Systems Engineer Level 4 - Airframe IPT Lead

Northrop Grumman; United States; On-site; USD 123,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Discretionary bonus

Annual bonuses

Long Term Incentives

Paid time off

Job summary

Northrop Grumman’s Launch Vehicles Division in Chandler, Arizona, seeks a Systems Engineer Level 4 - Airframe IPT Lead with a strong background in airframe design and defense programs. You will guide multidisciplinary teams to deliver cutting-edge airframe solutions for hypersonic environments and balance cost, schedule, and quality to align with customer requirements.

The role requires an active Secret clearance, DoD systems engineering experience, and leadership of IPTs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or related fields with 8 years of relevant experience.
• U.S Citizenship is required and active Secret Security Clearance is required.
• Experience leading IPTs/technical teams on defense programs and DoD systems engineering requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multi-disciplinary team overseeing design, manufacturing, and test planning for airframe maturity.
• Balance cost, schedule, and resources to reach PDR and EVMS targets.
• Oversee mass allocation for kill vehicle to meet modeling targets and ensure design decisions align with mass constraints.
• Coordinate design releases to support timely procurement orders and sustain project milestones.
• Manage technical maturation events (arcjet and structural tests) and drive program readiness.
• Provide holistic systems thinking to influence airframe design and mission success.
• Facilitate cross-team collaboration and clear communication of risks and trade-offs.
• Serve as a focal point for customer and government questions on airframe assembly.

Skills

IPT Lead

Leadership

DoD systems engineering

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Master’s degree preferred

PhD preferred

Job description

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

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 - Launch Vehicles Division is hiring a Systems Engineer Level 4 - Airframe IPT Lead located in Chandler, Arizona.

This high-visibility position requires a technical and leadership expert capable of guiding multi-disciplinary engineering teams to design, integrate, and deliver cutting‑edge airframe designs for hypersonic environments. The ideal candidate will have exceptional mechanical design and manufacturing expertise, a deep understanding of hypersonic system challenges, and proven program management abilities to balance cost, schedule, and quality.

What You’ll Get To Do:

As the Systems Engineer Level 4 - Airframe IPT Lead – Airframe Assembly Integrated Product Team Lead, you will:

• Drive Mechanical Design Excellence: Lead a dedicated team of engineers, overseeing all facets of design, manufacturing, and test planning to ensure airframe maturity.
• Deliver to Schedule and Cost: Serve as the central authority driving the Integrated Master Schedule, balancing all technical, schedule, cost, and resources to ensure we execute and reach a successful PDR. This includes maintaining central authority for EVMS management and ensuring the team balances priorities effectively.
• Champion Mass Control: Act as the technical authority for all kill vehicle mass allocation, ensuring all design decisions align with kill vehicle mass targets for accurate modeling and simulation runs.
• Ensure Design Readiness: Oversee design releases to support timely procurement order placements.
• Coordinate Tech Maturation: Manage all technical maturation events, including arcjet and structural design verification tests.
• Apply Systems Thinking: Maintain a holistic view of the program, understanding how every airframe design choice impacts the overall performance and mission success of the GPI.
• Collaborate with Partners: Facilitate teamwork and alignment across internal teams and external partners, ensuring clear communication on risks and trade‑offs.
• Serve as Customer and Government Focal Point: Act as the primary customer and government focal point for all questions related to the airframe assembly, ensuring tight coordination with all domestic partners.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or related technical fields with 8 years of relevant experience, master's degree with 6 years of relevant experience or Ph.D. with 4 years of relevant experience
• U.S Citizenship is required.
• Must have an active US Government Secret Security Clearance.
• Ability to obtain Special Program Access (SAP).
• Experience leading technical teams
• Understanding of DoD systems engineering requirements
• Experience as Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead, Technical lead, or other leadership role in a program office or Engineering function with demonstrated team building, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Experience with the technical development and direction for many aspects of engineering on a program, including design, development, implementation, testing, and delivery of product to a customer.
• Experience with developing and executing project schedules.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics or other related technical fields.
• Active US Government Top Secret Security Clearance or higher, SAP access(es), and/or SCI access.
• Exceptional communication skills.
• An interest in and an aptitude for customer engagements at technical and programmatic levels.
• Experience as a Control Account Manager (CAM) managing Earned Value Management System (EVMS) projects.
• Domain expertise in defense sensor systems.
• Experience with the technical development and direction for all aspects of engineering on a program, including design, development, implementation, testing, and delivery of product to a customer.
• Experience coordinating with external subcontractors, primes, and/or suppliers.

Northrop Grumman Total Rewards:

We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life.

Primary Level Salary Range: $122,800.00 - $184,200.00

• Health insurance coverage
• Life and disability insurance
• Savings plan
• Company paid holidays
• Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business
• Overtime
• Shift differential
• Discretionary bonus
• Annual bonuses
• Long Term Incentives

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.

U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

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.