Energetics Lead Engineer Propulsion – Level 3/4: Active Secret Clearance

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.

The Mechanical Engineering & Energetics team is hiring an Energetics Lead Engineer Propulsion – Level 3/4: Active Secret Clearance professional at our Chandler, AZ location.

​This role will serve as the Energetics Lead for the Advanced Weapons Systems (AWS) product line with responsibility for a broad range of ordnance, pneumatic, hydraulic, and solid rocket motor (SRM) analysis and integration activities. Key responsibilities include:

Developing performance predictions and conducting component- and system-level testing to validate design and functional requirements

Overseeing supplier deliverables, ensuring technical compliance and schedule adherence

Dispositioning nonconforming hardware and leading anomaly investigations, including root-cause analysis and corrective actions

The Energetics Lead will also support upcoming flight tests by:

Overseeing integration and checkout of all energetics hardware at the field site

Participating in launch operations to ensure safe and successful execution

Leading post‑flight data review and documentation to capture performance, issues, and lessons learned

Essential Functions:

Lead a team of highly skilled Energetics Engineers in the day-to-day system design, test, and integration of energetics hardware as integrated into a classified subsystem or launch vehicle

Apply engineering principles, industry standards, company standards, and customer requirements to develop energetics systems for application in launch vehicle systems

Leverage analytical data from previous products, identify the applicable technical principles, mathematically define problems, and compute engineering characteristics that meet specifications, design needs, and interface requirements with other elements of the product

Define and scope engineering tasks required for project planning and execution; analyze project requirements and develop detailed plans, conceptual designs, and risk assessments

Serve as Control Account Manager (CAM) and perform associated Earned Value Management System (EVMS) reporting

Interface with internal and external customers; support the definition of system requirements and the development of specifications for products and subsystems

Provide technical guidance and direction to the engineering team throughout the design, test, production, and maintenance phases of the project

Develop and present technical and programmatic materials for project-related briefings, including design reviews, to internal and external customers

Perform hands‑on test support of pneumatic and energetics components and systems, including functional and environmental testing

Serve as the responsible engineer supporting the Integrated Product Team (IPT) for a medium-sized subcontract, coordinating supplier change notifications, nonconformances, hardware acceptance reviews, and related supplier interactions

Conduct pre‑launch engineering reviews, including examination of as‑built vehicle hardware and pre‑launch data, assessment of flight readiness, and close coordination with flight field teams

Conduct trade studies and evaluate alternative designs to optimize performance, cost, risk, and schedule

For broadly defined problems, study basic design concepts and criteria for complex materials, components, or functional systems, and apply engineering principles to develop new or enhanced designs

Anticipate customer needs and identify innovative solutions to address those needs

Originate and develop constructive ideas; proactively seek opportunities to refine or improve existing methods and processes to enhance outcomes

Determine engineering tasks required for project planning and execution; analyze project requirements and develop detailed plans, conceptual designs, and risk assessments

Interact with internal and external customers; support definition of system requirements and generation of specifications for products and subsystems

Support new business activities and contribute to the preparation of technical and cost proposal materials

Travel up to 10% of the time to supplier and launch facilities

Basic Qualifications for Level 3:

Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) with 5 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in STEM with 3 years of related engineering experience, or a PhD in STEM with 1 year of related engineering experience

Active US Government Secret Security clearance, or higher at the time of application

Basic Qualifications for Level 4:

Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) with 8 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in STEM with 6 years of related engineering experience, or a PhD in STEM with 4 years of related engineering experience

Active US Government Secret Security clearance, or higher at the time of application

Preferred Qualifications:

Active US Government Top Secret security clearance, or higher at the time of application

Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering degree

Experience with Matlab, and Python

Environmental testing experience

Data acquisition equipment operation

Configuration change management

Supply Chain Management of Subcontractors

Presentation of technical data to internal and external customers

Failure investigation techniques

Primary Level Salary Range: $98,400.00 - $147,600.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $122,800.00 - $184,200.00

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.