Ability to derive lower-level requirements from spacecraft bus/subsystem requirements.
• Experience in cross-functional engineering teams and strong communication.

Responsibilities

• Develop, verify, and maintain mechanical and electrical requirements for solar array wings and release mechanisms.
• Lead design concepts for space environment solar arrays and perform trade studies.
• Execute power estimates, degradation analysis, and IV curves.
• Review drawings, documentation, and test fixtures; manage risk and mitigations.
• Collaborate with procurement and vendors to source assemblies and components.

Skills

Electromechanical design

Solar array analysis

Cross-functional teamwork

Strong communication

Education

B.S. in Electrical/Mechanical Eng

Tools

CAD

FEM

MICD

Job description

Relocation assistance may be available.

Clearance required: No.

Travel required: Yes, 25% of the time.

Job Overview

The Electrical Power Subsystem (EPS) team for Northrop Grumman Space System’s Defense and National Security operations seeks an engineer specializing in space environment solar array design. The role includes architecting, manufacturing, testing, and verification of space environment solar array designs for spacecraft.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and verify mechanical and electrical requirements for space environment solar array wings and release mechanisms.
• Perform component trade studies and recommend technical solutions.
• Execute space environment solar array power estimates, degradation analysis, and create IV curves.
• Lead mechanical and electrical design concepts for solar array wings.
• Ensure compliance with all electrical, mechanical, structural, and thermal design requirements through rigorous review and analysis.
• Mentor and guide engineering teams across multiple disciplines to achieve program objectives.
• Direct design reviews and participate in component and program level risk assessment and mitigation activities.
• Review and approve mechanical drawings, documentation, and test fixtures.
• Collaborate with procurement and outside vendors to source assemblies, materials, and components aligned with project goals.
• Provide technical leadership in solar array integration, testing, and validation processes.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives and implementation of best practices in electromechanical design for solar arrays across various product lines.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related field with typically 5+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent advanced degree.
• Expertise in electromechanical system design, specific to space environment solar arrays, including mechanical, structural, thermal, and power analysis.
• Ability to interpret spacecraft bus/subsystem level requirements and develop lower-level mechanical and electrical requirements and validate design strategies.
• Experience working in cross‑functional engineering teams and design projects.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph (preferred).

Preferred Qualifications

• Specific experience in space environment solar array electromechanical design, integration, analyses, requirement verification, and testing within aerospace or space sectors.
• Exposure to and understanding of common space environment solar array design and qualification industry standards/handbooks such as AIAA‑S‑111, AIAA‑S‑112, AIAA‑S‑122, NASA‑CR‑149364, and/or ECSS‑E‑ST‑20‑08C.
• Understanding of typical mechanical analyses and methodologies used in deployable solar array designs (e.g., latch force calculations, torque margins, boom push force assessments, deployment dynamics, mechanical stress and thermal analyses, modal analyses, quasi‑static analyses, and preload calculations for hold‑down/release mechanisms).
• Strong background interpreting typical mechanical design work‑products such as Finite Element Models (FEMs), Mechanical Interface Control Documents (MICDs), and CAD models.
• Understanding of typical electrical power analyses and methodologies used in solar array sizing and performance degradation assessments (e.g., loss factors, mission life, seasonal, radiation, thermal cycling, shadowing effects).
• Knowledge of electrical grounding, ground paths, ESD risks, and derating requirements for electrical components (e.g., harnessing, connectors, diodes, thermistors, PRTs) following industry standards such as EEE‑INST‑002.
• Familiarity with typical space environment solar array testing philosophies such as Large Array Pulse Solar Simulations (LAPSS), Forward Bias Visual Inspection / Electroluminescence (FBVI/EL), deployment testing, ambient pressure thermal cycling, thermal vacuum cycling, bakeouts, and acoustics testing.
• General exposure to higher level Electrical Power Subsystems (EPS) and interfaces to space rated solar arrays (e.g., Solar Array Drive Assemblies, Power Distribution Avionics).
• Experience interfacing with multi‑disciplinary teams in fast‑paced, high‑demand environments.

Salary and Benefits

Primary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00. Additional compensation may include overtime, shift differential, a discretionary bonus, and in some cases, long‑term incentives.

Benefits include health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, company‑paid holidays, and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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 a complete EEO and pay transparency statement, visit Northrop Grumman EEO.

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