Sr. Principal Optomechanical Engineer - 4

Northrop Grumman • Chandler, AZ

2d • $122,800 - $184,200 • Onsite

About The Position

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history – from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.
Northrop Grumman Space Systems is seeking a Sr. Principal Optomechanical Engineer to serve as the Seeker IR Window Responsible Engineer (RE) supporting the Launch Vehicles business unit in Chandler, Arizona.
You will serve as the window responsible engineer (RE) for the seeker subsystem, providing technical leadership for the design, development, testing, and integration of infrared (IR) optical materials and components across multiple programs. This role centers on material selection, testing, manufacturing processes, and system integration, as well as coordination with domestic and international stakeholders, government partners, vendors, and research institutions. The ideal candidate will combine deep expertise in material science and opto‑mechanical engineering with strong leadership and organizational skills to drive collaborative efforts and support critical project milestones.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline from an accredited university and 8 years of related experience; or Master’s degree in a related discipline and 6 years of related experience; or PhD in a related discipline and 4 years of related experience.
• Ability to obtain a U.S. Government - Secret security clearance at the time of application.
• Professional experience leading the design, development, or qualification of IR optical materials and window assemblies for aerospace, defense, or similar high‑reliability systems.
• Experience with material and component testing, including mechanical and environmental test methods (e.g., thermal cycling, vibration, shock, pressure, humidity, and relevant MIL‑STD test frameworks).
• Experience coordinating technical activities with vendors and suppliers, including interpretation of specifications, drawings, and inspection criteria.
• Demonstrated experience with NDI methods used for optical or structural components (such as radiography, ultrasonic inspection, optical/visual inspection).
• Experience working with or within multi‑disciplinary teams (systems, guidance navigation and control (GNC), mechanical, materials, manufacturing, test) to integrate hardware into complex systems.
• Familiarity with export control considerations and handling of technical data in support of domestic and international collaborations.
• Proven ability to independently tackle complex technical problems, synthesize test and analysis results, and present technical findings to stakeholders in written and oral formats.

Nice To Haves

• MS or PhD in Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related discipline.
• Active U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance at the time of application.
• Experience serving as a technical lead or responsible engineer for IR windows or other critical optical components on missile, hypersonic, or other high‑reliability flight systems.
• Previous experience with DoD missile defense or seeker programs, including familiarity with performance verification frameworks, environmental qualification, and flight test correlation.
• Hands‑on experience with IR window design and integration, including material selection (e.g., IR‑transmitting ceramics/crystals), coatings, mechanical mounting, and thermal/structural analyses.
• Experience developing or overseeing NDI procedures for optical materials and assemblies, including disposition of nonconformances and root‑cause investigations.
• Proficiency with engineering and analysis tools such as finite element analysis (FEA) for structural/thermal evaluation, optical performance modeling, and statistical methods for test data analysis.
• Demonstrated experience driving manufacturing process improvements, supplier development activities, and configuration management for critical hardware.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and a track record of mentoring and developing junior engineers.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the IR Window Responsible Engineer (RE) for the seeker subsystem, owning requirements, allocation, and verification related to window materials and assemblies.
• Collaborate with domestic and international stakeholders on material trade studies, testing campaigns, procurement strategies, and manufacturing process improvements.
• Coordinate with government partners for material development and testing activities, ensuring alignment with program objectives, contractual requirements, and export control regulations.
• Ensure window design decisions are consistent with structural, thermal, optical, and environmental test data.
• Lead trade studies and development efforts for IR window and assembly materials and components, including coatings, bonds, seals, and supporting structures.
• Coordinate with internal GNC, systems, mechanical, materials, and manufacturing teams, as well as external vendors, to support component design, prototyping, qualification, and production.
• Oversee relevant material and component testing activities, including mechanical evaluations, thermal shock/thermal cycling, environmental testing, and other required experiments to validate performance margins.
• Facilitate the creation and approval of technical documentation, including design drawings, tolerance analyses, specifications, ICDs, and test plans/procedures.
• Manage procurement plans and maintain schedule compliance for key materials, components, and associated assembly hardware, identifying and mitigating supply chain risks.
• Drive manufacturing process improvements and provide detailed design and process feedback to suppliers to improve yield, reliability, and producibility.
• Develop, validate, and oversee Non‑Destructive Inspection (NDI) methodologies.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, including export controls, and support data exchanges or collaboration with external partners under appropriate technical and security controls.
• Provide technical leadership and briefings to internal and external stakeholders, including participation in design and readiness reviews, risk boards, and material review boards.

Benefits

• Relocation assistance may be available
• health insurance coverage
• life and disability insurance
• savings plan
• Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business
• overtime
• shift differential
• discretionary bonus

What This Job Offers

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