Sr Principal Ground Test Engineer
About The Position
Northrop Grumman’s Flight Test Operations Team is seeking a Senior Principal Ground Test Engineer to lead planning and execution of ground test events at Edwards AFB, California. The engineer will collaborate with Responsible Engineers and Systems Test Engineers to develop test procedures, operate test articles, and troubleshoot test anomalies. As an approved test conductor, the engineer will plan and coordinate operations on and off an active flight line, prepare test worksheets, lead engineering briefs, and direct a mixed team of engineers and technicians. During launch and recovery operations, the engineer serves as the operational link among maintenance, engineering, mission control, and pilots. The role requires flexibility to work shifts based on business needs, including 4x10 schedules Monday through Thursday or 3x10 schedules Friday through Sunday, on first or second shift. Extended hours, shift rotations, weekends, holidays, overtime, and domestic travel may be required to support testing operations. Relocation assistance may be available. An active Secret clearance is required at start, and the candidate must be able to obtain and maintain Program Access.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science degree in a science, technical, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field, or a STEM master's or Ph.D. degree with the corresponding experience listed.
- At least 8 years of engineering experience with a bachelor's degree, 6 years with a STEM master's degree, or 4 years with a STEM Ph.D.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to interact with employees and management at all levels.
- Active U.S. Government Secret clearance or higher at the start of the role.
- Ability to obtain and maintain Program Access (PAR) within a reasonable period, as determined by the company to meet business needs.
- Willingness to work overtime, irregular-hour shifts, and occasional weekends to support test schedules.
- Willingness and ability to work various shifts, extended hours, shift rotations, weekends, and holidays as needed.
- Willingness to travel domestically to support testing operations.
Nice To Haves
- Current active U.S. Government DoD Top Secret clearance.
- Active Special Program Access (SAP).
- Experience as a Test Engineer or Test Conductor, including test development, planning, and execution.
- Experience in a production test or military aircraft maintenance environment.
- Experience leading test teams on an operational flight line.
- Ability to comprehend and analyze complex problems and develop solutions.
- Demonstrated clear communication and effective collaboration across multidisciplinary teams, bringing differing perspectives into sound engineering decisions.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute ground test procedures and support active flight-line testing.
- Conduct preflight and postflight power-on checks.
- Provide first-line engineering support for maintenance, repairs, troubleshooting, and modifications to systems under test.
- Supervise and direct maintenance personnel performing maintenance, repairs, and modifications to systems under test.
- Analyze and interpret test data and provide recommendations to engineering and leadership for alternate means of compliance as required.
- Coordinate with support organizations in planning and executing a developmental test program.
- Support post-test data processing and analysis as needed to meet test objectives.
- Plan and coordinate test operations as an approved test conductor, on and off an active flight line.
- Prepare test worksheets, lead engineering briefs, and direct a mixed team of engineers and technicians through ground test events.
- Coordinate operational activities among maintenance, engineering, mission control, and pilots during launch and recovery operations.
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 in addition to base pay.
- Relocation assistance may be available.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
