Staff Optical Subsystem I&T Engineer - 5

Northrop Grumman; United States; Presencial; USD 168 000 - 252 000; Tempo integral

Vantagens oferecidas por esta oferta de emprego

Health insurance

Life & disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid holidays and PTO

Resumo da oferta

Northrop Grumman Space Systems in Chandler, AZ, seeks a Staff Optical Subsystem I&T Engineer to lead the testing of electro-optical subsystems within the Seeker IPT. The role supports the EO Group of the Launch Vehicles unit and requires active Secret clearance.

The position emphasizes cross-disciplinary leadership, test plan development, and collaboration with systems engineers to meet program milestones while maintaining high-quality optical test environments.

Qualificações

• Experience with EO imaging systems (visible to LWIR) including optical design, alignment, and test.
• Maintaining and calibrating optical test equipment for accuracy and reliability in I&T environments.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and mentor junior engineers.

Responsabilidades

• Lead multidisciplinary teams in integration and testing of electro-optical subsystems.
• Develop, author, and review test plans, procedures, and test cases based on system requirements.
• Oversee hardware, software, and firmware integration ensuring interoperability and schedule adherence.
• Execute complex test procedures, analyze data, verify performance against requirements.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers; drive technical growth.
• Champion RCCA processes for continuous improvement and reliability.
• Prepare and present detailed test reports to stakeholders.
• Maintain and calibrate optical test equipment and environments.
• Collaborate with systems engineers, design teams, and management on testing strategy.
• Ensure compliance with safety and government standards.

Conhecimentos

Optical engineering

EO imaging systems

Free-space alignment tools

Root cause analysis

Leadership / mentoring

Test planning & execution

Data analysis

Python / MATLAB

Formação académica

Bachelor's degree in Optical/Electrical/Mechanical Eng

Master's degree in Optical Engineering (preferred)

PhD in Optical Engineering (preferred)

Ferramentas

Zemax

Code V

FRED

SolidWorks/NX/Creo

LabVIEW

MATLAB

Descrição da oferta de emprego

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available. CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes. CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret. TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time.

Northrop Grumman Staff Optical Subsystem I&T Engineer

Northrop Grumman Space Systems is looking for a Staff Optical Subsystem I&T Engineer to support the Electro-Optics (EO) Group within the Launch Vehicles business unit in Chandler, Arizona. This is a key lead role in supporting the Seeker Integrated Product Team (IPT).

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary teams in the integration and testing of electro-optical subsystems, ensuring top-tier system performance at the subassembly and seeker system levels.
• Develop, author, and review comprehensive test plans, procedures, and test cases based on detailed system requirements and design specifications.
• Oversee the integration of hardware, software, and firmware, ensuring interoperability and adherence to project timelines and technical objectives.
• Execute and troubleshoot complex test procedures, analyze data, and verify that systems and components meet or exceed performance and design requirements.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers; facilitate team training and technical growth.
• Champion root cause analysis and corrective action processes, driving continuous improvement, reliability, and quality.
• Prepare, review, and present detailed test reports, summarizing observations, test configurations, and key results for program stakeholders.
• Maintain and calibrate optical test equipment and environments, ensuring readiness and accuracy for all test activities.
• Collaborate closely with systems engineers, design teams, and program management to ensure alignment of testing strategy with program milestones and customer expectations.
• Ensure all testing activities comply with organizational, safety, and government standards.
• Drive continuous technical learning, staying up to date on emerging optical engineering best practices, tools, and methodologies.
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary team efforts to integrate and test development/flight hardware, ensuring performance at the subassembly and seeker system level.
• Characterize and evaluate performance, develop the seeker test suite, maintain and calibrate optical test equipment, and capture representative data to support physics‑based model development.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline from an accredited university and 12 years of relevant experience; or a Master’s degree and 10 years of experience; or a PhD and 6 years of experience.
• Active U.S. Government Secret security clearance at the time of application.
• Demonstrated experience with EO imaging systems (visible to LWIR), including optical design, alignment, and test.
• Proven experience in maintaining and calibrating optical test equipment to ensure measurement accuracy and reliability in integration and test environments.
• Proficiency with free‑space alignment tools (autocollimators, theodolites, laser systems, FTIR) and hands‑on integration of complex hardware.
• Familiarity with the development of custom optical test equipment and developing pathfinder procedures for the use of the equipment.
• Managing and maintaining optical laboratory spaces, including oversight of equipment, inventory, and safety protocols.
• Skilled at implementing and enforcing laboratory best practices to maintain high standards of cleanliness and operational efficiency.
• Practical knowledge of root cause and corrective action (RCCA) methodologies.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as lead and motivate cross‑disciplinary teams.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and technical writing skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Extensive experience with missile systems, seeker systems, or high‑reliability EO applications.
• Familiarity with DoD missile defense programs and associated technical standards.
• Expertise in EO system technologies including optical design, tolerancing, error budgets, opto‑mechanics, and focal plane arrays.
• Hands‑on experience with radiometric measurements, use of spectroradiometers, cameras, and detectors.
• Proficiency with optical design/analysis software (Zemax, Code V, FRED).
• CAD experience (SolidWorks, NX, or Creo) for test fixture and experimental layout design.
• Working knowledge of LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python, or similar data acquisition and analysis tools.
• In‑depth understanding of cleanroom environments, procedures, and contamination controls required for precision optical integration and testing.
• Demonstrated leadership in technical project delivery and mentoring teams.

Benefits

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.

Salary

Primary Level Salary Range: $168,200.00 - $252,200.00. 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.

Location

Chandler, Arizona.

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.

Company Culture

We are a pioneering company. With careers across all areas: air, cyber, land, sea and space - our 90,000 employees work as one to defend and define the future. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will give you every opportunity to do your best work. Working together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines, we share a drive to push the boundaries of science, technology and engineering to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide.