Principal Engineer Supplier Quality/Sr Principal Engineer Supplier Quality

Northrop Grumman • Baltimore, MD

1d • $98,900 - $185,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is hiring a Principal or Senior Principal Supplier Quality Engineer for its Tactical Fighters team at its Baltimore, Maryland facility. The role supports a cutting-edge program and involves supplier quality risk management throughout the product life cycle. The engineer works closely with Program, Mission Assurance, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams, as well as suppliers and customers, to support program execution and ensure quality standards are met. The position is 100% onsite and follows a 9/80 schedule, with an estimated 25–50% domestic travel. Telecommuting is not available. A Secret clearance is required, but not required to start; candidates must be able to obtain and maintain one. Relocation assistance is unavailable.

The role requires strong written and verbal communication, leadership, problem-solving, and planning skills. The engineer will work across functions and organizational levels, anticipate challenges, and provide recommendations to programs and leadership. Experience with Tableau dashboards and SAP is noted in the posting.

Requirements

• For the Principal level: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline and at least 5 years of experience in manufacturing, quality, and/or engineering; alternatively, at least 3 years of such experience with a master’s degree and a STEM bachelor’s or master’s degree.
• For the Senior Principal level: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline and at least 8 years of experience in manufacturing, quality, and/or engineering; alternatively, at least 6 years of such experience with a master’s degree and a STEM bachelor’s or master’s degree.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically up to 50%.
• U.S. citizenship.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, leadership, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and organizational levels and anticipate potential challenges.
• Experience with Tableau dashboards and SAP.

Nice To Haves

• Experience facilitating Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) activities.
• Experience in micro-electronics or printed circuit board manufacturing.
• Defense industry experience, including interfacing with suppliers.
• Experience in a quality or supplier quality role.
• SAP Business System experience.
• Experience with ISO 9001 / AS9100 Quality Management System certification processes.
• Demonstrated experience developing and presenting briefings, recommendations, project status, and/or business information to program stakeholders or senior-level leadership.
• Knowledge of manufacturing, special processes, inspection, electronics, or auditing.

Responsibilities

• Support evaluation and disposition of nonconforming product, including use-as-is, repair, and scrap decisions, while ensuring proper documentation and traceability.
• Build and maintain relationships with suppliers and internal customers through clear communication and alignment on goals.
• Visit supplier sites as needed to investigate root causes, support audits and source inspections, and verify corrective-action implementation.
• Understand contractual flow-downs and requirements, and implement applicable quality clauses for commodity-specific hardware procurements.
• Document, track, and report potential supplier product or process nonconformances; collaborate with program supplier quality engineers and management to escalate issues with potential critical impact across programs.
• Develop and execute closure plans for nonconforming material with Global Supply Chain, Mission Assurance, and Engineering.
• Analyze quality metrics and trends relating to nonconformances, rework, supplier performance, and acceptance issues; recommend and help implement improvements.
• Support internal, customer, and regulatory audits and assessments related to supplier quality, configuration, and documentation.
• Collaborate on supplier management plans; support maintenance of the approved supplier list and supplier waiver, deviation, and discrepancy-reporting processes.
• Keep management informed about supplier performance, quality status, and risks.
• Lead supplier product readiness reviews and similar assessments as needed, collaborating with Supply Chain, Engineering, Mission Assurance, and Manufacturing.

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, depending on the position.

What This Job Offers

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