Inspector Level 3

Northrop Grumman; United States; On-site; USD 73,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Savings plan

Company paid holidays

Paid time off (PTO)

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Dulles, VA seeks an Inspector – Level 3 to support spacecraft production and test operations in our SMF. This 1st shift role requires hands-on mechanical, RF, and electrical inspections on complex hardware, with opportunities to contribute to quality documentation and audits.

The position is 100% onsite with a 9/80 schedule and every other Friday off. Travel and weekend/overtime flexibility are part of the role, along with potential for discretionary bonuses.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent plus 4 years of related experience or education.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Top-Secret clearance.
• Willingness to work weekends and off-nominal shifts (2nd/3rd) ~10–15% annually.
• Willingness to travel ~10–15% annually.
• Proficiency with TIPQA and MES; fluent Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Perform in-process and final mechanical, RF, and electrical inspections on spacecraft and sub-assemblies.
• Generate nonconformance reports for discrepancies identified during inspection activities.
• Review build documentation and data packages to ensure configuration accuracy.
• Audit work areas for ISO 9001/AS9100 and Lean Manufacturing compliance.
• Act as Safety Representative during hazardous operations for assigned spacecraft.
• Coordinate with ITEE/ITME/ITRF to verify test setups and readiness.

Skills

Technical writing

MS Office proficiency

Reading blueprints/drawings

Precision measuring tools

Mechanical/electrical inspection

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Associate degree in engineering

Non-technical four-year degree

Tools

TIPQA

MES

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No
CLEARANCE TYPE: None
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's Space Sector is seeking a Inspector – Level 3 to join our team in Dulles, VA. This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.

The Integration, Test & Launch (IT&L) organization in Dulles is seeking an experienced Production Assurance Inspector with strong mechanical/RF/electrical inspection experience to support spacecraft production and test operations in our Spacecraft Manufacturing Facility (SMF). This employee will be working on complex government and commercial spacecraft programs. This position is on 1st shift (6:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.) .

This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.

In this job, you will:

• Perform in-process and final mechanical, RF, and electrical inspections on fully integrated spacecraft, components, and sub‑assemblies throughout the SMF work centers.
• Generate nonconformance reports for discrepancies identified during inspection activities.
• Perform product build documentation reviews and end‑item data package reviews to ensure configuration and documentation accuracy.
• Conduct audits of work areas to verify compliance with Northrop Grumman ISO 9001/AS9100 procedures and Lean Manufacturing principles.
• Act as a Safety Representative during critical and hazardous operations for assigned spacecraft.
• Work closely with ITEE/ITME/ITRF to verify test setups and support test readiness.
• This position requires a high degree of physical agility. You must be able to move around and access hardware in production and test environments, including climbing ladders, working from personnel lifts (e.g., Skyjacks), getting on the floor to slide under dollies, and crawling within the spacecraft interior. Work is performed in close proximity to delicate flight hardware, so constant situational awareness and carefully controlled movement are essential to prevent damage.

• Other duties as assigned

This position can be filled at either a Level 3 .

Basic Qualifications for Level 3:

• High School diploma or equivalent and 4 years additional education and/or related experience.
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Top-Secret security clearance
• Ability to work weekends and off‑nominal shifts (2nd, 3rd, and overtime/weekends) as needed to meet program needs (approximately 10–15% annually).
• Willingness to travel as needed for program support, including offsite testing and launch‑site operations (approximately 10–15% annually).
• Proficiency with TIPQA and MES, and fluent use of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Strong technical writing skills.
• Proficient in the use of precision measuring tools (e.g., micrometers, calipers, feeler gauges).
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints/drawings to verify that complex flight hardware is built as designed.
• Experience working with ITEE/ITME to verify test setups.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active Top Secret (TS) clearance, or the ability and willingness to obtain one.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and wire lists.
• Associate degree in an engineering discipline, or a non‑technical four‑year degree from an accredited institution.
• Active workmanship certifications from accreditation/standards organizations (e.g., IPC-A-620, NASA 8739 series).

Northrop Grumman Total Rewards

Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards site, please visit our Total Rewards site.

Salary & Benefits

Primary Level Salary Range: $72,600.00 - $121,000.00

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.

• overtime
• shift differential
• a discretionary bonus

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.

• health insurance coverage
• life and disability insurance
• savings plan
• Company paid holidays
• 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.