Sr Principal Mission Assurance Engineer - Design Quality
Northrop GrummanAbout the role
Description
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.At the heart of Defining Possible is our commitment to missions. In rapidly changing global security environments, Northrop Grumman brings informed insights and software-secure technology to enable strategic planning. We are looking for innovators who can help us keep building on our wide portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, and multi-domain systems and technologies that fuel those missions. By joining in our shared mission, we ’II support yours of expanding your personal network and developing skills, whether you are new to the field, or an industry thought leader. At Northrop Grumman, you ’II have the resources, support, and team to do some of the best work of your career.
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems seeks a seasoned Sr Principal Mission Assurance Engineer - Design Quality to serve as the sector‑wide authority for design quality. The role is responsible for establishing and governing design‑quality strategies, processes, and tools that ensure all new and revised products are robust, reliable, and meet customer and regulatory requirements. The incumbent will lead cross‑functional design‑review teams, mentor engineers, and drive continuous improvement throughout the product development lifecycle.
This position will be based out of Linthicum and/or Rolling Meadows offices with the expectation of traveling to sites as necessary to support development programs.
What You'll Get To Do:
Regulatory & Standards Compliance – ensure design processes meet ISO 9001, AS9100, IEC 61508, FDA QSR, or other applicable standards.
Tool & Platform Oversight – evaluate and champion PLM, requirements‑management
Risk Management – identify design risks for programs and identify and own mitigation plans.
Assist with Sector level design quality policies
Requirements Management – own verification & validation plans; ensure complete, testable, and traceable requirements.
Training & Mentorship – coach junior engineers on DFMEA, validation methods, and design‑quality best practices; deliver sector workshops.
Innovation Promotion – identify opportunities for digital twins, AI‑assisted defect prediction, and model‑based systems engineering
Participate in design reviews – ensure required sign‑offs and traceability of findings.
CAPA & Continuous Improvement – lead root‑cause investigations for design‑related field failures; implement corrective‑preventive actions and track effectiveness.
Communication – Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, effectively influencing stakeholders at all organizational levels.
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree and 8 years of relevant experience; or a Master's degree and 6 years of relevant experience; or a PhD and 4 years of relevant experience
Demonstrated success leading root‑cause investigations and implementing effective CAPA for design issues
Strong knowledge of relevant quality standards (ISO 9001, AS9100).
Six Sigma certification
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret Clearance
U.S Citizenship Required
Preferred Qualifications:
Engineering degree
ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
Experience with model‑based systems engineering (MBSE) and SysML.
Background in regulated sectors such as aerospace, automotive, medical devices, or energy.
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