Chief Engineer - Level 6

Relocation assistance may be available. Active Top Secret/SCI clearance required at time of application. U.S. citizenship required. Travel up to 25%.

About the Role

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.

The Advanced Tactical Missions Division within Northrop Grumman Space Systems pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered with providing the skills and innovative technologies to develop, design, produce, and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter.

Central Systems Engineering is seeking a Chief Engineer located in Aurora, CO. This role serves as the definitive technical authority for all aspects of engineering on program elements (systems engineering, hardware, software, support, test) and leads a multi-disciplined engineering team managing the technical performance of the program to meet cost and schedule requirements, including subcontracted elements. The Chief Engineer is responsible for the technical development and direction of all engineering aspects on the program, including design, development, implementation, testing, and delivery of products to the customer. The role also includes Deputy Program Manager duties, such as representing the program in reviews and program status PRA reviews.

The Chief Engineer will lead cyber engineering efforts, ensuring all program milestones and controls are met. They maintain cognizance over technical activities within program Mission and Product Areas, ensuring horizontal integration of best engineering practices. The role involves providing expert input on risks, issues, and opportunities that may affect system-level requirements, baselines, or engineering integration, and evaluating their technical implications with recommendations for mitigation strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multi-disciplined engineering team to manage the technical performance of the program, meeting cost and schedule requirements, including subcontracted elements.
• Serve as the definitive technical authority for all engineering aspects (systems engineering, hardware, software, support, test) on the program.
• Act as the technical point of contact to the customer and advisor to the program manager.
• Perform Deputy Program Manager duties, including representing the program in reviews and program status PRA reviews.
• Lead cyber engineering efforts to meet all program milestones and controls.
• Maintain oversight of technical activities within program Mission and Product Areas, ensuring horizontal integration of best engineering practices.
• Provide expert input on risks, issues, and opportunities affecting system-level requirements, baselines, or engineering integration.
• Evaluate technical implications of identified risks, issues, and opportunities, offering recommendations for mitigation strategies.
• Review and validate the impact of risks, issues, and opportunities on ongoing product and system development.
• Provide technical leadership, direction, and mentoring to other technical employees in applying systems engineering principles, tools, and techniques.
• Lead efforts in Digital Transformation initiatives and Agile planning and execution.
• Serve as the interface for the program to NCTA activities.
• Develop and present technical solutions to senior leadership.
• Support large technical proposals and lead the customer through reviews of technical performance.
• Collaborate across business units, divisions, and sectors within Northrop Grumman, as well as with industry partners and the customer community.
• Motivate and guide teams and activities without formal ownership of the staff supporting those activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) discipline and 14 years of relevant experience; 12 years with a master’s degree; 10 years with a PhD.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience formally leading engineering teams or organizations to achieve a common goal.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance at time of application (U.S. citizenship required).
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25%.
• Familiarity with supporting large technical proposals and leading customers through technical performance reviews.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with experience working across business units, divisions, sectors, industry partners, and the customer community.
• Ability to motivate and guide teams without formal ownership of staff.
• RF and hardware design, integration, and deployment/demonstration experience.
• Prior experience as a SEIT (Systems Engineering, Integration, and Test) lead.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated background applying Northrop Grumman Systems Engineering Principles and Operating Practices to guide program technical design, development, and deployment of systems architectures.
• Ten or more years of experience in remote sensing applications across multiple operating domains (air, land, sea, space, cyber).
• Five or more years of experience supporting the development of mission-level campaign concepts of operations and enterprise-scale systems architectures.
• General knowledge of data exploitation, AI/ML techniques, and Automatic Target Recognition (ATR).
• Experience integrating multiple engineering specialties and stakeholders across multiple teams and suppliers.
• Experience leading design, production, and integration of complex systems.
• Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) experience.
• Experience leading the performance of technical tasks on schedule, at cost, and achieving all requirements as either a chief engineer or technical lead.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in achieving results through managing people and understanding internal processes and customer/supplier relationships.
• Strong understanding and broad application of complex engineering systems (engineering standards, configuration management, material review board, process control, tooling, facilities, software, etc.).
• Ability to collaborate and achieve consensus when dealing with groups from diverse organizations and backgrounds.
• Demonstrated experience in making sound decisions in uncertain and difficult situations.
• Experience with industrial or government construction projects.
• Breadth of technical background (all domain physical, security, phenomenology).

Pay

Primary level salary range: $192,800.00 - $289,200.00. The salary range represents a general guideline; Northrop Grumman considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's experience, education, skills, and current market conditions when determining base salary offers. 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.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Savings plan.
• Company-paid holidays.
• Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.