Quality Engineer 2/3

Northrop Grumman; Goleta (CA); On-site; USD 47,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Total Rewards program

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Goleta, CA, is seeking a Quality Engineer – Level 2 or Level 3, onsite only. You will lead quality assurance activities across programs, drive MRB and root-cause analyses, and mentor junior engineers.

The role emphasizes QMS compliance, data analytics, and cross-functional collaboration with engineering, manufacturing, and customers. The position follows a 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off, and is eligible for Northrop Grumman Total Rewards and a comprehensive

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field with 2 years of professional experience OR Master’s with 0 years (Level 2)
• No clearance required to start
• Demonstrated expertise in QMS (AS9100/ISO 9001) and root-cause leadership
• Data analytics to identify defect trends and mitigative solutions
• Strong leadership and communication skills
• U.S. Citizenship required (must be eligible to work in the U.S.)

Responsibilities

• Lead quality assurance activities for assigned programs, including audits and corrective actions
• Develop and implement quality plans and inspection procedures
• Mentor junior quality engineers
• Analyze product quality trends and drive continuous improvement
• Oversee MRB activities and supplier/customer coordination
• Support design reviews and failure investigations
• Represent quality in customer and supplier interactions
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

QMS expertise (AS9100/ISO 9001)

Root cause & corrective action

MRB

Inspection planning

Data analytics

Leadership

Communication

U.S. Citizenship

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM field

Master’s degree in STEM field

PhD with 1 year of experience (optional)

Tools

Inspection tools

Advanced measurement systems

Digital inspection technologies

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: None

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Description

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.

Expand your horizons, advance your career, and contribute to a secure future for generations. Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector invites you to bring your pioneering spirit to our collaborative teams. As a Quality Engineer – Level 2 or Level 3 located in Goleta, CA, you’ll be a linchpin in missions of paramount importance, defining the art of the possible from day one. This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.

The Quality Engineer (Level 2/3) serves as a technical leader for quality assurance within Space Systems, guiding projects through all phases from requirements and design review through build and delivery. The quality engineer will ensure robust process control, regulatory compliance, and the highest product quality through leadership of audits, root cause analyses, and supplier/customer coordination. This role offers the opportunity to mentor junior engineers, interface directly with program leadership and customers, and drive innovative solutions to complex quality challenges.

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

In This Job, You Will

• Lead quality assurance activities for assigned programs, including internal and external audits, supplier assessments, and corrective action processes.
• Develop and implement quality plans, inspection procedures, and process improvements.
• Serve as a technical subject matter expert and resource to engineering, manufacturing, and support teams.
• Analyze and present trends in product quality, process nonconformance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversee use of advanced quality and root cause tools; guide MRB activities and recommendation processes.
• Support design reviews, failure investigations, and resolution of technical issues with cross-functional partners.
• Mentor and coach less-experienced quality engineers.
• Represent the quality function in customer and supplier interactions.
• Other duties as assigned

If this job description reads like it was written specifically for you, consider joining our team!

This position can be filled at either a Level 2 or Level 3.

Basic Qualifications For Level 2

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field with 2 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 0 years of professional experience. Will consider an additional 4+ years of experience in lieu of degree.
• No clearance required to start
• Demonstrated expertise in QMS (AS9100/ISO 9001), root cause and corrective action leadership, MRB, and inspection planning.
• Demonstrated capability in data analytics – identification of defect trends and associated ability to generate relevant mitigative solutions.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• U.S. Citizenship.

Basic Qualifications For Level 3

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field with 5 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 3 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 1 year of professional experience. Will consider an additional 4+ years of experience in lieu of degree.
• No clearance required to start
• Demonstrated expertise in QMS (AS9100/ISO 9001), root cause and corrective action leadership, MRB, and inspection planning.
• Demonstrated capability in data analytics – identification of defect trends and associated ability to generate relevant mitigative solutions.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• U.S. Citizenship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced technical degree.
• QMS signature authority and customer coordination or regulatory audit experience.
• Hands‑on experience with inspection tools, advanced measurement systems, and digital inspection technologies.
• Proven record of driving process and quality improvement.
• Experience in space/aerospace environments.

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: $47,200.00 - $78,600.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $56,000.00 - $93,400.00

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.