Principal Engineer Quality / Sr Principal Engineer Quality

3M HEALTHCARE; Palmdale (CA); On-site; USD 103,600 - 193,900; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, CA is seeking a Principal or Senior Principal Quality Engineer for the STRIKE team. The role focuses on mission assurance program specifications and processes to ensure mission success, maintaining quality, risk management, safety, reliability, and maintainability across program achievements, subcontractors, and suppliers.

You will interface with various teams, drive continuous improvement, and lead investigations and data analyses to support corrective actions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree with quality/mission assurance experience.
• Experience with quality management systems supporting audits and improvements.
• Experience with mission assurance/quality engineering practices.
• Knowledge of Root Cause and Corrective Action methods.
• Knowledge of Inspection Plans and First Article Inspections.
• Familiar with AS9100/ISO 9001 or Military QA requirements.

Responsibilities

• Monitor mission assurance program specifications to ensure program success.
• Ensure quality, risk management, safety, reliability, and maintainability of program achievements.
• Collaborate with STRIKE Mission Assurance team for continuous improvement and compliance.
• Lead technical reviews, data analysis, and Change Control Board activities.
• Interface with operations, program management, engineering staff, and customers.
• Lead MRB submittals and review of First Article Inspections and supplier MRB.

Skills

Quality engineering

Mission assurance

Root cause analysis

QMS knowledge

MS Office

Clear communication

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Master’s degree in related field

Tools

AS9100

ISO 9001

Military QA

Job description

Job Summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a detail‑oriented Principal or Senior Principal Quality Engineer to join our dynamic STRIKE team in Palmdale, CA. This role focuses on monitoring mission assurance program specifications and processes to ensure mission success, and maintains quality, risk management, safety, reliability, and maintainability of program achievements, subcontractors, and suppliers.

Relocation and Clearance

Relocation assistance: None.
Clearance required for start: No. Clearance type: Secret.

Responsibilities

• Monitor mission assurance program specifications and processes to ensure program success.
• Ensure quality, risk management, safety, reliability, and maintainability of program achievements, subcontractors, and suppliers.
• Collaborate with the STRIKE Mission Assurance team to drive continuous improvement and ensure contractual compliance.
• Perform technical assessments and participate in CCB (Change Control Board) and data review activities.
• Regularly interface with operations, program management, engineering staff, and external customers.
• Lead failure investigations, Customer/DCMA CARs, escapements, and data analytics to drive corrective actions.
• Communicate with customers within the required timeframe regarding investigations and actions for each complaint/escapement.
• Oversee technical, in‑depth quality requirements, ensuring contract requirements and documentation compliance.
• Lead Material Review Board (MRB) submittals and review of First Article Inspections.
• Assist in reviewing Supplier MRB and decision on NG SCAR requests.
• Assess and mitigate risks related to customer quality requirements, contract review, and support quality engineering for new contracts.
• Conduct technical reviews of drawings, SOWs, requirements, and documents.
• Provide qualified Mission Assurance engineering support to all program organizations.
• Lead and collaborate with cross‑functional teams to maintain quality standards.
• Act as the primary contact for quality and safety matters for the Government and DCMA representatives.
• Develop, analyze, and present metrics to customers and program leadership.
• Guide integration of Mission Assurance processes and requirements with engineering activities.
• Interface with manufacturing, engineering, program management, and subcontractor representatives to resolve issues and non‑conformances.
• Support special projects aligned with Mission Assurance priorities.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree with X years of experience OR Master’s degree with X years of quality engineering and/or mission assurance work experience.
• Experience with quality management systems supporting program processes, audits, and improvements.
• Experience with mission assurance/quality engineering practices.
• Knowledge of Root Cause and Corrective Action methods.
• Knowledge of Inspection Plans and First Article Inspections.
• Knowledge of quality management systems (AS9100, ISO 9001, or Military Quality Assurance).
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills – clear, concise reporting to senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Active DoD Secret security clearance (US citizenship required) and ability to obtain Special Program Access.
• Experience in fast‑paced program environments with schedule volatility.
• Dynamic work‑hour flexibility and ability to adjust schedule on short notice, including rotating shifts, evening/weekend coverage, and overtime.

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical reviews of drawings, Statements of Work, and requirements traceability documents.
• Experience in processing, monitoring, data collection, analysis, and metric reporting for the overall program and segments.
• Experience with manufacturing, quality controls, inspection, and/or non‑conformance controls.
• Prior aircraft manufacturing experience.
• Background in composites.
• Experience conducting First Article Inspections and completing DD 250.
• Knowledge of data analysis methods and tools.

Salary and Benefits

Primary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 – $155,400.00.
Secondary Level Salary Range: $129,300.00 – $193,900.00.
Employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonuses, and long‑term incentives for certain positions. Benefits include health insurance, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, company‑paid holidays, and paid time off (PTO).

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.