Radiation Systems Engineer - Level 3 or 4 (AHT)

Northrop Grumman•Redondo Beach, CA

6d•$114,000 - $213,400•Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman’s Space Systems Sector is hiring a Radiation Systems Engineer at Level 3 (Principal Systems Engineer) or Level 4 (Sr. Principal Systems Engineer) in Redondo Beach, California. The role focuses on hardening electronic systems against natural space radiation and endo- and exo-atmospheric nuclear weapon effects. The engineer works with Program Radiation Effects and/or Nuclear Hardness & Survivability leads, as well as electrical, mechanical, and systems engineers, to analyze and test devices, designs, and systems across environments and platforms such as satellites and missiles. The position requires a self-starter with strong time-management, communication, and interpersonal skills who can work with employees and management at all levels and mentor junior engineers. The work encompasses natural space threats—including radiation effects, micrometeoroids, orbital debris, and atomic oxygen—and hostile nuclear threats, including transient radiation effects in electronics, electromagnetic pulse effects, and mechanical effects. Essential activities include environment modeling and radiation transport; electrical, mechanical, cable, harness, and reliability analyses; test planning and support; subcontract technical support; presenting requirements and compliance at reviews and technical meetings; proposal development; and mentorship and training. The position requires an active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance (or equivalent) at application and before starting, and the ability to obtain and maintain SCI access within a reasonable period. Employment and program access are contingent on funding and required clearances. Travel is 10% of the time. Relocation assistance may be available. This is a full-time position with a flexible schedule option, including a 9/80 schedule. The stated salary ranges are $114,000–$171,000 for the primary level and $142,200–$213,400 for the secondary level.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline and at least 5 years of engineering experience, or a master’s degree in a STEM discipline and at least 3 years, or a Ph.D. in a STEM discipline and at least 1 year for Level 3.
Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline and at least 8 years of engineering experience, or a master’s degree in a STEM discipline and at least 6 years, or a Ph.D. in a STEM discipline and at least 4 years for Level 4.
Experience developing natural radiation and survivability analyses.
Experience with or familiarity with MIL-STD-883.
Experience with or familiarity with AE9/AP9 and CREME96 environment prediction tools.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance or equivalent at application and before start, and ability to obtain and maintain active SCI access within a reasonable period.
Ability to maintain the clearance and program access required for the position.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Physics, or a closely related technical discipline.
Experience with standards and handbooks including MIL-STD-1766, MIL-STD-3053, MDA-STD-001, MIL-HDBK-814, MIL-HDBK-815, MIL-HDBK-816, MIL-HDBK-817, EM-1, DTRA Redbook, or DTRA Bluebook.
Experience with environment prediction tools including SPENVIS, ORDEM, MEM3, OMERE, IRENE, OLTARIS, or SIRE2.
Experience with transport tools and codes including MCNP/Attila4MC, NOVICE, Testable Hardware Toolkit (THTk), CEPXS, PUFF-TFT, THOR, XTERRA, TRIM/SRIM, SREMPTAPS, ITS, WinGS, or FASTRAD.
Experience with software languages and environments including Python, Fortran, Java, C++, C#, SQL, HTML, CSS, Javascript, ASP.NET, Visual Basic, or LabWindows.
Experience hardening systems against hostile radiation, EMP (particularly SGEMP), and mechanical effects.
Knowledge of semiconductor device physics associated with radiation effects.
Active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance or equivalent and active SCI access at application and before start.

Responsibilities

Analyze natural space radiation and survivability threats, including single-event effects, total dose, displacement damage, micrometeoroids, orbital debris, and atomic oxygen.
Analyze hostile nuclear weapon effects, including transient radiation effects in electronics, EMP effects, and mechanical effects.
Calculate, derive, and model environments, including radiation transport.
Perform electrical design analyses, including circuit simulation, device evaluation, parameter degradation and derating, circumvention and recovery, photocurrent transient protection, and burnout mitigation.
Perform mechanical design analyses, including material and coating selection, shielding and shadowing analyses, and CAD review.
Perform cable and harness analyses, including shield and dielectric material selection and SGEMP drive-current and pin-threat calculations.
Conduct reliability analyses, including SEE rate and criticality calculations, ground-intervention and availability impact assessments, and FIT-rate contributions.
Support tests through planning, parameter and condition selection, test-circuit development, irradiation and other effects testing, data analysis, and reporting.
Support subcontract management through scope-of-work development, technical oversight and reporting, and SDRL review and approval.
Present requirements and compliance at design reviews, internal program reviews, working groups, and technical interchange meetings.
Develop technical, cost, schedule, and management content for proposals for new business pursuits.
Mentor and train engineers through hands-on development, virtual or classroom instruction, and job shadowing.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage
401(k)
Educational assistance
Life insurance
Employee assistance programs and work/life solutions
Paid time off
Health and wellness resources
Employee discounts
Flexible schedules, including the option of a 9/80 schedule
Disability insurance
Company-paid holidays
Potential eligibility for overtime, shift differential, and discretionary bonuses
Relocation assistance may be available