Principal/Sr. Principal Material Engineer (Up To $10K Signing Bonus)

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.

The Payload and Ground Systems Division (PGSD) within the Northrop Grumman Space Systems Sector pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered with providing the skills and 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 PGSD Systems Engineering organization has an opening for a Principal or Sr. Principal Material Engineer to join our qualified, engaged, and diverse engineering team. This position supports our Remote Sensing Program (RSP) Business Unit located in Linthicum, Maryland.

                                  

Material Engineers are involved in the flow-down and compliance of requirements to ensure specific materials and processes used in manufactured products and systems are reliable and effective and are approved for use in a space environment. Their work spans all program phases, including proposal, design & development, manufacturing, integration & test, and post-delivery/launch support of anomaly investigations.

The Material Engineer is responsible for material-based management for our developmental and production space programs for electrical and mechanical hardware. This high visibility position requires a motivated, self-starter with an engineering and material background with excellent interpersonal skills to respond to program customer product needs and concerns. This candidate will require extensive technical understanding of metallic and non-metallic (polymer and graphite composites, etc.) materials for electronics packaging and mechanical structures. Compositions/components of interest include adhesives, coatings, thermal interface materials, structural components, thermal components (heat pipes, etc.), ceramic/hermetic packages and printed wiring boards. Processes of interest include leaded, low, and high temperature soldering, brazing, welding, wire bonding, and plating. Knowledge of metals joining (soldering, brazing, welding) and use of aluminum for additive manufacturing is also desired.

Materials based management includes ensuring all programs are using space approved processes and materials as well as performing or overseeing material test and characterization of new materials and assemblies. This may include developing, analyzing, and applying material properties and design allowables, providing end-of-life property predictions, and performing accelerated life testing. The candidate will be required to analyze material test data and communicate results to internal and external stakeholders in oral presentations and written reports for use in hardware analysis, definition of requirement specifications, and proper application on engineering drawings. The candidate will be expected to utilize the Materials and Processes laboratory in Linthicum, MD which has excellent facilities and equipment for characterization and testing of metals, polymers, and ceramics.  In addition, the laboratory has broad capabilities for measuring mechanical, thermal, electrical, and magnetic properties of materials, as well as analytical chemistry instrumentation for determination of material composition and purity. 

The selected candidate will also be expected to work effectively with Program Management Office (PMO), Global Supply Chain, Division Category Management, External Program Suppliers, Integrated Product Team, Operations Program Management, Manufacturing, Hardware and Component Engineering, and other organizations to resolve supplier technical topics in support of manufacturing and production strategy and execution. The selected candidate is expected to have the ability to work both independently and within a team demonstrating the ability to multi-task and communicate effectively with varying levels of program customers and functional organization leadership. Travel required to key suppliers on a regular basis to review and approve subcontractor material processing procedures.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide technical assistance to space flight programs
• Support Expert Reviews and Design Reviews.
• Review certifications for materials used for space flight programs.
• Perform materials test and analysis, and provide results via oral and written reports
• Generate/implement process and materials control documents
• Lead the identification and qualification of new/alternate materials that can be used to improve space products and communicate material evaluations to relevant stakeholders
• Review and comment on all engineering drawings and RNs
• Work with outgassing lab to get samples tested per ASTM E595
• Support Configuration Control Board and Parts, Materials, and Processes Control Board meetings for space flight programs.
• Attend and participate in internal and external materials conferences. Stay current.
• Maintain contact with other NGC M&P engineers
• Work on the identification alternate materials that can be used for space and assist with the qualification process steps.
• Could also work on mechanical design or tasks as a stretch assignment to widen development of potential candidate.

This role can be filled at the Principal (Level 3) or Senior Principal (Level 4) position

Basic Qualifications:

• Principal Engineer Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 5 years of experience; 3 years with a MS degree; or with a Ph.D. with no experience, OR in lieu of a degree 9 years of experience
• Senior Principal Engineer Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 9 years of experience; 7 years with a MS degree; or 5 years with a Ph.D. OR in lieu of a degree 13 years of experience
• Experience in an Engineering, Supply Chain and/or Manufacturing role(s)
• Demonstrated experience with formulating technical solutions to material, assembly, and process engineering challenges
• Demonstrated experience using Windows software packages, and other supplier quality and global supply chain databases and reports
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

• TS/SCI clearance
• Degree in Materials Science/Engineering or practical experience in Materials Science/Engineering
• Familiarity with materials test techniques and equipment such as thermal analysis (DSC, TMA, TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis, polymer rheology, infrared spectroscopy, SEM/EDS/EBSD, and acoustic microscopy.
• Electrical & Mechanical Component/Commodity Engineering experience
• Experience with manufacturing techniques for printed wiring boards, connectors, cables, tiles, manifolds, backplanes, MMICs/ASICs, panels, and mechanical assemblies
• Prior project experience managing material selection implementation.
• Knowledge of FAR & DFAR requirements
• Knowledge of ISO 9001/AS9100 requirements
• Knowledge of ASTM E595 and NASA outgassing standards
• Specialty metals compliance, non-metallic materials compliance, electronic parts compliance, and space traceability requirements
• Experience with qualifying materials for use in a space application

Salary Range: $90,600 USD - $136,000 USD

Salary Range 2: $112,300 USD - $168,500 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.