Quality Engineer

Northrop Grumman; Annapolis (MD); On-site; USD 80,000 - 119,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Savings plan

Company paid holidays

Paid time off (PTO)

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems Sector in Annapolis, MD is seeking a Quality Engineer to join our team. The role focuses on VMDA coordination, dispositioning non-conforming vendor material, and ensuring compliance with design requirements.

You will partner with engineering and manufacturing to uphold quality standards, review technical drawings, and manage nonconformances across the facility. Travel up to 10% is expected, with potential bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field with 2+ years in Quality Assurance or related engineering roles.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and specifications.
• US Citizenship and ability to obtain/maintain a US Government Secret clearance.
• Masters degree in STEM field qualifies for the role.

Responsibilities

• Partner with engineering and manufacturing to uphold quality standards.
• Design, analyze, and implement inspection and testing processes and equipment; conduct QA tests and statistical analyses.
• Review contracts, SOWs, and drawings to apply ISO 9001, MIL, IPC standards.
• Interface with production, inspection, and operations teams and communicate with stakeholders.
• Manage nonconformances across the facility and lead cross-functional containment actions.

Skills

Quality engineering

Inspection & testing

GD&T interpretation

Root cause analysis

Nonconforming material control

Education

B.S. in STEM

M.S. in STEM

Tools

CADSTAR

MPLM drawings

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.

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 Mission Systems Sector is seeking a Quality Engineer to join our team in Annapolis, MD.

The main focus of the qualified candidate will be performing the role of the campus’s VMDA (Vendor Material Disposition Area) Coordinator. The VMDA Coordinator will have access to a wide range of material movement transactions required to quarantine and process rejected vendor material. This is dispositioning of non-conforming supplied material.

What You'll Get To Do

• Partner with engineering and manufacturing to establish and uphold quality standards.
• Design, analyze, and implement inspection and testing processes and equipment; conduct quality assurance tests, perform statistical analyses to determine cost and responsibility for non-conforming parts.
• Review contracts/SOWs/drawings to evaluate, interpret and apply company policies, ISO 9001, MIL, IPC, and other standards applicable to designs and processes.
• Interface with production‑floor roles (inspection, assembly, operations) and communicate clearly with all stakeholders.
• Manage nonconformances across the facility, lead cross‑functional containments, to ensure product compliance.
• Interpret technical drawings and specifications, including GD&T symbols, to verify compliance with design requirements.
• Understanding of inspection workmanship criteria, rework and repair operations and quality testing related operations.
• Uses detail acceptance instructions to validate product compliance to requirements, and predetermined methods, and prescribed specifications to visually inspect hardware assemblies of various complexities.
• Understanding of electronic and mechanical assembly drawings, work diagrams, customer specifications, inspection instructions, prescribed checklists, or other control procedures.
• Interface with Supply Chain, engineering, vendors and subcontractors and team members to ensure requirements are achieved.
• Will be responsible for following environmental, health and safety protocols and procedures.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field with a minimum of 2 years of engineering experience in Quality Assurance, which can include investigating failures and identifying root causes or in Manufacturing, Process, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering field of work performing technical job functions; OR a Masters Degree in a STEM field
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and specifications
• Ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Secret security clearance
• US Citizenship required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong familiarity with quality standards and engineering methodologies
• Experience with reviewing, analyzing, and reporting on Quality discrepancies related to assembly, process, mechanical, electrical and electro‑mechanical processes
• Experience interfacing with manufacturing, engineering, customer, vendor and subcontractor representatives to ensure requirements are met
• Experience with quality‑control tools and facilitation techniques
• Proficiency with CADSTAR and/or MPLM drawings
• Training and thorough knowledge of Nonconforming Material Control (NMC)
• Assigning correct disposal codes or action paths (e.g., return to vendor for replacement, scrap, or rework)
• Working with third‑party providers to process RMAs (Return Merchandise Authorizations)
• Certified auditor
• SAP Experience

Primary Level Salary Range: $79,600.00 - $119,400.00

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.