Sr Principal Chief Engineer

Relocation assistance may be available. U.S. Citizenship is required with the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense (DoD) Secret Security clearance. Travel required: 10% of the time.

About the role

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (NGMS) has an immediate opportunity for a Sr. Principal Chief Engineer supporting the Mission Systems organization. This role encompasses technical competency and team leadership, based in Apopka, FL. The position supports and leads engineering design, integration, test, and production of laser and optical systems for handheld, ground, and airborne products.

The candidate will demonstrate a broad skill set balanced between interpersonal, leadership, and technical capabilities. Responsibilities may include mission engineering, system architecture development, requirements development/management, system design/analysis, modeling & simulation, model-based systems engineering, IPT/product owner leadership, integration and test, specialties engineering, or other appropriate technical functions. The role requires a self-starter able to operate efficiently in a team environment and collaborate across the sector’s business areas.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct cross-functional engineering teams during proposal, design, manufacturing, and delivery phases of products in development and production.
• Develop and execute project budgets and schedules, including Earned Value Management System (EVMS), critical path management, Estimates-at-Completion (EACs), and workload forecasts.
• Interface with functional departments to secure team staffing.
• Work with suppliers and articulate project requirements.
• Brief internal and customer leadership on progress of work assigned.
• Support writing technical specifications, Statements of Work (SOWs), design reviews (e.g., SRR, SDR, PDR, CDR, TRR TIMs), and capture/proposal activities.
• Develop and maintain relationships with internal and external customers, homerooms, and sectors.
• Develop proposal inputs and review proposal content for both internal and external customers.
• Lead or support department initiatives, technology roadmap creation, cross-campus/sector involvement, and IRAD project leadership.

Requirements

• 8+ years of relevant experience with a Bachelor's degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or related technical fields; OR 6 years of relevant experience with a Master’s Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or related technical fields.
• Experience as technical lead, Integrated Product Team Lead, or other leadership role in a program office or business function with demonstrated team building, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated technical leadership skills, decisiveness, and ability to make sound technical judgments with limited information.
• Experience in systems development, integration, and test of complex EO/IR or electronic systems.
• U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a minimum of a DoD Secret Security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as an Engineering Program Manager, Integrated Product Team (IPT) lead, and/or Chief Engineer.
• Fluency with developing and executing project schedules.
• Experience as a Control Account Manager (CAM) on DoD projects.
• Experience in design development of Optical, Imager, Laser Rangefinder, Laser Designator, Electronic Warfare, Military, or Space Technologies.
• Active Secret Clearance.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Savings plan.
• Company-paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.
• Annual bonuses designed to reward individual contributions and allow employees to share in company results.
• Eligibility for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay (depending on the position).
• Long Term Incentives for Vice President or Director positions.