Electronic Warfare and Targeting Systems Business Unit in Rolling Meadows, IL is seeking a Senior Principal Supplier Quality Engineer to join the Supplier Performance Management (SPM) team, reporting to the SPM EWT BU lead. This position is instrumental in driving the supply base to provide consistently high-quality parts to support our customers.
What You Get to Do:
- Represent Northrop Grumman to the supply chain with credibility, confidence and professionalism
- Engage in EMD/LRIP Program activities to identify and quantify supplier performance as a proactive risk mitigation
- Represent Supplier Performance Management (SPM) at various program reviews and review boards including but not limited to Configuration Control Board (CCB), Material Review Board (MRB), Program Management Reviews (PMR), Design/Peer Reviews, Manufacturing/Test Readiness Reviews and Corrective Action Board (CAB)
- Perform Specification/Drawing Compliance Reviews, First Article Inspections and support Receiving Inspection on various categories of hardware like PWBs, CCAs, cables and connectors, microelectronics, electro-mechanical systems, and power supplies.
- Collaborate with Program Quality to ensure appropriate quality requirements for programs are identified and flowed to suppliers
- Analyze and interpret data to identify suppliers’ process issues and develop solutions
- Perform process and product audits along with capacity assessments to ensure the supplier's processes are robust and capable, as well as compliant to Military and Space requirements.
- Initiate and manage SCARs (Supplier Corrective Action Reports) to address nonconforming material by working cross-functionally identify root cause and ensure robust corrective actions are implemented.
- Effectively perform supplier risk assessment activities designed to identify and quantify the probability and impact the supply chain may have in support of proposal & business development efforts
- Execute and oversee supplier Manufacturing Readiness Assessments in accordance with the DoD MRL Deskbook
- Lead cross-functional teams in pursuit of supplier performance improvements aligned to department and organizational goals
- Understand continuous process improvement (CI) and effectively develop and execute CI initiatives
- Support the development of entry level engineers to ensure team effectiveness and promote knowledge transfer across the organization
- Travel to suppliers as required to oversee quality investigations and complete design reviews.
#MPR
Basic Qualifications for the Level 4:
- Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 8 or more years of experience in Quality, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing or Engineering; master’s degree and a minimum of 6 years of Quality, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing or Engineering
- Experience with ISO9001 and AS9100 Requirements
- Must be able to travel about 25% of the time
- Experience with Root Cause/Corrective Action investigations with vendors
- Experience with J-STD-001, IPC-A-600, 610, 620 or MIL-STD-883
- US Citizenship required
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with the DoD MRA Guidebook
- STEM degree
- Master’s Degree in related Quality or Engineering discipline
- Lead auditor experience to ISO 9001 and AS9100, AS9102 requirements.
- Experience creating supplier management plans in support of NAR/ICE activities
- Current active government Secret Clearance, or higher
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree and minimum 8 years' experience in Quality, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing or Engineering (or Master's degree and minimum 6 years)
- Experience with ISO9001 and AS9100 requirements
- Experience with Root Cause/Corrective Action investigations with vendors
- Experience with J-STD-001, IPC-A-600, IPC-610, IPC-620 or MIL-STD-883
- Experience performing specification/drawing compliance reviews, first article inspections, receiving inspection, audits and capacity assessments
- Ability to initiate and manage Supplier Corrective Action Reports (SCARs)
- Must be able to travel approximately 25% of the time
- U.S. Citizenship required
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance
- Experience with supplier risk assessments and Manufacturing Readiness Assessments (DoD MRL)
- Experience with continuous process improvement and leading cross-functional teams
- Experience creating supplier management plans and supporting program review boards
- Experience with DoD MRA Guidebook
- STEM degree
- Master's degree in related Quality or Engineering discipline
- Lead auditor experience to ISO9001, AS9100, AS9102 requirements
- Experience creating supplier management plans in support of NAR/ICE activities
- Current active government Secret clearance or higher
Northrop Grumman Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Northrop Grumman and has not been reviewed or approved by Northrop Grumman.
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Retirement Support — 401(k) matching is considered strong, with additional defined-benefit coverage for certain cohorts and options like catch-up contributions. Retirement programs are repeatedly highlighted as a core strength of the total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — PTO, company-paid holidays, and compressed work schedules (such as 9/80) provide meaningful time away and flexibility. These scheduling options are cited as a major quality-of-life benefit across many locations.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave alongside caregiver leave, adoption assistance, and back-up care supports a range of family needs. These programs have been expanded recently, signaling continued investment in family support.
Northrop Grumman Insights
What We Do
We are a close-knit community of big thinkers collaborating to keep the world safe. Our passion, creativity and expertise bring next-level technology solutions to life in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, space, and logistics and modernization for our customers around the globe. On the Northrop Grumman team, you’ll join our pursuit of excellence immersed in a dynamic culture of innovation and respect. Your unique perspective will help achieve our shared vision for the future of global security. Every step of the way, you'll be supported by world-class training, employee resource groups and a comprehensive benefits package that enables greater health and happiness for you and your family. Worldwide and across disciplines, we’re challenging what’s possible for technology to protect people and places from undersea to outer space and into cyberspace. And we see the impact of our performance every day. We are Northrop Grumman, and we work on what matters—now, you too can make a difference. Explore opportunities in engineering, IT, manufacturing, business management, cybersecurity and more with us. Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.








