Staff Aerodynamics Engineer

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.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is looking for a Staff Aerodynamics Engineer to join our Vehicle Engineering team of qualified, diverse individuals in Melbourne, FL. Relocation assistance is available.

Job Summary:

The Staff Aerodynamics Engineer applies engineering principles to the design and development of air vehicles to ensure safe, operational efficiency while maintaining defined program strategic goals.  Works with a highly motivated team responsible for all aspects of air vehicle aerodynamic verification and validation (V&V) and the contributions to air vehicle stability & control and performance. 

Responsibilities include:

• Provides design verification and validation by supporting wind tunnel test planning, development, test data acquisition, data reduction, necessary flight corrections, and final database releases timely to program schedule

• Verifies design modifications by working closely with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) dataset providers and assessing air vehicle impacts

• Supports flight test planning, acquisition and analysis of flight test data working closely with flight test and flight controls disciplines

• General frequent use and application of technical standards, principles, theories, concepts and advanced techniques

• Demonstrates the skill and ability to perform complex professional tasks

• Innovates solutions to a variety of technical challenges of increasing scope and complexity

• Provide technical analysis data for substantiation data reports and other airworthiness artifacts required to support flight clearances

• Supports air vehicle aerodynamic database development

• Interact with other flight science disciplines and providing trade study support and guidance on data quality

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and 14+ years of related experience; OR Master’s degree and 12+ years of related experience; OR Ph.D. and 9+ years of related experience

• At least one degree must be in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) discipline

• Experience with fixed wing aerodynamics

• Broad knowledge of wind tunnel data analysis and transformation techniques

• Active DoD Secret clearance or higher with background investigation completed within the last 6 years or under continuous evaluation

• Must be able to obtain and maintain Special Access Programs (SAP) prior to the commencement of employment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent communication, analysis, and problem-solving skills

• Degree discipline in Aerospace or Aeronautical Engineering with concentration in aerodynamics and Parameter Identification

• Aerodynamic/propulsion force and moment accounting

• Stability and Control experience

• Experience in a Wind Tunnel test support role that resulted in timely data reduction and database generation

• Flight test support and data analysis experience including system and parameter identification

• Experience with Aerodynamic database development for Six Degree of Freedom simulators

• Experience in MATLAB

Salary Range: $139,000 USD - $208,600 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.