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Sr. Architecture & Design Chief Engineer (Clearance Required)

Requisition ID: R10011191

  • CategoryCategory: Engineering
  • LocationLocation: Azusa, CA, USA
  • Citizenship RequirementsCitizenship Required: United States Citizenship
  • Security Clearance TypeClearance Type: Secret
  • TelecommuteTelecommute: Yes-May consider hybrid teleworking for this position
  • ShiftShift: 1st Shift (United States of America)
  • Travel RequirementsTravel Required: Yes, 10% of the Time
  • Relocation AssistanceRelocation Assistance: Relocation assistance may be available
  • Number of Positions AvailablePositions Available: 2

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. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Embark on a career putting innovative, reliable, and agile products and ideas into orbit, and beyond. Northrop Grumman has opportunities waiting for you that play a vital role in human space exploration, national defense, and scientific discovery, supporting multiple programs across the universe. With us, you’ll discover a culture of curiosity and collaboration that will have you Defining Possible from the day you start. Our space systems connect and protect millions of people on earth every day, now and for the future. Explore your future and launch your career today.

The Payload and Ground Systems organization within the 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, innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter. Come be a part of our mission!

Northrop Grumman Strategic Force Programs (SFP) is looking for a qualified Consulting (Level 7) Chief Engineer with architecture and design development expertise and major procurement, assembly, integration, test and on-orbit experience for space-qualified payloads.  This person will be supporting new business captures and proposals as well as supporting the existing OPIR and/or Remote Sensing programs. The candidate will be working out of our Azusa, CA (primary) and Redondo Beach, CA (secondary) locations.

Position Summary / Responsibilities include:

  • Supports business captures toward predetermined long-range goals and objectives
  • Supports pursuit/proposal efforts by leading the development of innovative system payload concepts and architectures to meet mission objectives, applying new principles and theories where applicable
  • Serves as organization spokesperson on advanced projects and/or programs. Acts as advisor to management and customers on advanced technical research, studies and applications
  • Supports program execution as definitive technical authority for all aspects of engineering on all program elements (hardware/software/support/test).
  • Leads a multi-disciplined engineering team to ensure compliant technical performance
  • Maintains cognizance over technical activities within and across program IPTs for requirements development, hardware/software design, payload integration and verification/validation activities
  • Solves program unusually/complex technical problems and provides solutions that are highly innovative and achievable
  • Provides technical status/updates and assessment to PMO. Supports PMO in assessing cost and schedule impacts of technical decisions or customer requests
  • Ensures program is adhering to engineering processes and best practices in design, development, fabrication/assembly, test and sustainment of products for our customers and is compliant with company policies, procedures, and quality standards
  • Coordinates with functional organization to ensure execution of program statement of work and technical program requirements are met
  • Serves as the program technical point of contact with the customer

Basic Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM field & 20+ years of related technical experience, OR a Master’s Degree in a STEM field & 18+ years of related technical experience, OR a PhD in a STEM field & 15+ years of related technical experience
  • Experience with OP/IR and/or remote sensing space qualified payload concept/architecture expertise with design AI&T and on-orbit experience
  • Experience within business captures/proposals and program execution
  • Current & active DoD secret security clearance


Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Master’s in a STEM field & 20+ years of related technical engineering experience
  • Current & active DoD TS/SCI security clearance

Salary Range: $188,300 USD - $282,500 USD

Employees may be eligible for 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. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The health and safety of our employees and their families is a top priority. The company encourages employees to remain up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. U.S. Northrop Grumman employees may be required, in the future, to be vaccinated or have an approved disability/medical or religious accommodation, pursuant to future court decisions and/or government action on the currently stayed federal contractor vaccine mandate under Executive Order 14042 https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/.

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 most positions.



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What's great about
Northrop Grumman

  1. Be part of a culture that thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work.
  2. Use your skills to build and deliver innovative tech solutions that protect the world and shape a better future.
  3. Enjoy benefits like work-life balance, education assistance and paid time off.


Did you know?

Northrop Grumman leads the industry team for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, the largest, most complex and powerful space telescope ever built. Launched in December 2021, the telescope incorporates innovative design, advanced technology, and groundbreaking engineering, and will fundamentally alter our understanding of the universe.