Principal/Sr Principal Systems Test Eng (Test Director)

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an immediate opening at our Palmdale, California facility.  The System Test IPT is seeking a Principal/Sr. Principal Flight Test Engineer to serve as a Test Director for the Flight Test Department.

The Test Director supervises the execution of test missions, with a primary focus on safety, execution efficiency, standards, and test discipline.  The Test Director ensures mission preparation is completed in accordance with local procedures, oversees the scheduling of resources and assets, and coordinates with all engineering disciplines and external agencies to ensure successful test execution.  

The Test Director safeguards sensitive and critical test information and adheres to the relevant Security Classification Guide. The Test Director has the authority to terminate the test event if the technical validity of the test is in question or safety jeopardized.  Finally, the Test Director also helps to develop and review flight test plans and safety plans.

Additional responsibilities of the role include, but are not limited to the following:

• Lead in the development of test plans, test schedules, and test procedures for testing.  

• Lead test card development and review in collaboration with other engineering disciplines and test operations personnel.  

• Supports test readiness reviews, and pre/post-test briefings.  

• Provides mission control room support and makes real-time decisions regarding safety, efficiency, and effectiveness.  

• Conducts and contributes to pre and post-test data analyses to support anomaly identification and resolution.  

• Maintains metrics on status of testing and constraints.

This position requires outstanding written and oral communications skills. Individuals must be able to work without appreciable direction to develop solutions to complex problems; must be able to work both within a team environment and independently; must be self-motivated, thorough, and detailed; and must be willing to learn additional engineering discipline areas.
Position requires willingness to accept changing and evolving roles & responsibilities in support of customers’ requirements and need.

**Please note, this position may be filled at either a Principal or Sr. Principal level**

Basic Qualifications for Principal Flight Test Engineer (Test Director):

• A minimum of 5 Years of applicable experience with BS (in STEM); 3 Years with Masters (in STEM); 0 Years with PhD (in STEM).

Basic Qualifications for Sr. Principal Flight Test Engineer (Test Director):

• A minimum of 9 years of applicable experience with a BS (in STEM), or 7 years with a MS (in STEM), or 5 years with a PhD (in STEM)

Basic Qualifications for both Principal/Sr. Principal level:

• An active Secret clearance is required to onboard.  Full Statement of Work (SOW) requires an active Top Secret clearance w/SCI eligibility.  
• Requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Special Program Access clearance.
• Maturity and professionalism to lead the execution of flight test missions, briefings and oversee team of test control and discipline engineers in Mission Control Room.
• Strong familiarity with flight test of avionics systems, weapons, live fires and releases, and sensor testing.
• Effectively function and make decisions in dynamic, high-pressure environments
• Mission control room experience
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Ability to work odd shifts, weekends and/or overtime.
• Work well in a team environment as well as independently.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• FAA rating highly desirable. 
• Military flight/operations experience highly desirable.
• Advanced Flight Test Operations and Control Room experience
• Developmental Test and Operational Test operations experience.
• Experience in flight test of avionics systems, weapons, live fires and releases, and sensor testing.
• Previous experience as aircrew member (Pilot, EWO, NAV, etc.) is desired but not required.
• Private Pilot license is desired but not required.
• Previous qualification as a Test Conductor would be considered an asset.
• Test Pilot School Graduate is desired but not required.

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.