Systems Engineer Level 5- Airframe IPT Lead

Northrop Grumman; Chandler (AZ); On-site; USD 153,000 - 229,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Systems Engineer Level 5- Airframe IPT Lead in Chandler, AZ. You will guide multi-disciplinary teams to design, integrate, and deliver cutting-edge airframe designs for hypersonic environments, balancing cost, schedule, and quality.

Leadership in IPT and program management is essential. The role requires active security clearances, strong communication, and a track record in DoD systems engineering and airframe development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 12 years of experience in STEM.
• Master’s degree with 10 years of experience in STEM.
• PhD with 8 years of experience in STEM; 4 years may substitute for a degree.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Active U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance.
• Ability to obtain Special Program Access (SAP).
• Experience leading technical teams.
• Understanding of DoD systems engineering requirements.
• Experience as IPT Lead or Technical lead with demonstrated leadership.
• Experience with development and direction for engineering on a program.
• Experience developing and executing project schedules.

Responsibilities

• Drive mechanical design and oversee design, manufacturing, and test planning.
• Lead Integrated Master Schedule and EVMS management.
• Own kill vehicle mass allocation and modeling.
• Oversee design releases for timely procurement orders.
• Coordinate technical maturation events and testing.
• Maintain holistic program view and assess design trade-offs.
• Collaborate across internal teams and external partners.
• Serve as primary customer/government focal point for airframe assembly.

Skills

Team leadership

IPT Lead

System engineering

DoD SE requirements

Schedule management

EVMS

CAM

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Master’s degree in STEM

PhD in STEM

Tools

EVMS

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: 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 5- 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 5- 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 with 12 years of experience, master's degree with 10 years of experience or Ph.D. with 8 years of experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or related technical fields; an additional 4 years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 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.

Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.

Northrop Grumman Total Rewards

Primary Level Salary Range: $152,900.00 - $229,300.00

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.