Payload Interface Engineer - Top Secret/SCI Clearance Required (Space Systems)

Join the Tactical Space Systems Division in a challenging and rewarding role as a Payload Interface Engineer in Gilbert, AZ. Successful candidates for this position will work in a lead technical role for the LEOStar-3 Product Line as a Payload Interface Engineering on a national security space program.

The specific responsibilities of the Payload Interface Engineering Lead are to lead and manage the technical effort to define and verify interfaces between spacecraft bus, payloads, launch vehicle, and ground systems for their assigned mission. Tasking includes developing interface requirements, documenting designs through interface control documents (ICDs), leading interface working groups and design reviews, supervising technical design accommodations, developing interface verification and validation plans, and leading interface testing during integration & test campaigns.

Job Responsibilities:

• Drive program technical execution in accordance with Northrop Grumman Systems Engineering processes and best practices.
• Be self-directed while leveraging your technical and leadership skills to help bring spacecraft bus, payload, launch vehicle, and ground segment Interfaces together to produce a spacecraft meeting contractual and mission requirements.
• Spearhead development of interface control documents governing all mechanical, electrical, and functional interfaces and interdependencies between spacecraft bus, payloads, launch vehicle, and ground segment.
• Ensure interface requirements are flowed and allocated to the proper program elements/subsystems and accurately documented and linked in the interface management database.
• Chair interface working groups and reviews with both customers and mission partners.
• Recognize and mitigate interface related technical issues and risks.
• Support the planning, design, and execution of testing strategies to verify interface functionality, measure performance, and verify survivability in the extreme launch and space environments.
• Support development of avionics test benches and simulation environments to verify interface requirements and help burn down overall program technical risk.
• Play a key role in major program milestone and readiness reviews.
• Author and provide input to major program data products and other deliverables.
• Assist process improvement initiatives, and incorporate lessons learned to continue to strengthen the LEOStar-3 product line.
• Lead by example and be willing to mentor, coach, train, guide, direct and advise junior staff.

Basic Qualifications:

• Must have U.S. Citizenship with active DoD Top Secret/SCI clearance at the time of application
• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 14+ years of engineering experience OR master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 9+ years of engineering experience.
• Experience in systems engineering to include architectural studies, technical baseline definition, requirements & interface management, hardware/software integration, and test planning & execution.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in engineering, physics, or computer science
• Experience working on spacecraft or aircraft systems.
• Experience in system architecture, CONOPs development, or model-based system engineering
• Experience with various technical tools such as MATLAB, STK, CORE, DOORS, or CAMEO
• Experience in any of the following areas is also desired:  orbital mechanics, orbital debris modeling, spacecraft attitude control, power systems and modeling, avionics or digital electronics design, risk analysis, optics, communications, rocket propulsion, thermal engineering, or spacecraft integration and testing.
• Experience with Mission Operations for spacecraft
• Knowledge of Launch Vehicles, System Safety, System Reliability, Contamination Control, EMI, Space Environments (Radiation, Surface Charging, etc.), and Human Factors is also desired.
• Experience and/or training in Earned Value Management Systems

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Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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/AA 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.