Principal Retrofit Engineer

Northrop Grumman • San Diego, CA

3d • $103,600 - $155,400

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Aerospace Sector is seeking a Principal Retrofit Engineer to join its Product Support organization in Rancho Bernardo, California. The Retrofit Project Engineer performs long-range retrofit planning, manages individual configuration changes, and oversees field-level retrofit installation, with a focus on aircraft modifications. The position works closely with customers, program scheduling, engineering, Integrated Product Teams, and other stakeholders supporting weapon system development.

The engineer serves as a Product Support representative in preparing and executing modifications to aircraft, ground stations, support equipment, and spares. The role develops and administers long-range retrofit plans and drives weapon system upgrades by reviewing proposed modifications and providing cost and effort descriptions. Assigned retrofit efforts may also include estimating contract work, tracking rotatable assets, expediting repairs, performing kitting, and facilitating asset replacement. The engineer also supports the training and development of junior team members.

The role manages field retrofit completion against contractual schedules, resolves field challenges, coordinates planning and execution with the Retrofit Team, and provides observations to Engineering to improve retrofit outcomes. It prioritizes work quality and compliance with industry, company, and customer safety requirements, and keeps company leadership and customers informed throughout retrofit planning and execution. Travel to domestic and international locations is required 75% of the time. Relocation assistance may be available. An active U.S. Government Secret clearance is required at start, with the ability to obtain special program access.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field and at least 5 years of engineering experience; or a master's degree in a STEM field and 3 years of experience; or a Ph.D. in a STEM field and 1 year of relevant experience.
• Background that includes field work on retrofits or aircraft sortie production.
• Proficiency with Windows, MS Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.
• Willingness to travel 75% of the time to domestic and international locations.
• Current active U.S. Government Secret clearance and ability to obtain special program access.

Nice To Haves

• Experience reading and translating engineering drawings.
• Experience on an aircraft production line, performing aircraft retrofits, or driving aircraft sortie production.
• Strong social skills for daily interaction with programmers, customers, users, and other support personnel to ensure system goals are met.
• Verbal, writing, presentation, and leadership skills.
• Current active Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Manage and drive field retrofit completion in coordination with local customers, the company Contractor Field Team, Engineering, and other necessary entities, meeting or exceeding contractual schedule requirements.
• Resolve field challenges and develop mitigation strategies with appropriate stakeholders to prevent negative impacts to schedule or retrofit completion.
• Work with customers, Engineering, program scheduling, and Integrated Product Teams supporting weapon system development.
• Represent Product Support in the preparation and execution of modifications to aircraft, ground stations, support equipment, and spares.
• Develop and administer long-range retrofit plans.
• Drive weapon system upgrades by reviewing proposed modifications and providing cost and effort descriptions.
• Coordinate retrofit requirements with the Retrofit Team during planning, scheduling, and execution.
• Provide Engineering with observations and suggestions that could improve retrofit completion during development and execution.
• Prioritize and ensure the quality of work performed in the field by contractors involved in retrofit activities.
• Ensure industry, company, and customer safety requirements are met and health and wellness considerations are followed in the field.
• Keep company leadership and customers informed during retrofit planning and execution.
• Support the training and development of junior team members.
• Manage assigned retrofit efforts, including contract work estimates, rotatable asset tracking, repair expediting, kitting, and asset replacement.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Savings plan
• Company-paid holidays
• Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business
• Potential eligibility for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus
• Potential eligibility for long-term incentives for employees in Vice President or Director positions
• Relocation assistance may be available

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior