Principal/Senior Principal Industrial Controls 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's Mission Systems is seeking a Principal/Senior Principal Industrial Controls Engineer for Operations Manufacturing. This position focuses on automated control systems used in electronics and mechanical manufacturing, assembly, and packaging. 

What's Great About Working for Northrop Grumman: 
**Be part of a culture that thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work. 
**Use your skills to build and deliver innovative tech solutions that protect the world and shape a better future. 
**Enjoy benefits like work-life balance, education assistance and paid time off. 
**Many sites have 9/80 days, telework and flexible scheduling options, plus generous paid time off. 
**Northrop Grumman was recognized as one of the world’s most flexible employers by Sustainability Magazine in 2023.
**Northrop Grumman has made the Top 50 list for Diversity Inc. for 14 consecutive years!

What's Great About This Job: 
**You will be a Controls Engineer on a small automation team. 
**You will use your innovation and creativity to create controls designs for new automation projects. 
**You will have the opportunity to help build a controls engineering organization. 

Projects include: 
**Controls design for new automation projects. 
**Help establish processes/procedures for the controls organization. 
**Working with the automation team and digital fabric team to help automate current processes. 
**Front line support for automation equipment to ensure we meet uptime targets. 

The Industrial Controls Engineer responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the tasks outlined below: 

Process Development:

• Developing new and maintaining or improving existing manufacturing processes with a focus on machine autonomy 

• Creating and managing to project plans (tasks, resources, schedules) for automation development activities 

• Designing, specifying, and procuring custom manufacturing equipment control systems for production readiness and preparing equipment for production 

• Developing and optimizing industrial control systems 

• Developing/revising control logic, wiring, and human-machine interface for ease of use and troubleshooting 

• Assisting with design of custom equipment, conveyors, robots, and control/electrical panel layouts 

• Documenting state-of-the-art automation capabilities and guidelines for process engineers 

Factory Support:

• Monitoring machine uptime, efficacy and process stability and capability 

• Recommending and implementing controls, sensors, electromechanical and/or automation improvements based on the above metrics 

• Creating, validating and maintaining automatic equipment programs and software 

• Assisting with the training of new personnel and participating in the design of operator training materials 

• Solving of manufacturing problems (related to sensors, robots, motion, vision, equipment, data) in a timely manner 

• Supporting and training factory maintenance personnel with the troubleshooting and repair of process equipment

Vendor Designed Equipment Development:

• Recommending equipment design improvements required to produce Mission Systems products 

• Reviewing vendor equipment statement of work, quotes, design, installation, and facility testing for maximum equipment performance 

• Evaluating vendor designs meet Mission Systems automation and Manufacturing Execution System (MES) requirements 

• Connecting with Mission Systems MES to maximize product traceability and data analysis 

The chosen candidate must have excellent verbal and written communication skills; be able to multi-task in a fast-paced, dynamic, and high visibility environment; and work well as part of a team. 

This job may be filled as a Principal Engineer or a Senior Principal Engineer based on the qualifications below. 

Basic Qualifications for a Principal Engineer: 

• Bachelor of Science degree or higher in Engineering or related STEM area 

• 5 years of relevant professional experience (or 3 years with an MS) 

• Industrial Controls Engineering experience 

• Familiarity with programmable logic controllers (PLC’s) (for example Siemens, Allen Bradley, Omron and Beckhoff) 

• Experience programming PLC’s per IEC 61131-3 (for example -ladder logic, function block diagram and structured text) 

• Familiarity with some of these -RSLogix, Step 7, CX-One, TwinCAT, Labview and/or Wonderware software 

• Experience sending PLC data to servers (for example Open Platform Communications (OPC), OPC Unified Architecture (OPC-UA) and Structured Query Language (SQL) servers) 

• Familiarity with motion controllers, solenoids, conveyors, servos, actuators and other pneumatic/electromechanical systems 

• Fluency in MS Office software applications 

• Ability to obtain and maintain a US Secret Security Clearance (US Citizenship is required.) 

Basic Qualifications for a Senior Principal Engineer: 

• Bachelor of Science degree or higher in Engineering or related STEM area 

• 9 years of relevant professional experience (or 7 years with an MS) 

• Industrial Controls Engineering experience 

• Familiarity with programmable logic controllers (PLC’s) (for example Siemens, Allen Bradley, Omron and Beckhoff) 

• Experience programming PLC’s per IEC 61131-3 (for example -ladder logic, function block diagram and structured text) 

• Familiarity with some of these -RSLogix, Step 7, CX-One, TwinCAT, Labview and/or Wonderware software 

• Experience sending PLC data to servers (for example Open Platform Communications (OPC), OPC Unified Architecture (OPC-UA) and Structured Query Language (SQL) servers) 

• Familiarity with motion controllers, solenoids, conveyors, servos, actuators and other pneumatic/electromechanical systems 

• Fluency in MS Office software applications 

• Ability to obtain and maintain a US Secret Security Clearance (US Citizenship is required.) 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Bachelor of Science degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or equivalent (Automation Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering, Controls and Computer Control Systems, etc.) 

• Experience with machine vision systems and barcode readers (for example Cognex, Keyence, and Fanuc) 

• Familiarity with varying process sensors for environment, motion, measurement and presence (for example Banner, Sick, Allen-Bradley, Keyence, Omron) 

• Experience with programming gantry, articulating, and SCARA robots 

• Experience with electronics manufacturing automation, conveyors and equipment in a high volume environment 

• Familiarity with RIA TR R15.406-2014 and OSHA equipment safety standards 

• Knowledge of electronic electrostatic discharge (ESD) and contamination damage 

• Experience networking supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), controllers and servers via Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT, Modbus or equivalent Fieldbus protocols

MANUMS

Salary Range: $99,800 USD - $149,800 USD

Salary Range 2: $123,800 USD - $185,800 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.