Principal Software Quality Engineer/ Sr Principal Software Quality 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.

Join Northrop Grumman on our continued mission to push the boundaries of possible across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. Enjoy a culture where your voice is valued and start contributing to our team of passionate professionals providing real-life solutions to our world’s biggest challenges. We take pride in creating purposeful work and allowing our employees to grow and achieve their goals every day by Defining Possible. With our competitive pay and comprehensive benefits, we have the right opportunities to fit your life and launch your career today.

Develops, modifies, applies, and maintains standards for software quality operating methods, processes, systems and procedures. Conducts software inspection, testing, verification and validation. Implements software development and maintenance processes and methods. Ensures measures meet acceptable reliability standards. Develops overall operating criteria to ensure implementation of the software quality program according to project, process and contract requirements and objectives. Ensures that project and process control documentation are compliant with requirements, objectives and/or contract. Reviews software design, change specifications, and plans against contractual and/or process requirements. Reviews include applicable specifications, materials, tools, techniques, and methodologies. Performs or directs verification of software requirement allocations, traceability, and testability.

Job Responsibilities

• Review customer, system and software requirements to ensure the flow down of requirements is complete and unambiguous.
• Review and verify design documents meet appropriate standards.
• Review source code and provide technical feedback and solution alternatives.
• Participate in contractual reviews and audits, program/IPT meetings, and configuration control board meetings.
• Perform process audits of software development processes to assure compliance to established policies, procedures, work instructions, and program specific plans.
• Examine the products associated with the preparation and configuration control of software test environments to assess the team’s readiness to enter formal testing.
• Witness execution of software qualification and system acceptance tests to ensure tests are executed in accordance with approved test procedures, requirements are fully verified, and that all test procedure and software anomalies are documented and tracked to closure.
• Evaluate and ensure software suppliers possess the capability and capacity necessary to execute and deliver procured software with unquestionable quality.
• Facilitate thorough root cause analysis on major findings and ensure appropriate corrective and preventive actions are developed and implemented in a timely manner.
• Interpret customer technical, software, and mission assurance requirements and ensure those requirements are integrated into program plans, specifications, and product documents.
• Ensure compliance with contract program, quality, organizational, and industry alert requirements.
• Provide oversight in discrepancy review and software failure investigations as well as cause and corrective action determinations. Analyze and interpret trends and execute improvements on key metrics.
• Ensure Software Risk Management activities are executed according to standards and procedures.
• Provide Lab support and lab verification in preparation for Software Certification testing.
• Develop and deliver metrics and reports as needed.

Basic Qualifications: Principal Software Quality Engineer

• 5 years of experience with Software and/or Quality Assurance and a Bachelor's Degree (in a STEM field ideally Engineering;) or 0 years of experience with a Master's; O years of experience with PHD.
• Able to read and understand Software Code (C++, Python, Java)
• Application of technical expertise including complete understanding of software assurance fundamental engineering principles, practices, and theories
• Ability to understand and work with multiple enterprise-wide systems and software problem tracking tools (e.g. DOORs, Jira, Confluence, BitBucket.)
• Experience with ISO and AS9100 standards requirements
• Advanced experience in applying waterfall, spiral, and Agile life cycles.
• Knowledge of Root Cause and Corrective Action tools
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOD Secret Clearance as well as Program Special access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs. US citizen required for clearance.

Basic Qualifications: Sr Principal Software Quality Engineer

• 9 years of experience with Software and/or Quality Assurance and a Bachelor's Degree (in a STEM field ideally Engineering;) or 7 years of experience with a Master's; or 4 years of experience with a PHD degree
• Able to read and understand Software Code (C++, Python, Java)
• Application of technical expertise including complete understanding of software assurance fundamental engineering principles, practices, and theories
• Ability to understand and work with multiple enterprise-wide systems and software problem tracking tools (e.g. DOORs, Jira, Confluence, BitBucket.)
• Experience with ISO and AS9100 standards requirements
• Advanced experience in applying waterfall, spiral, and Agile life cycles
• Knowledge of Root Cause and Corrective Action tools
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOD Secret Clearance as well as Program Special access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs. US citizen required for clearance

Preferred Skills

• Excellent writing communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to adapt to new challenges and ideas.
• Exceptional customer responsiveness
• Ability to follow established processes and procedures.
• Be detail oriented and self-driven.
• Ability to successfully work multiple concurrent tasks.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Self-motivated and have a positive mindset.
• Work well under pressure and adapt well to unplanned tasks.
• Ability and willingness to continuously learn and implement new processes.
• Dedicated to teamwork and be ability to work very well in a team environment.
• Active Secret clearance

Salary Range: $86,300 USD - $129,500 USD

Salary Range 2: $107,000 USD - $160,400 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.