Lead Consulting Systems Engineer - Level 7 (AHT)

ngc; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 212,000 - 318,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems in Northridge, CA is seeking a Lead Consulting Systems Engineer (Level 7) to drive the architecture, requirements, and verification across the SiAW missile program. You will work directly with the Chief Engineer and PM, leading multiple IPTs to ensure on‑time, on‑budget delivery of subsystems and integration.

The role requires a DoW Secret clearance with the ability to obtain SAP clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor/Master in a STEM field with DoD program experience.
• Experience leading multi‑discipline teams of 20+ engineers.
• Experience with lifecycle SE activities: requirements, architecture, design, integration, test, verification and validation.

Responsibilities

• Lead SE across development, integration, test, production and sustainment.
• Drive system requirements and TPMs with traceability from customer requirements.
• Plan and manage system‑level integration and verification activities.

Skills

Systems engineering leadership

DoD acquisition programs

MBSE

SysML modeling

Requirements management

Architecture development

V‑Model

Mentoring

Cross‑functional collaboration

Education

BS in Systems Engineering

MS in Engineering (preferred)

PhD (relevant)

Tools

SysML modeling environments

MBSE tools

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: 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 Defense Systems is currently seeking a Lead Consulting Systems Engineer (Level 7) to support our Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) missile program with our talented Advanced Weapons team. The Consulting Systems Engineer 7 will work directly with the program’s Chief Engineer and Program Manager and collaborate with the various IPTs to ensure the design and development of the different subsystems and the integration of those are technically sound, on budget, and on schedule.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in Northridge, CA. Must have a current US Government DoW Secret security clearance with the ability to get cleared for and maintain a Special Access Program (SAP) clearance.

The Lead Consulting SE plans and executes system engineering core functions; collects, manages, and reports engineering metrics; and is responsible for V&V of engineering across all program elements (systems/hardware/software/ support/integration and test). Lead SE is typically responsible for ensuring teams have qualified staff to develop and demonstrate technical performance while satisfying allocated cost and schedule requirements.

The ideal candidate should have experience in the full systems engineering lifecycle of missile / weapon system development program(s) and leading at least part of that lifecycle. They would also have the technical depth on one or more of the subsystems of missile/weapon system, e.g., RF/sensors, guidance, navigation, control, telemetry/communication, and airframe.In addition, the candidate should demonstrate strong system architecture experience, including developing and documenting end‑to‑end weapon system architectures, defining interfaces and allocation of functions across subsystems, and ensuring architectural consistency from concept through integration and test.

Responsibilities:

• Ensure the program adheres to disciplined systems engineering practices across development, integration, test, production, and sustainment, and that all activities comply with company procedures and quality
• Lead vertical and horizontal technical integration across product teams, suppliers, and stakeholders throughout the program life cycle.
• Develop, allocate, and manage system requirements, key design criteria, and technical performance measures (TPMs), ensuring traceability from customer requirements through verification and validation.
• Plan and manage system-level integration and verification activities, including test planning, test execution oversight, and review/approval of test results and verification evidence.
• Provide technical leadership to the Program Management Office (PMO) and Chief Engineer (CE), including status on technical maturity, risks, issues, and integration challenges.
• Plan and execute early integration and interfacing activities with external stakeholders (e.g., government customer, platform integrators, suppliers) to reduce downstream risk.
• Lead the planning and execution of reviews (e.g., CDR, SVR, FCA/PCA) and ensure entry/exit criteria are met.
• Ensure key systems engineering milestones and technical commitments are achieved in accordance with the program integrated master schedule (IMS).
• Perform risk and opportunity management in accordance with program risk management processes, including identification, assessment, mitigation planning, and tracking of execution effectiveness.
• Provide subject matter expertise and technical ownership for critical system functions and interfaces that span multiple subsystems and disciplines (hardware, software, firmware, mission planning, etc.).
• Review system and subsystem design artifacts (requirements, interface control documents, models, trade studies, analyses, and test procedures) for technical correctness, completeness, and consistency with the system architecture.
• Enforce appropriate engineering rigor across design, analysis, and verification activities through use of standard processes, documentation/modeling practices, and configuration management.
• Communicate and defend the system technical baseline, design decisions, and quantitatively supported trade studies to internal and external stakeholders, including customer engineering organizations and executive leadership.
• Support and/or chair technical boards (e.g., Engineering Review Board, Change Control Board) and contribute to the Risk and Opportunities Management Board, including follow‑through on mitigation and opportunity capture actions.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related STEM discipline with a minimum of 16 years of relevant engineering experience; or a Master’s degree with a minimum of 14 years of relevant engineering experience, or PhD with 12 years.
• Demonstrated systems engineering leadership experience on major DoD or Government acquisition programs, including leading multi‑discipline teams of 20+ engineers.
• Experience executing systems engineering across the lifecycle, including requirements development/management, architecture development, design, integration, test, verification, and validation.
• Hands‑on experience with systems integration, test planning, test execution, anomaly resolution, and documentation of test results and verification closure.
• Experience with model‑based systems engineering (MBSE) methods and tools (e.g., SysML modeling environments) applied to system requirements, architecture, and interfaces.
• Experience collaborating with customers, end users, hardware teams, software teams, specialty engineering (safety, RAM, survivability, etc.), and suppliers.
• Experience leading complex system/subsystem requirement decomposition, design trades, integration, and verification activities in a multi‑discipline environment.
• Working knowledge of the Systems Engineering V‑Model and demonstrated experience executing SE workflows, technical reviews, and gated milestones.
• Experience mentoring and providing technical guidance and career development feedback to junior engineers.
• Current US Government DoW Secret security clearance with the ability to get cleared for and maintain a Special Access Program (SAP) clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with weapon systems and/or Weapon Open System Architecture (WOSA) or Government Reference Architecture (GRA) or other open systems architecture frameworks.
• Experience with digital engineering approaches, including digital threads, integrated digital environments, and model-based integration of design, analysis, and test artifacts.
• Experience with mission systems, avionics, or complex embedded systems integrating hardware, software, and firmware.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, cross‑functional environment with competing priorities and evolving requirements.
• Strong decision‑making skills and ability to drive technical trades and recommendations with clear rationale and risk/benefit articulation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation and delivery of technical briefings to internal leadership and external customers.
• Demonstrated analytical thinking, problem solving ability, and creativity in developing and evaluating system solutions.

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Primary Level Salary Range: $212,100.00 - $318,100.00The 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.