Systems Engineer Level 4 - Airframe IPT Lead

Northrop Grumman; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance may be available

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is hiring a Systems Engineer Level 4 - Airframe IPT Lead in Chandler, AZ to drive design excellence and coordinate cross-functional teams across the program lifecycle.

You will oversee scheduling, mass control, and design readiness while collaborating with customers and partners to ensure mission success. A strong background in DoD systems engineering and IPT leadership is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math with 8+ years of related experience; advanced degree preferred.
• Active U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance required.
• Experience leading technical teams and IPTs in defense programs.
• Strong understanding of DoD systems engineering requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead a technical IPT to oversee airframe design, manufacturing, and test planning.
• Own the Integrated Master Schedule and EVMS to balance schedule, cost, and resources.
• Control mass allocation for airframe components and ensure design targets.
• Oversee design releases and procurement readiness.
• Coordinate technical maturation events and verification tests.
• Loster ongoing collaboration with internal teams and external partners.
• Serve as focal point for customer and government interfaces on airframe issues.

Skills

Technical leadership

IPT Lead

Systems engineering

Earned Value

DoD requirements

Schedule management

Customer liaison

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master's degree preferred

Tools

EVMS

Job description

Relocation assistance may be available

Clearance required for start: Yes

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

What You'll Get To Do:

• 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.