See how passion and engineering sail together at Northrop Grumman
Top Secret Janitor
Discover how Orlando went from janitor to hydraulics expert in a high-security Northrop Grumman program.
By Cassie Mann
It is no secret that when you’re defending national security, classified work is the name of the game. SCIFs — sensitive compartmented information facilities — are the closed spaces where this critical work happens to protect warfighters and proprietary innovations.
Each day, Northrop Grumman employees step into these closed spaces to execute classified projects. People like Orlando Arana, who works on Northrop Grumman’s Ocean Engineering Program. It requires dedication, rigorous background checks and a security clearance to be able to work in these spaces, no matter what your role.
The Ocean Engineering Program, like most other programs that handle classified work, is completely self-sufficient due to the nature of its work. Roles encompass everything from engineering, machinists, administrative staff… and even janitorial staff, all of whom need special security clearances to move within the SCIF.
Orlando, now a hydraulics subject matter expert (SME), knows this better than most. His career wasn’t always water pressure, hydraulic power and machinery; hired originally as a janitor for the Ocean Engineering team in 2017, Orlando’s days looked a little different back then.
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Summary:
Northrop Grumman’s Ocean Engineering Program operates within secure SCIFs requiring strict clearances; employees from janitorial to engineering roles contribute to classified projects, demonstrated by Orlando Arana’s growth from janitor to hydraulics expert.
Key Takeaways:
- Northrop Grumman supports career growth within classified environments by fostering skill development and mentorship across all roles.
- Empowering employees through mentorship and internal opportunity nurtures expertise critical for secure national defense programs.
