Engineer Electrical Level 4 - Power Subsystems - Dulles

Northrop Grumman•Dulles, VA

13d•$142,200 - $213,400•Hybrid

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Space Systems’ Defense and National Security operations team is seeking an engineer for its Electrical Power Subsystem (EPS) team, specializing in space-environment solar array design. The engineer will help architect, manufacture, test, and verify solar array designs for spacecraft. The role calls for knowledge of space-environment solar arrays and the fundamental methods used in their electrical and mechanical analyses. Leadership, customer service, vendor interfacing, budget management, and self-directed work are also identified as valuable qualities. The position follows a 9/80 schedule and may require night or weekend shift work and periodic domestic and international travel. It requires in-person work at the Dulles and/or McLean/Tysons Corner, Virginia facilities at least three working days per week. Travel is listed as 25% of the time. Relocation assistance may be available. The position requires U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with at least 8 years of relevant experience; or a master’s degree with at least 6 years; or a Ph.D. with at least 4 years.
Expertise in electromechanical system design for space-environment solar arrays, including mechanical, structural, thermal, and power analysis.
Ability to interpret spacecraft bus or subsystem-level requirements and develop complex lower-level solar array or unit mechanical and electrical requirements, and to define or validate aligned design strategies.
Experience working in cross-functional engineering teams and design projects.
Strong communication and collaboration skills.
U.S. citizenship.
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, requirements verification, and testing in aerospace or space sectors.
Exposure to common space-environment solar array design and qualification standards or handbooks, such as AIAA-S-111, AIAA-S-112, AIAA-S-122, NASA-CR-149364, and/or ECSS-E-ST-20-08C.
Understanding of mechanical analysis methods used for deployable solar arrays, including latch force calculations, torque margins, boom push force assessments, motor drive and gear head sizing, deployment dynamics, mechanical stress and thermal analyses, modal and quasi-static analyses, and Hold-Down-Release-Mechanism pre-loading calculations.
Strong background in interpreting mechanical design work products such as Finite Element Models (FEMs), Mechanical Interface Control Documents (MICDs), and Computer Aided Design (CAD) models.
Understanding of electrical power analyses and methods for solar array sizing and performance degradation assessments, including loss factors, mission life, seasonal effects, radiation, thermal cycling, and shadowing or attenuation.
Understanding of electrical grounding and ground paths for deployable and body-mounted solar arrays, and mitigations for surface charging and electrostatic discharge risks.
Understanding of electrical component derating requirements for items such as harnessing, connectors, diodes, thermistors, and Platinum Resistance Thermometers (PRTs), using standards such as EEE-INST-002.
Understanding of solar array testing philosophies and practices, including Large Array Pulse Solar Simulations (LAPSS), Forward Bias Visual Inspection / Electroluminescence (FBVI / EL), deployment testing, ambient-pressure thermal cycling, thermal-vacuum cycling, bakeouts, and acoustics testing.
General familiarity with higher-level Electrical Power Subsystems and interfacing components such as Solar Array Drive Assemblies (SADAs) and Power Distribution Avionics.
General familiarity with leading space-industry photovoltaic technologies.
Demonstrated success interfacing with multidisciplinary teams in fast-paced, high-demand environments.
Strong leadership skills, customer service experience, vendor interfacing experience, budget management, and a self-initiated work ethic.

Responsibilities

Develop, maintain, and verify mechanical and electrical requirements and specifications for space-environment solar array wings and release mechanisms.
Perform component trade studies and recommend technical solutions.
Perform solar array power estimates and degradation analyses, and create IV curves.
Develop and execute mechanical and electrical design concepts for space-environment solar array wings.
Ensure compliance with electrical, mechanical, structural, and thermal design requirements through review and analysis.
Mentor and guide multidisciplinary engineering teams to achieve program objectives.
Direct design reviews and participate in component- and program-level risk assessment and mitigation.
Review and approve 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.
Champion continuous improvement initiatives and best practices in electromechanical solar array design across product lines and design architectures.

Benefits

Comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package.
Health insurance coverage.
Life insurance.
Disability insurance.
Savings plan.
Company-paid holidays.
Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.
Depending on position, eligibility for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus; annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions and share company results.
Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives.
Relocation assistance may be available.