Engineer Electrical Level 4 - Power Subsystems - Dulles

Northrop Grumman•Dulles, VA

1d•$142,200 - $213,400•Hybrid

About The Position

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 Electrical Power Subsystem (EPS) team for Northrop Grumman Space System's Defense and National Security operations team is looking to fill an engineering position specializing in space environment solar array design. This role would be responsible for assisting with architecting, manufacturing, testing, and verification of space environment solar array designs for spacecrafts. The ideal candidate for this position would have previous experience and knowledge of space environment solar arrays, understanding the fundamental methodologies of solar array electrical and mechanical analyses. Other highly preferred qualities for this candidate would also be strong leadership skills, customer service experience, vendor interfacing experience, budget management, and a strong self-initiated work ethic. This position is a 9/80 schedule but could require some night/weekend shift work and periodic domestic and international travel. Due to the nature of our work and the specialized facilities required, this position is required to be in-person on-site at the Dulles and/or Mclean/Tyson’s Corner facilities in Virginia at 3 working days per week minimum.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related field with typically 5+ years of relevant experience or equivalent advanced degree and experience
Expertise in electromechanical system design, specific to space environment solar arrays, including mechanical, structural, thermal, and power analysis
Proven ability to interpret higher spacecraft bus / subsystem level requirements and develop complex lower solar array/unit level mechanical and electrical requirements and define or validate design strategies to align to requirements
Experience working in cross-functional engineering teams and design projects
Strong communication and collaboration skills
U.S. Citizenship required
Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph

Nice To Haves

Specific experience in space environment solar array electromechanical design, integration, analyses, requirement verification, and testing within aerospace or space sectors
Exposure and understanding of common space environment solar array design and qualification industry standards/handbooks such as AIAA-S-111, AIAA-S-112, AIAA-S-122, NASA-CR-149364, and/or ECSS-E-ST-20-08C
Understanding of typical mechanical analyses and methodologies used in space environment deployable solar array designs including latch force calculations, torque margins, boom push force assessments, motor drive and gear head sizing, deployment dynamics, mechanical stress and thermal analyses, modal analyses, quasi-static analyses, and Hold-Down-Release-Mechanism pre-loading calculations
Strong background in and ability to interpret typical mechanical design work-products such as Finite Element Models (FEMs), Mechanical Interface Control Documents (MICDs), and Computer Aided Design models (CAD)
Understanding of typical electrical power analyses and methodologies used in space environment solar array sizing and performance degradation assessments including typical solar array loss factors, mission life, seasonal effects, radiation effects, thermal cycling effects, and shadowing/attenuation effects
Understanding of typical considerations for electrical grounding and ground paths for space environment solar array design, including both deployable and body mounted solar array, and mitigations for solar array surface charging and ESD risks
Understanding of typical derating requirements for electrical components including harnessing, connectors, diodes, thermistors, Platinum Resistance Thermometers (PRTs), using common industry standards such as EEE-INST-002
Understanding of typical space environment solar array testing philosophies and common practices such as Large Array Pulse Solar Simulations (LAPSS), Forward Bias Visual Inspection / Electroluminescence (FBVI / EL), deployment testing considerations, ambient pressure thermal cycling (TC) and thermal vacuum cycling (TVAC) and bakeouts, and acoustics testing
General exposure / familiarity with higher level Electrical Power Subsystems (EPS) and other components that typically interface to space rated solar arrays e.g., Solar Array Drive Assemblies (SADAs) and Power Distribution Avionics
General exposure / familiarity with leading space industry photovoltaic technologies
Demonstrated success interfacing with multi-disciplinary teams in fast-paced, high-demand environments

Responsibilities

Develop, maintain, and verify mechanical and electrical requirements for specifications for space environment solar array wings and release mechanisms
Perform component trade studies and be able to recommend technical solutions
Perform space environment solar array power estimates, degradation analysis, and create IV curves
Development and execution of mechanical and electrical design concepts for space environment solar array wings
Ensure compliance with all electrical, mechanical, structural, and thermal design requirements through rigorous review and analysis
Mentor and guide engineering teams across multiple disciplines to achieve program objectives
Direct design reviews and participate in component and program level risk assessment and mitigation activities
Review and approval of mechanical drawings, documentation, and test fixtures
Collaborate with procurement and outside NGSC vendors to source assemblies, materials, and components in alignment with project goals
Provide technical leadership in solar array integration, testing, and validation processes
Champion continuous improvement initiatives and implementation of best practices in electromechanical design for solar arrays across various product lines and solar array design architectures