Labs Chief Engineer

This position is currently contingent on program funding. Start dates are determined after funding confirmation. 

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems (AS) sector is seeking a Labs Chief Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This key leadership role is based out of Melbourne, FL. 

The selected candidate is responsible for the technical baseline development and control of the system integration laboratories (SIL) and software engineering laboratories (SEL) for a major weapon system. This includes responsibility and accountability in the following areas: SIL/SEL requirements derivation and alignment to System requirements, SIL/SEL infrastructure definition (power, cooling, space, IT, etc.), integrating and testing of prototype and final design hardware (communications, mission processing, sensors, storage, data acquisition, matrix switches, etc.), policies and procedures for SIL/SEL access, control, and usage. The individual will partner with the Program engineering organization and Execution IPTs to support the design of the SIL/SEL aligned to performance requirements as well as associated verification testing. Emphasis is placed on design development and release management across multiple laboratories. Additional experience is desired with supplier management and supplier issue resolution to maintain technical and program performance. Recent and relevant experience in Model Based System Engineering and understanding of digital threads, digital twins, and integration across air vehicle, software, and avionics design and analysis tools.   

Key Responsibilities include:  

• Providing leadership, shaping the labs strategic vision and direction 

• Leading successful execution of labs work scope on all efforts, and as part of this successful execution partnering with program managers to collect meaningful metrics and collaborate to use those metrics to improve processes and tools that will result in improved affordability and quality 

• Identify program risk and plans to manage the risk. Address performance shortfalls through root cause and corrective action assessments and develop containment and long-term corrective action plans that include long-term verification of successful improvement and sharing of lessons learned across the engineering organization 

• Leading the effort to fulfill staffing requirements and maintain the product support staffing levels as needed to support our program and captures in collaboration with the broader engineering organization and talent acquisition 

• Develop initiatives and collaborate with the broader engineering organization and TA/HR to reduce attrition 

• Define training plans for both existing and incoming employees in collaboration with the Aeronautics Engineering Technical Development Organization, and overall foster a culture of learning that includes active mentoring and knowledge sharing within the organization 

• Drive improved employee engagement and appreciation through verbal, written, and tangible recognition, events, and personal interactions 

• Oversee program/project reviews, independent technical reviews, NCTA and indirect activities, process improvement plans, proposal review and signoff, and capital planning and management 

• Affordably develop and manage the organizational budget including the NCTA, indirect, and allocation plans 

• Parter with the Engineering functional homeroom and national directorates to equitably manage the yearly cycles for promotions, merits, and bonuses that affordably balances the experience base across the organization, and achieves retention objectives 

Our Leaders at Northrop Grumman live our values daily and encourage our teams to do the same. We do the right thing: upholding the highest ethical standards and facilitating a safe and respectful environment that attracts, retains, and inspires a diverse and engaged team. We do what we promise: holding yourself and others accountable to meet predictable and balanced results. We commit to shared success: operating as OneNG and removing barriers for our teams. Finally, We pioneer: setting a vision that shapes the future and inspires others.  

Basic Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline AND 16 years of engineering experience, OR a Master’s degree AND 14 years of engineering experience, OR a Ph.D. AND 12 years of engineering experience 

• Ability to transfer and maintain the final adjudicated government Secret clearance, and any program access(es) required for the position within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company, and ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance 

• Ability to travel as needed (approx. 15%) 

 
Preferred Qualifications: 

• Active DoD Top Secret/SCI clearance 

• Experience working in a SIL performing bench testing and qualification testing 

• Experience designing and testing a SIL/SEL environment 

• Understanding security requirements to bringing in and exiting materiel from a laboratory 

• Experience using emulators in a testing environment 

• Experience operating a laboratory in a classified environment