Principal/Sr Principal Airworthiness Engineer

Northrop Grumman Corp. (AU); San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 114,000 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Health insurance

Paid time off

Discretionary bonus

Job summary

A leading aerospace firm based in San Diego seeks a Principal or Senior Principal Airworthiness Engineer to support certification efforts for air vehicle platforms. This role involves managing airworthiness plans, ensuring compliance, and working in a collaborative environment with high expectations. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in airworthiness planning and related activities, with a strong background in systems engineering and the ability to obtain a DoD Secret clearance. The position offers a hybrid work model and competitive salary based on qualifications.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience as Principal or 8 years for Senior Principal.
• Ability to obtain a DoD Secret clearance.
• Experience with military aircraft development.

Responsibilities

• Conduct airworthiness planning and verification support.
• Review and coordinate with airworthiness engineers.
• Manage Type Design Data and airworthiness evidence.

Skills

Airworthiness plan development

UAS/RPAS airworthiness authorizations

DoD Secret security clearance

Systems Engineering

Education

Bachelor of Science in a STEM discipline

Master of Science

Ph.D.

Job description

Overview

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Description

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems sector has an opening for a Principal or Senior Principal Airworthiness Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position is based in San Diego with a hybrid telework option available.

The Principal/Senior Principal Airworthiness Engineer will be working within the Airworthiness Engineering Directorate supporting certification efforts on various air vehicle platforms. The selected candidate will ensure the logical and systematic realization of customer airworthiness certification objectives into system solutions to meet program needs throughout the product lifecycle (e.g. Flight Releases, Type Certification, continued airworthiness, and operation of airspace integration). The successful candidate will thrive in a fast-paced work environment with high expectations, significantly diverse assignments, and collaborative/team settings across all levels.

Responsibilities

• Performs technical airworthiness planning and verification support including development and negotiation of airworthiness plans, bases of certification, means of compliance, and other certification activities for complex total systems with IPT/REs as well as customer counterparts.

• Reviews and coordinates with other airworthiness engineers as well as internal engineering disciplines performed across the total system to include design, fabrication, test, installation, operation, maintenance and disposal.

• Performs functional and process analyses, requirements allocation and definition studies to translate customer requirements into criteria and derived requirements. Ensures the logical and systematic realization of customer airworthiness certification objectives into system solutions to meet program needs throughout the product lifecycle (e.g. Flight releases, Type certification, continued airworthiness, operations, and airspace integration).

• Responsible for managing and maintaining Type Design Data and airworthiness evidence in support of a Military Type Certification and Air System Continued & Continuing Airworthiness as a member of the technical AW staff in a System Design Responsible company.

Position may be filled as either a Principal Airworthiness Engineer (level 3) OR Senior Principal Project Airworthiness Engineer (level 4) depending on the qualifications below.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Principal: Bachelor of Science in a STEM discipline with 5 years of related experience; OR Master of Science with 3 years of related experience; OR Ph.D. with 1 year of related experience

• Sr Principal: Bachelor of Science in a STEM discipline with 8 years of related experience; OR Master of Science with 6 years of related experience; OR Ph.D. with 4 years of related experience

• Familiarity of MIL-HDBK-516B Expanded and MIL-HDBK-516C

• Work experience leading Airworthiness plan development, a Basis of Certification, and related activities

• Work experience with domestic and international UAS/RPAS airworthiness authorizations and type certifications

• Ability to obtain a DoD Secret clearance within a reasonable amount of time, as determined by business needs

• Ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access (PAR)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active, in-scope DoD Secret security clearance

• Military aircraft development or modification experience

• Ability to initiate Airworthiness Certification process improvement initiatives

• DoD and Civil Airworthiness Experience

• Work experience and familiarity with UAS/RPAS

• Design and Systems Engineering experience in one or more of the following areas: Structures, Flight Technology, Air Vehicle Subsystems, Avionics, Mission Payload Integration, System Safety, Flight Test, Configuration Management

• Experience with USAF Airworthiness Policy Directives, Instructions, and Airworthiness Bulletins (AWB)

• Control Account Management (CAM) and Earned Value Management System (EVMS) experience including Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) planning and tracking, Earned Value reporting, variance analysis, and Estimate at Complete (EAC) forecasting.

• Experience in a System Design Responsible (SDR) organization per international regulations with signature authority

• Interactions with airworthiness authorities US DoD, MoD International, or civil authorities

• Familiarity of European Military Aviation Regulations (EMARs)

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00

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.