Principal Material Process Engineer - 17401

Northrop Grumman Corp. (AU); Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 98,900 - 148,300; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision coverage

401(k)

Educational assistance

Life insurance

PTO and wellness resources

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Principal Material Process Engineer for the Sentinel program in Huntsville, AL. The role focuses on design part-management, materials, and process controls within a Systems Engineering framework.

The successful candidate will lead data‑driven analysis, develop test strategies, coordinate with systems and supplier teams, and ensure traceability to system performance in a DoD environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 5 years of experience or 3 years with a Master, or 0 years with a PhD.
• U.S. Citizen with ability to obtain DoD Secret and SAP clearances.
• Strong written and oral communication for test plans and briefing stakeholders.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and 3D models.

Responsibilities

• Perform full spectrum of design application part-management tasks within an Systems Engineering framework.
• Develop test/data analysis strategies for large-scale aerospace components.
• Produce roadmaps, impact and issue reports for stakeholders and upper management.
• Collaborate with systems, design, project managers and reliability engineers to ensure traceability to performance.

Skills

JIRA

Six Sigma

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

MATLAB

Python

R

Minitab

QC tools

PLM

Job description

Overview

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 Defense Systems sector is seeking a Principal Material Process Engineer to join the Sentinel program in Huntsville, AL. This role may offer a competitive relocation assistance package.

Responsibilities

• Responsible to perform the full spectrum of design application part‑management tasks on assigned system and subsystems to ensure streamlined risk identification, risk mitigation, and tracking of at‑risk component issues during the design and manufacturing of weapon systems and equipment under an overarching Systems Engineering framework.
• Develops comprehensive test or data analysis strategies for large‑scale aerospace and ground‑control system components.
• Demonstrates a complete understanding and wide application of technical principles, theories, and concepts relative to part/material performance and service‑life estimation.
• Demonstrates general knowledge of Systems Engineering, multi‑generational program system and/or multi‑generational program subsystem development, and familiarity with supplier management.
• Works independently to provide innovative technical solutions to a wide range of difficult problems using literature review and testing as appropriate.
• Creates, analyses, and produces roadmaps, impact, and issue reports and presents data to stakeholders, customers, and upper management.
• Researches specifications and standards to support part, material & process engineering processes being implemented across multiple internal and external supplier sub‑system designs and manufacturing processes.
• Maintains close coordination with several integrated product teams and provides detailed status to program leadership, as required.
• Is self‑motivated, works under general direction, and works well in teams.
• Collaborates with systems engineers, design engineers, project managers, reliability engineers, and external customers to establish clear part, material and process design documentation traceability to system performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university and 5 years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree, 3 years of experience with a Master’s degree, or 0 years of experience with a PhD.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen and have the ability to obtain and maintain a DOD Secret Security Clearance.
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance.
• Strong written and oral communication for test plans and briefing stakeholders.
• Project‑management basics (schedule, risk, resource coordination).
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and 3D models.
• Knowledge of material properties, process controls, and failure modes.
• Proficiency with test equipment (shakers, climate chambers, DMA, SEM, X‑ray, ultrasonic, etc.).
• Ability to use data‑analysis tools (MATLAB, Python, R, Minitab).
• Familiarity with quality‑system software (e.g., Minitab, QC tools, PLM).
• Ability to read, apply, and generate reports in accordance with U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and aerospace standards.
• Experience in a closely related field such as the DOE or automotive/medical device manufacturing and quality assurance is also acceptable.

Nice‑to‑Have Qualifications

• Degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Welding Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Engineering.
• Familiarity with MIL‑STD‑810 Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests, MIL‑STD‑202 Test Methods for Electronic and Electrical Component Parts, MIL‑STD‑883 Test Methods and Procedures for Microcircuits, MIL‑STD‑105E / ISO‑2859‑1 Sampling Procedures for Inspection, MIL‑STD‑1540 Design and Development of Test Equipment or MIL‑STD‑31000 (formerly MIL‑STD‑310) Quality Assurance (QA) System Requirements.
• Understanding of process/procedure development, control, and improvement.
• Demonstrated passion for material properties, semiconductor electronics, corrosion, metallurgy, etc.
• Test plan writing and reviewing experience, negotiation soft skills.
• Familiarity with service‑life testing, reliability sampling, and failure analysis.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret clearance.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including demonstrated experience with high‑value customer presentations, with the ability to focus on multiple projects with competing priorities.
• Experience performing in an Agile environment and knowledge/understanding of JIRA.
• Six Sigma Green or Black Belt.
• NIST‑based calibration accreditation (ISO/IEC 17025).
• Proficiency with test equipment (shakers, climate chambers, DMA, FTIR, SEM, X‑ray, ultrasonic, etc.).

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
• 401(k)
• Educational assistance
• Life insurance
• Employee assistance programs & work/life solutions
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Health & wellness resources
• Employee discounts
• This position’s standard work schedule is a 9/80.

Salary

Primary Level Salary Range: $98,900.00 – $148,300.00

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.