Sr. Staff Lead IMU Systems Engineer

Northrop Grumman Corp. (AU); Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 192,800 - 289,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Woodland Hills, CA, seeks a seasoned IMU/IRU Systems Engineer to lead technical activities and guide strategy for IMU/IRU programs on a 9/80 onsite schedule.

The role requires senior-level experience, execution leadership, and collaboration with executives to drive technical roadmaps and risk management across multiple initiatives.

Qualifications

• 14 years of experience with a Bachelor of Science in a STEM discipline; 12 years with a Master of Science; or 10 years with a PhD.
• Extensive background in inertial measurement system specs, requirements and error budgets.
• Proven experience leading technical execution on complex engineering initiatives.
• Strong leadership interfacing with executives, customers and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to create and implement technical roadmaps aligning with organizational goals.
• Mentoring junior engineers and fostering technical excellence.
• Experience in risk/opportunity management within engineering programs.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Support the IMU/IRU Chief Engineer on technical activities and risk posture across programs.
• Develop and execute investment strategy and roadmap for the OU, aligning technical decisions.
• Provide high-level technical leadership for IMU/IRU hardware and algorithms.
• Lead definition, validation, and integration of IMU/IRU hardware and algorithms.
• Act as technical authority for IMU architecture trade-offs across cross-functional teams.
• Evaluate proposals and assess program milestones across projects.
• Contribute to business development and represent the OU to executives.
• Mentor systems engineers within the OU.
• Support design reviews and ensure integrity of the technical baseline.
• Translate customer needs into system-level requirements and performance measures.
• Drive process development and continuous improvement within programs.

Skills

Inertial measurement systems

Technical leadership

Risk management

Systems integration

Executive interfacing

Education

B.S. in a STEM discipline

M.S. in a STEM discipline

Ph.D. in STEM

Tools

EVMS

CAM

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

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.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission‑enabling solutions for global security. Our Engineering and Sciences (E&S) organization pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered with providing the skills, innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter. Come be a part of our mission!

Role Summary

We are seeking a seasoned technical leader to join our team based in Woodland Hills, CA. As the lead IMU/IRU Systems Engineer, you will support the IMU/IRU Chief Engineer in overseeing technical operations and driving strategic initiatives across our programs. The successful candidate will be collaborative, open, transparent, and team‑oriented with a focus on team empowerment & shared responsibility, flexibility, continuous learning, and a culture of automation. This is a fully onsite role in Woodland Hills, CA operating on a 9/80 schedule.

Responsibilities

• Support the IMU/IRU OU Chief Engineer on technical activities and overall risk posture for programs
• Develop and execute the OU investment strategy and roadmap, aligning technical decisions across multiple initiatives
• Provide high‑level technical leadership in addressing complex engineering challenges, often engaging directly in problem‑solving
• Lead the definition, validation, and integration of high‑performance IMU/IRU hardware and algorithms
• Serve as the technical authority for IMU architecture trade‑offs, guiding cross‑functional teams through sensor selection, mechanical integration, and design
• Evaluate technical proposals and assess program milestones across various projects within the OU
• Contribute to business development activities, representing the OU to executives and key external stakeholders
• Mentor and support the professional growth of systems engineers within the OU
• Support technical design reviews, ensuring the integrity and executability of the technical baseline through collaboration with key stakeholders
• Ensure clarity and consistency of technical requirements, objectives, and constraints
• Collaborate with system architects to translate customer needs into system‑level requirements, attributes, and performance measures
• Ensure adherence to established engineering processes
• Drive initiatives for process development, continuous improvement, and affordability within programs
• Manage product line risks and opportunities related to system performance
• Identify and promote reusable technical assets for organizational efficiency

Basic Qualifications

• 14 years of experience with a Bachelors of Science in a STEM discipline; 12 years of experience with a Masters of Science in a STEM discipline or 10 years of experience with a PhD
• Extensive background in developing inertial measurement system specifications, requirements, and error budgets, demonstrating a deep understanding of performance metrics and integration challenges
• Proven experience leading technical execution on complex engineering initiatives while ensuring the quality and integrity of the product delivered by others
• Strong technical leadership skills, effectively interfacing with executives, customers, and cross‑functional teams to ensure alignment and strategic delivery
• Demonstrated ability to create and implement comprehensive technical roadmaps that align with the organization’s objectives
• Experience in mentoring and developing junior engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and collaboration
• Proven track record in identifying, assessing, and managing risks and opportunities within engineering programs
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to represent technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret Clearance within the timeframe set by management
• Full‑time onsite availability in Woodland Hills, California

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven track record of delivering flight qualified IMU solutions for DoD or commercial aerospace programs, with hands on experience in performance testing, calibration, and integration into navigation grade platforms
• Demonstrated expertise in the end‑to‑end design of inertial measurement units, including sensor physics, MEMS/FOG/HRG technology selection, error budget development, and hardware/software design.
• Extensive experience in senior technical leadership roles or equivalent, overseeing the technical integrity of complex systems.
• Demonstrated experience in capture management, successfully participating in business development and proposal efforts
• Familiarity with Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) and Cost Account Management (CAM), showcasing the ability to manage project budgets and performance metrics effectively
• Experience leading technical review processes and participating in Change/Configuration Control Boards (CCBs)
• Strong analytical skills, with a proven ability to drive process improvements and innovation across engineering practices
• Current U.S. Government Secret security clearance

Salary

Primary Level Salary Range: $192,800.00 - $289,200.00

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.

Application Process

The application period for the job is estimated to be approximately 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.

EEO Statement

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.