Principal Mission Assurance Engineer

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescription

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.

At the heart of Defining Possible is our commitment to missions. In rapidly changing global security environments, Northrop Grumman brings informed insights and software-secure technology to enable strategic planning. We are looking for innovators who can help us keep building on our wide portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, and multi-domain systems and technologies that fuel those missions. By joining in our shared mission, we ’II support yours of expanding your personal network and developing skills, whether you are new to the field, or an industry thought leader. At Northrop Grumman, you ’II have the resources, support, and team to do some of the best work of your career.

Start your future with a new mission, Northrop Grumman’s Mission Systems sector is hiring a Principal Mission Assurance Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals supporting a diversity of restricted development programs across the Mission Survivability Systems (MSS) and Electronic Warfare and Targeting (EWT) BUs.  This opportunity will be located in Rolling Meadows, IL.

What you will get to do:

• Define and monitor mission‑assurance specifications and processes to ensure program success.

• Ensure quality, risk, safety, reliability, and maintainability of program deliverables, subcontractors, and suppliers in line with contractual requirements.

• Conducts variance and trend analysis on program performance, providing data‑driven input to resource‑allocation discussions.

• Oversee software and hardware design‑development, coordinating technical teams and stakeholders.

• Clarify internal and contractual requirements and establish compliance pathways.

• Participate in technical reviews (SAARR, PDR, CDR) to verify system designs against project requirements.

• Conduct comprehensive contract reviews to confirm adherence to regulatory and compliance standards.

• Apply quantitative, predictive analysis to assess risks and opportunities, communicate findings to the project manager, and proactively flag risk‑acceptance issues.

• Manage configuration control, including CCB processes and the effectivity of design changes.

• Utilize standard engineering/manufacturing tools, methodologies, and applicable standards.

• Identify product nonconformances, analyze root‑cause/corrective‑action trends, and drive preventative actions.

• Apply QMS principles to resolve quality‑system questions and concerns.

• Use advanced problem‑solving techniques, metrics, and data analysis to determine root causes and implement corrective actions, preventing recurrence.

• Evaluate compliance with program requirements and support requirements flow‑down to supplier quality.

• Verify measurement, inspection, and test methods to meet specification criteria.

• Interpret complex contracts and engage customers to resolve contractual and compliance issues.

• Provide requirements‑verification assurance, ensuring requirements meet quality and compliance standards; develop supporting work products.

• Generate Basis of Estimate documentation for proposals. 

• Supporting Program corrective action board.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field and a minimum of 5 years of experience or a Master's degree in STEM and a minimum of 3 years of experience or 1 year with a Ph.D

• Knowledge and Familiarity with quality management systems such as AS9100 or ISO 9001

• Experience and the ability to review and verify requirements to flow downs on contracts or other documentation

• Knowledge and Familiarity with interpreting technical drawings

• Experience with customer interactions, including DCMA

• Active US Government Top Secret Clearance with an investigation date within the last 6 years

• Must have the ability to gain Special Access Program (SAP) Clearances

• US Citizenship Required

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with quality assurance and risk management methodologies

• In-depth knowledge of NG Quality Management System processes (Principles and Operating. Practices, ISO 9001, AS9100, and customer FAR & DFAR requirements) and can resolve QMS questions/concerns

• Ability to use Advanced Problem Solving tools to determine root cause and corrective action while leveraging comprehensive metrics and data analysis for complex problems and to prevent recurrence

• Ability to read, understand, and interpret complex contracts including experience with customer engagement to resolve complex contractual and compliance issues

• Greenbelt certification

• Experience working with suppliers to support quality issues in supply chain

• Experience with performing and reviewing First Article inspections (FAI)

Primary Level Salary Range: $108,800.00 - $163,200.00

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. 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.