Engineer Systems  - Program IPT Lead - Level 6

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: 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.

Northrop Grumman - Launch Systems is hiring a Systems Engineer - Program IPT Lead Level 6, located in Chandler, Arizona. This high-visibility position requires a technical and leadership expert capable of guiding a multidisciplinary team of engineers to design, integrate, and deliver flight test vehicles, ground support and unique test equipment in support of a new line of effort.

The ideal candidate will design and develop system architectures and define key capabilities and performance requirements. They will define design and technology maturity constraints of the system in accordance with customer specifications, develop thorough definition of system external interfaces, and define system implementation approaches and operational concepts to ensures requirements are met and evaluates performance with customer. 

In this position you will;

Serve as Leader of the technical, cost, schedule, and resource execution for the IPT activities.  You will collaborate with other IPT leads to understand the program's architecture needs, and drive development schedules to support overall program success.  You will work with your team leads to understand risks, drive technical solutions and identify and execute risk mitigation activities. This role will own major trade studies, oversee the development and management of Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and provide technical leadership across a multi-disciplinary team. The ideal candidate has a strong background ins Systems Engineering fundamentals, demonstrated leadership of Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) tasked with the development of a new product line, and experience managing scope, cost, and schedule using control account management and earned value management (EVM) practices.

What You’ll Get To Do:
As the Software Test Integrated Product Team Lead, you will:

• Lead a High-Performing Team: Coordinate an engineering team in a high-visibility and fast-paced program environment. Collaborate with diverse groups including Engineering & Program Management, Mission Assurance, and customer partner organization teams.
• Solve Complex Challenges: Apply your organizational and technical problem-solving skills to ensure successful product designs while addressing development risks and emerging challenges in real-time.
• Communicate at all Levels: Provide technical leadership and support for internal and external executive briefings, including program updates, engineering reviews, and risk management discussions.
• Maintain High Standards: Thrive in a high-expectation environment, demonstrating initiative, meticulous attention to detail, and polished verbal and written communication skills.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead system-level trade studies to evaluate design alternatives, assess performance vs. cost/schedule/risk, and support architecture decisions for advanced missile systems.
• Develop, maintain, and baseline system- and subsystem-level Interface Control Documents (ICDs), including mechanical, electrical, data, and software interfaces.
• Apply Systems Engineering, including Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), methods and tools to capture requirements, architecture, behaviors, and verification/validation plans.
• Serve as a technical lead for multi-disciplinary engineering teams (e.g., GNC, avionics, propulsion, structures, software, I&T), ensuring system-level integration and design coherence.
• Act as Control Account Manager (CAM) for assigned work scope, including planning, budgeting, tracking, and reporting performance.
• Implement Earned Value Management (EVM) principles to monitor cost and schedule, identify variances, and develop recovery plans.
• Oversee and coordinate multiple Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), driving technical execution, risk management, and cross-functional issue resolution.
• Develop and maintain systems engineering artifacts including requirements documents, CONOPS, specifications, verification matrices, and system-level test strategies.
• Support integration and test planning and execution, including test readiness reviews, anomaly resolution, and verification/validation activities.
• Participate in customer technical interchange meetings, design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR), and formal reviews, presenting technical status, risks, and mitigations.
• Support risk and opportunity management, including identification, assessment, and mitigation planning at the system level.

  
Basic Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree with 14 years of experience, master's degree with 12 years of experience or Ph.D. with 10 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.
• Active US Government Security Secret Clearance
• Ability and willingness to obtain Top Secret Clearance
• Ability and willingness to obtain Special Program Access (SAP)
• Ability and willingness to obtain Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access
• Experience leading technical teams
• Understanding of Government 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 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 as a Control Account Manager (CAM) managing Earned Value Management System (EVMS) projects.
• Significant experience with missile systems or other launch/flight vehicles (e.g., tactical or strategic missiles, interceptors, sounding rockets, or space launch).
• Familiarity with range and range safety requirements, processes, and interfaces (e.g., Eastern/Western Range, flight safety analyses, flight termination systems).
• Experience supporting or leading missile launches, including pre-launch integration, test, countdown, and post-flight assessment.
• Background in mission planning and mission execution for missile or launch systems, including trajectory design, constraints, and operational considerations.
• Experience with integration & test (I&T) of complex flight hardware and software, including hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) and system-level testing.
• Knowledge of requirements development and management tools (e.g., DOORS, Cameo) and configuration management practices.
• Familiarity with government and industry standards relevant to missile and launch systems (e.g., MIL-STDs, range safety directives, flight safety criteria)
• Experience coordinating with external subcontractors, primes, and/or suppliers.

Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:

https://www.northropgrumman.com/space

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Primary Level Salary Range: $0.00 - $0.00

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.