Senior Quality Engineer, Mission Systems – Lead Compliance & Risk

Northrop Grumman; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 123,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems Sector is seeking a Sr. Principal Quality Engineer to join our team in Baltimore, MD. Define and monitor mission‑assurance specifications and processes to ensure program success.

This role requires leading investigations, applying AS9100/ISO 9001 principles, and ensuring quality across deliverables, subcontractors, and suppliers. You will participate in reviews, manage configuration, and drive corrective actions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 8 years of hands-on electronics manufacturing experience, or a Master’s degree with 6 years.
• Ability to lead investigations, organize data, and present corrective action board investigations.
• Ability to report status updates and technical data to directors and managers.
• Ability to review and verify requirements to flow downs on contracts or other documentation.
• Familiarity with AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• Strong interpretation skills with technical drawings and GD&T.
• Experience with root cause and corrective action methodologies such as 8D or 5 Why.
• Active U.S. Government Secret security Clearance; US Citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Define and monitor mission‑assurance specifications and processes to ensure program success.
• Ensure quality, risk, safety, reliability, and maintainability of deliverables, subcontractors, and suppliers in accordance with contractual requirements.
• Lead comprehensive performance reviews on program performance and risks and advise on resource re‑allocation.
• Clarify internal and contract requirements and establish clear compliance paths.
• Participate in technical reviews (PDR, CDR) to verify system designs against project requirements.
• Conduct comprehensive contract reviews to confirm adherence to regulatory and compliance standards.
• Apply quantitative, predictive analysis to evaluate risks and opportunities.
• Manage configuration management, First Article Inspections and Physical Control Audits.
• Identify product nonconformances, analyze root‑cause/corrective‑action trends, and drive preventive actions.
• Apply AS9100 principles to resolve quality‑system questions and concerns.
• Verify compliance with program requirements and support flow‑down to supplier quality.
• Generate Basis of Estimate documentation for proposals.

Skills

Investigation leadership

Status reporting

Flow-down verification

GD&T interpretation

Root cause analysis (8D/5Why)

Audit execution

Security clearance (Secret)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Master’s degree in STEM

Tools

J-STD-001

IPC-610

IPC-620

Job description

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems Sector is seeking a Sr. Principal Quality Engineer to join our team in Baltimore, MD. Define and monitor mission‑assurance specifications and processes to ensure program success.

This role requires leading investigations, applying AS9100/ISO 9001 principles, and ensuring quality across deliverables, subcontractors, and suppliers. You will participate in reviews, manage configuration, and drive corrective actions.