Principal Engineer Quality

0487 SP - AOA/Xinetics; United States; On-site; USD 104,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in San Diego, CA, seeks a Principal Engineer Quality – Level 3 to lead product and process quality assurance for space programs in a 9/80 onsite role. Responsibilities include leading MRB, RCCA activities, and cross‑functional collaboration with IPTs to improve program performance, cost, and schedule while ensuring compliance with AS9100 and customer requirements.

This role offers hands-on floor support, audits, and opportunities to influence production ramp‑up with high

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of professional experience.
• U.S. Government Secret clearance eligibility.
• Experience in AS9100 environment.
• Experience reading engineering drawings and GD&T.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain QA activities for composites hardware in space programs.
• Lead the MRB process and investigations.
• Plan and execute RCCA using 5-Why, 8D, Fishbone.
• Analyze quality metrics to identify trends and drive improvements.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional IPTs to meet quality, cost, and schedule objectives.
• Support internal and external audits and close findings.

Skills

Quality engineering

Root Cause Analysis

MRB process

AS9100

GD&T

Engineering drawings

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

Solumina MES

TipQA

CostPoint

SAP

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: None TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

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 provides an arena where your passion for innovation and quest for exploration are welcome.

As a Principal Engineer Quality – Level 3 your role at San Diego, CA will be pivotal in supporting missions critical to national and global security.

This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.

The Principal Engineer Quality (Level 3) will be responsible for leading product and process quality assurance activities including the nonconforming material MRB process, performing root cause analysis and corrective actions (RCCA), and collaborating across integrated product teams (IPTs) to improve program performance.

This position offers a unique opportunity to influence growth and production ramp-up while sustaining production quality, and operate with high visibility to site and program leadership.

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

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain product and process quality assurance activities in a composites hardware manufacturing environment for space programs.
• Lead the Nonconforming Material Review Board (MRB) process in accordance with customer requirements and company procedures, including coordination of investigations, documentation, and dispositions.
• Plan and execute root cause analysis and corrective actions (RCCA) using structured methods (e.g., 5-Why, 8D, Fishbone) to address nonconformances and systemic issues.
• Analyze and interpret quality performance metrics (e.g., Cost of Poor Quality, First Pass Yield (FPY), scrap, rework, escapes) to identify trends, prioritize issues, and drive data-informed improvement projects.
• Collaborate with cross-functional Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) including Manufacturing, Engineering, Program Management, Supply Chain, and Mission Assurance to drive program performance and achieve quality, cost, and schedule objectives.
• Support and, as appropriate, lead internal and external quality audits, including AS9100-based audits, customer audits, and corporate audits; ensure timely closure of findings and corrective actions.
• Interpret and apply engineering drawings, GD&T, specifications, and work instructions to ensure product and process compliance.
• Develop, review, and improve work instructions and quality-related process documentation to enhance clarity, robustness, and compliance.
• Provide hands‑on floor support in a production environment, interfacing directly with operators, technicians, and engineers to troubleshoot issues and implement effective solutions.
• Partner with suppliers and/or Supply Chain to support supplier-facing quality interactions as needed, including participation in issue resolution and corrective action activities.
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, leveraging Lean, Six Sigma, and other quality tools to reduce variation, improve capability, and reduce Cost of Poor Quality.
• Communicate status, risks, and opportunities to site and program leadership, ensuring transparency of quality performance and action plans.

Other duties as assigned

Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 3 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 1 year of professional experience.

Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance

Experience in manufacturing quality engineering or quality assurance in an AS9100 or similar regulated environment.

Familiarity with Quality Management Systems, Root Cause Analysis tools, and MRB processes.

Experience with reading and interpreting technical specifications and engineering drawings, including GD&T.

Experience with translating technical specifications into quality control plans, including development and implementation of measurement methods to assure product quality.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

ASQ CQE, Six Sigma Green Belt / Black Belt

Demonstrated success interfacing with external customers and suppliers.

Demonstrated success in driving internal manufacturing improvements (e.g. FPY improvements, COPQ reductions) collaboratively within a cross‑functional IPT.

Proficiency with systems & tools such as Solumina MES, TipQA, CostPoint, SAP.

Active Secret or SCI Clearance

Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector?

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 package, please visit our Total Rewards site.

Northrop Grumman Total Rewards Primary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 - $155,400.00

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.

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.