Systems Engineer Level 6 - Seeker IPT lead

0902 SP - Launch Vehicles; United States; On-site; USD 167,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Space Systems in Chandler, AZ seeks a Systems Engineer Level 6 – Seeker IPT lead to oversee the seeker system on the Glide Phase Interceptor program. You will manage technical, cost and schedule execution, lead a cross-functional team, and coordinate with customer and internal stakeholders to meet PDR criteria and production needs.

The role requires U.S. citizenship and a Secret clearance, with relocation assistance and 10% travel.

Qualifications

• Requires a degree with extensive experience in science, technology, engineering or math and demonstrated IPT leadership.
• Experience leading technical teams and coordinating across program offices.
• Strong understanding of DoD system engineering requirements and EVMS practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead the seeker system technical, cost, schedule, and resource execution.
• Ensure seeker meets PDR criteria and supports high production rates.
• Coordinate with stakeholders for system-level analysis and reliability.

Skills

Systems Engineering

IPT Lead

DoD Requirements

EVMS/CAM

Technical Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

PhD

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 Space Systems is seeking a Systems Engineer Level 6 - Seeker IPT lead to join our team in Chandler, Arizona.

This role is responsible for the cost, schedule and technical performance of EOIR seeker subsystem for a missile interceptor. Acts as primary customer contact for seeker portion of program activities, leading program review sessions with customer to discuss cost, schedule, and technical performance. Establishes design concepts, criteria and engineering efforts for product research, development, integration and test. Establishes milestones and monitors adherence to master plans and schedules, identifies program problems and obtains solutions, such as allocation of resources or changing contractual specifications. Directs the work of employees assigned to the program from technical, manufacturing and administrative areas. Collaborates with Office of the Chief Engineer and other program Integrated Product Team leads to ensure overall program cost, schedule, and objectives are met.

Role Overview Serve as primary technical authority leading the technical, cost, schedule, and resource execution for the seeker system on the Glide Phase Interceptor program, the premier new defense against advanced hypersonic threats. This role involves ensuring the seeker system meets all Preliminary Design Review (PDR) criteria and supports the high production rates needed for national missile defense.

Key Responsibilities

• Mechanical Packaging & Fitment: Oversee all mechanical packaging and fitment challenges, ensuring complex hardware fits perfectly within a constrained volume.
• Electro-Optical Performance: Manage electro-optical testing processes, which includes optical analysis and design, as well as developing test plans and procedures to evaluate performance across a myriad of conditions.
• Tolerance & DFM: Oversee tolerance analysis, packaging, and shimming as required for Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and optimal optical performance, ensuring all design decisions are mindful of minimizing long-term production costs.
• International Collaboration: Collaborate proactively and work through design issues with our international partners, fostering situational awareness and strong cross-team understanding throughout the process.
• Technology & Manufacturing Readiness: Drive maturation of all seeker components and subsystems to TRL-5 at the time of PDR, and support/facilitate manufacturing readiness assessments to achieve MRA-6 at the time of PDR.
• Systems-Level Architecture & Analysis: Coordinate with multiple stakeholders to perform complex structural and thermal analysis, balancing reliability to be held at a system level. Ensure every design decision is made with a full awareness of its individual component-level impact on cross-discipline performance and total system reliability.
• Team & Schedule Leadership: Lead a multidisciplinary team of over 30 personnel with a strategic, opportunity-oriented mindset to overcome aggressive milestones. Maintain full accountability for the schedule, keeping a constant eye on the program critical path and proactively escalating roadblocks for resolution.
• Stakeholder Management: Act as a central stakeholder for all customer and US work-share coordination and collaboration to ensure optimal performance of the seeker and to consistently exceed customer expectations.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 14 years of experience, master's degree with 12 years of experience or Ph.D. with 10years 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 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 business 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.

Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector?

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: $166,500.00 - $249,700.00 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.

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.