Staff Flight Test Engineer - Mission Planner

Northrop Grumman Corporation; Palmdale (CA); On-site; USD 141,000 - 212,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is looking for a Staff Flight Test Engineer – Mission Planner based in Palmdale, CA. This role involves synthesizing customer needs into test solutions, mission planning, and coordinating with engineers and aircrew members. Ideal candidates should possess a strong background in STEM and extensive experience in mission planning.

Benefits

Health insurance coverage

Life and disability insurance

Paid time off (PTO)

Savings plan

Overtime eligibility

Qualifications

• Minimum of 14 years experience or 12 years with a Masters in STEM.
• Experience in military/professional backgrounds in Navigator/Mission Planner.
• Demonstrated experience with mission planning, execution, and debriefing.

Responsibilities

• Provide pre/post mission support planning and documentation.
• Review and evaluate test requirements for feasibility.
• Support test planning, development, and readiness reviews.

Skills

Proficiency in mission planning software

Outstanding written and oral communications skills

Ability to work independently and in teams

Education

Bachelor of Science Degree in Science, Technical, Engineering or Math (STEM)

Masters degree in a STEM discipline

Tools

Microsoft Office

JMPS

PFPS

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

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 Aeronautics Systems has an opening for Staff Flight Test Engineer – Mission Planner to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals within our Test and Evaluation organization on the Flight Test Operations (FTO) team. This position will be located in Palmdale, CA.

The selected candidate will synthesize customer contractual needs and requirements into system test solutions that acknowledge technical, schedule and cost constraints. Tasking will include developmental flight test mission planning, ground/flight testing, fielding, and possible Programmed Depot Maintenance missions for multiple platforms as required using Laboratory Mission Data Systems (LMDS), Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) and Portable Flight Planning System (PFPS) mission planning software. The selected candidate will ensure that specific requirements of all flight test missions are coordinated with responsible engineers and aircrew members to provide accurate mission planning data. They will build flight mission cartridge and produce all required mission support documents, such as flight plans, charts, and weapons data along with maintaining currency of LMDS, JMPS and PFPS software and associated hardware.

Essential Job Duties:

• Provide pre/post mission support planning and documentation, training plans for mission planning, supporting formal meetings to support appropriate decisions regarding safety, efficiency, and effectiveness
• Review and evaluate test requirements to ensure completeness/feasibility and adequacy of test program.
• Provide laboratory support for integration testing
• Interface with test article/software design and analysis teams to define test configuration and data requirements
• Support test card development and review in collaboration with various engineering disciplines and test operations personnel
• Support test readiness reviews, and pre/post-test briefings
• Support test planning working groups as needed
• Conduct and contribute to pre and post-test data analyses to support anomaly identification and resolution. Maintains metrics on status of testing and constraints
• Must be willing to work extended shifts and odd hours to support flight test execution objectives.

Additional Job Responsibilities:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant industry mission planning software
• Ability to brief test results/issues to executive leadership.

This position requires outstanding written and oral communications skills. The selected candidate will be required to serve as either a principal subject matter focal point between maintenance, design engineering, and the test team - contractor and customer. They must be able to work under general direction to determine and develop approaches to solutions, can work both within a team environment and independently, self-motivated, thorough, and detailed, and be willing to learn additional test discipline areas.

The standard shift for this position is on the 4/10 schedule. Shift adjustments may be required with advanced notification.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Science, Technical, Engineering or Math (STEM)
• A minimum of 14 years experience or 12 years with a Masters in STEM that includes military/professional experience with a background in Navigator/Mission Planner/support to flying operations, flight test, and/or flight training
• Demonstrated experience with mission planning, execution, and debriefing
• Requires ability to work any shift
• Must have an active DoD Secret clearance (with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into continuous evaluation)
• Must have ability to obtain and maintain Program Access (PAR) within a reasonable period, as determined by the company to meet its business needs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience as a US Air Force Pilot/Navigator/Mission Planner, US Navy or USMC Naval Flight Officer (NFO), or equivalent (Intelligence support to flight operations considered).
• Experience with mission planning tools (i.e., JMPS, PFPS, AFMSS)
• Experience with mission planning development/testing during a new aircraft developmental test program.
• Experience with Proprietary mission planning tools exclusive to the test articles
• Active DoD Top Secret/SCI clearance
• Familiarity with SCI and SAP security procedures
• Masters degree in a STEM discipline
• Relevant FAA rating(s)

Salary Range: $141,400.00 - $212,000.00 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.