Chief Engineer: Level 6 - IPT Lead

Location: United States-Arizona-Chandler

Time Type: Full time

Job Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Description

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 - Launch Vehicles Division seeks a dynamic, results-driven professional to fill the role of Chief Engineer: Level 6 – IPT Lead. This high-visibility position requires a technical and leadership expert capable of guiding multi-disciplinary engineering teams to design, integrate, and deliver cutting-edge kill vehicle systems for hypersonic environments. The ideal candidate will have exceptional avionics design expertise, a deep understanding of hypersonic system challenges, and proven program management abilities to balance cost, schedule, and quality.

What You’ll Get To Do:
As the Chief Engineer: Level 6 – Integrated Product Team Lead, you will:

• Lead a High-Performing Team: Manage a cross-functional engineering team of over 50 professionals in a high-visibility and fast-paced program environment. Collaborate with diverse groups including Engineering & Program Management, Software and Hardware Engineers, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Mission Assurance teams.
• Be a Key Liaison: Work closely with U.S. and Japanese partners, fostering teamwork and collaboration in both domestic and international settings to meet technical and programmatic goals.
• Deliver End-to-End Solutions: Drive the design effort across multiple engineering disciplines, ensuring the development and integration of several delivered components and subsystems. Extend oversight to include tactical and test software development efforts.
• Solve Complex Challenges: Apply your organizational and technical problem-solving skills to ensure successful execution of system designs while addressing development risks and emerging challenges in real-time.
• Communicate at all Levels: Provide technical leadership and support for internal and external executive briefings, including program updates, engineering reviews, and risk management discussions.
• Maintain High Standards: Thrive in a high-expectation environment, demonstrating initiative, meticulous attention to detail, and polished verbal and written communication skills.

Essential Functions:

Leadership and Team Management:

• Serve as the technical and leadership authority for the Kill Vehicle IPT team, delivering on challenging performance, schedule, and cost objectives.
• Engage, inspire, and guide cross-functional teams to achieve program milestones, ensuring clear communication and strong alignment across all stakeholders.
• Proactively manage team assignments, workloads, mentorship, and collaboration across internal teams and external partnerships.

System-Level Design Optimization:

• Apply systems engineering principles to balance multi-discipline trade-offs between mechanical, electrical, software, propulsion, electro-optical, and manufacturing teams.
• Optimize kill vehicle performance by managing diverse requirements, mitigating risks, and resolving system integration challenges.
• Conduct structured trade studies to inform design decisions with practical and achievable solutions that enhance overall reliability and cost-effectiveness.

Subsystem Integration and Testing:

• Collaborate with the Seeker IPT lead to integrate optical seeker and sensor systems, balancing critical thermal, electrical, and mechanical interfaces.
• Manage technical planning, design, and execution of rigorous subsystem and system-level test campaigns under flight-representative conditions to validate hypersonic system performance.

Stakeholder Management and Communication:

• Serve as the primary technical interface for internal and external stakeholders, preparing and delivering clear communication on risks, trade-offs, decisions, and successes.
• Partner with internal program management and external vendors to align technical requirements and delivery schedules with program milestones.
• Foster collaborative, trust-based relationships with U.S. and international partners to maintain alignment and ensure mission success.

  
Basic Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) with 14 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in STEM with 12 years of related engineering experience, or a PhD in STEM with 10 years of related engineering experience
• Active US DoD Secret Security clearance, or higher at the time of application
• U.S Citizenship is required
• Experience leading technical teams
• Understanding of DoD systems engineering requirements
• Experience as Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead, Technical lead, or other leadership role in a program office or business function with demonstrated team building, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Experience with the technical development and direction for many aspects of engineering on a program, including design, development, implementation, testing, and delivery of product to a customer
• Experience with developing and executing project schedules

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Advanced degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics or other related technical fields
• Active DoD Top Secret Clearance or higher, SAP access(es), and/or SCI access
• Exceptional communication skills
• An interest in and an aptitude for customer engagements at technical and programmatic levels
• Experience as a Control Account Manager (CAM) managing Earned Value Management System (EVMS) projects
• Domain expertise in defense sensor systems
• Experience with the technical development and direction for all aspects of engineering on a program, including design, development, implementation, testing, and delivery of product to a customer
• Experience coordinating with external subcontractors, primes, and/or suppliers

Primary Level Salary Range: $166,500.00 - $249,700.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and 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 application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity 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 and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.