Senior Principal Process Engineer

Northrop Grumman • Radford, VA

20d • $111,700 - $167,500 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman’s New River Energetics (NRE), located at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Radford, Virginia, operates a propellant manufacturing facility producing energetic materials for commercial and sporting markets. NRE also loads, assembles, and packs medium-caliber ammunition for U.S. government and international customers.

The Senior Principal Process Engineer maintains process control activities for the NRE operational unit. This is a full-time, onsite, salaried position reporting to the Manufacturing Process and Product Engineering Manager. The role develops and maintains control-system logic and interfaces, supports production and equipment troubleshooting, contributes to safety and process controls, and develops projects and software to improve and modernize control systems.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in Automation, Controls, Electrical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent STEM degree, plus 8 years of total relevant experience; or a master’s degree in one of these fields or an equivalent STEM degree, plus 6 years of total relevant experience.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Action-oriented, resourceful, and tech-savvy, with effective communication skills and situational adaptability.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Valid driver’s license (Real ID).
• Ability to obtain clearance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as an Employee Possessor.
• Must pass RFAAP badging requirements, including a background check and drug screening.

Nice To Haves

• Background in control systems and automation.
• Previous experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of control-system logic and programming.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Experience in an explosives-type environment.
• Knowledge of safety standards and regulatory compliance.
• Proficiency with PLC programming and troubleshooting Modicon and Allen Bradley systems.
• Familiarity with industrial networking protocols and standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain control-system logic, including PLC programming, and HMI interfaces.
• Work with the Process Engineering team to develop new control logic or modify existing logic.
• Collaborate with a multifunctional team to resolve production-related issues.
• Work with maintenance staff to troubleshoot and repair production-specific equipment.
• Capture design and specification changes in manufacturing processes and technical documentation.
• Generate specifications for procurement of new equipment.
• Assist in establishing safety requirements for facilities and equipment.
• Establish key characteristics for manufacturing and processing, and ensure systems are in place to monitor and control them.
• Develop and execute capital projects to expand the efficiency and modernization of control systems across programs.
• Analyze data from control systems to improve processes and efficiency.
• Train personnel in the use and operation of control systems.
• Develop and implement software for control systems.
• Conduct system testing and validation procedures for control systems.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Savings plan.
• Company-paid holidays.
• Paid time off for vacation and/or personal business.
• Employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus, depending on the position.
• Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for long-term incentives.
• Relocation assistance may be available.

What This Job Offers

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