Environmental Test Engineer Level 4

Socket.dev; California (MO); On-site; USD 129,300 - 193,900; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Woodland Hills, CA seeks a Senior Environmental Test Engineer to lead environmental tests for complex hardware and systems. You will plan, execute, and report on test campaigns, mentor junior staff, and drive test discipline in a safety‑focused lab environment.

Ideal candidates have MIL‑STD‑810 experience, strong data analysis skills, and the ability to collaborate with cross‑functional teams to ensure requirements are testable and properly verified.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 8+ years of relevant experience; OR Master’s degree with 6+ years of relevant experience.
• Significant experience leading environmental test and qualification activities for complex hardware or systems.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
• Ability to work onsite in Woodland Hills, CA.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of comprehensive Environmental Test Plans and Procedures for dynamic and climatic environments, covering unit, subsystem, and system‑level testing.
• Own and drive environmental qualification and verification/validation test campaigns, including planning, scheduling, execution oversight, and closure.
• Develop, document, and defend Basis of Estimates (BOEs) for environmental test efforts, including labor, equipment utilization, risk, and schedule.
• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate testing risks, including technical, cost, and schedule impacts, and present tradeoffs and recommendations to program leadership.
• Define and oversee the design of test fixtures, harnesses, and special test equipment, coordinating with mechanical and design engineering.
• Ensure rigorous adherence to test procedures, standards, configuration control, and safety requirements; champion test discipline and best practices.
• Provide technical direction, mentoring, and training to environmental test engineers and technicians.
• Interface extensively with customers, systems engineering, program management, design engineering, manufacturing, and test engineering to interpret requirements, negotiate test approaches, and resolve issues.
• Lead data review and analysis, disposition test anomalies, and author high‑quality test reports and technical presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Perform functional analysis, trade studies, and requirements allocation to ensure environmental requirements are testable and properly traced to verification methods.
• Conduct Environmental Test Lab equipment performance assessments and lead Continuous Improvement projects for processes, automation, quality, and throughput.

Skills

Environmental test leadership

Test planning

Data analysis

Vibration testing

MBSE methods

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline

Master’s degree in a STEM discipline

Tools

VR vibration control software

ObserVIEW data analysis software

Therotron 8800 environmental chamber controller

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

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.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. Our Engineering and Sciences (E&S) organization pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. We develop, design, produce, and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while delivering a decisive advantage to the warfighter.

We are seeking a Senior Environmental Test Engineer T4 to join our team in Woodland Hills, CA. In this senior role, you will lead environmental test planning, execution, and reporting for complex systems and hardware in a disciplined, safety‑focused lab environment, and play a key role in our enterprise‑wide digital transformation leveraging Model‑based Engineering, DevSecOps, and Agile practices.

The successful candidate will be accountable for results, comfortable owning commitments and schedules, and will foster a friendly, constructive atmosphere, providing clear technical leadership, supporting the team, and modeling strong work ethic and professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of comprehensive Environmental Test Plans and Procedures for dynamic and climatic environments, covering unit, subsystem, and system‑level testing.
• Own and drive environmental qualification and verification/validation test campaigns, including planning, scheduling, execution oversight, and closure.
• Develop, document, and defend Basis of Estimates (BOEs) for environmental test efforts, including labor, equipment utilization, risk, and schedule.
• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate testing risks, including technical, cost, and schedule impacts, and present tradeoffs and recommendations to program leadership.
• Define and oversee the design of test fixtures, harnesses, and special test equipment, coordinating with mechanical and design engineering.
• Ensure rigorous adherence to test procedures, standards, configuration control, and safety requirements; champion test discipline and best practices.
• Provide technical direction, mentoring, and training to environmental test engineers and technicians.
• Interface extensively with customers, systems engineering, program management, design engineering, manufacturing, and test engineering to interpret requirements, negotiate test approaches, and resolve issues.
• Lead data review and analysis, disposition test anomalies, and author high‑quality test reports and technical presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Perform functional analysis, trade studies, and requirements allocation to ensure environmental requirements are testable and properly traced to verification methods.
• Conduct Environmental Test Lab equipment performance assessments and lead Continuous Improvement projects for processes, automation, quality, and throughput.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 8+ years of relevant experience; OR Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with 6+ years of relevant experience;
• Significant experience leading environmental test and qualification activities for complex hardware or systems.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
• Ability to work onsite in Woodland Hills, CA.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive experience with MIL‑STD‑810 (e.g., 810G/810H) environmental test design, tailoring, and qualification.
• Strong hands‑on experience with Vibration Research (VR) vibration control software and ObserVIEW data analysis software, including profile development, test execution oversight, and detailed post‑test data analysis for complex hardware and systems.
• Deep working knowledge of relevant military and aerospace environmental test standards (e.g., MIL‑STD‑810, MIL‑STD‑202, RTCA DO‑160), including tailoring and application for qualification and verification testing.
• Strong hands‑on experience with data acquisition systems, environmental chambers, and vibration test systems.
• Experience with Thermotron 8800 or similar environmental chamber controllers, including profile development and troubleshooting.
• Deep knowledge of vibration and shock testing (sine, random, mixed‑mode), including fixture design review and definition of test parameters.
• Familiarity with Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methods and tools for requirements and verification management.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional teams, influence decision‑making, and represent the organization with customers and stakeholders.
• Proven track record of process and lab capability improvement (automation, standardization, throughput, or quality enhancements).
• High level of flexibility and willingness to support extended work weeks or off‑shift/weekend testing as required to meet program commitments.
• Positive, solution‑oriented mindset with strong professional work ethic and high personal standards for technical quality, safety, and team performance.
• Ability to foster a healthy team dynamic, empower others, and provide added value to the team through mentorship, collaboration, and continuous improvement of people and processes.

Primary Level Salary Range

Primary Level Salary Range: $129,300.00 - $193,900.00

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.