Strike DevOps Chief Engineer - Director of Engineering 1

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the TimeDescription

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 Aeronautics Systems sector is currently hiring a Deputy Chief Engineer, DevOps – Director 1​. This leadership opportunity is based in Melbourne, FL.

Northrop Grumman, a leader in aerospace innovation, is seeking a highly accomplished and strategic-minded Deputy Chief Engineer to provide critical leadership in the design, development, integration, and testing of large, manned aircraft programs. This Director-level role demands a deep understanding of aerospace engineering principles, extensive experience managing complex technical projects, and a proven ability to lead and mentor large, multidisciplinary engineering teams. The Deputy Chief Engineer will work closely with the Strike Development Business Area Chief Engineer to ensure the technical integrity, safety, and success of our aircraft programs, driving innovation and maintaining our commitment to excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Technical Leadership:

• Collaborate with the Chief Engineer to define and execute the overall technical strategy for aircraft development programs
• Provide technical direction and oversight for all phases of the aircraft lifecycle, from conceptual design through certification and flight testing
• Ensure adherence to rigorous engineering standards, regulatory requirements (e.g., FAA, EASA), and industry best practices
• Identify and evaluate emerging aerospace technologies, and drive their integration into future aircraft designs

Program Execution and Technical Management:

• Own the technical strategy and execution for integrated flight and mission critical capability spanning both hardware and software
• Manage and mitigate technical risks, implementing proactive risk management strategies and contingency plans
• Lead critical technical reviews (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR, Flight Readiness Reviews), ensuring design maturity and compliance with requirements
• Drive the resolution of complex technical issues, employing advanced problem-solving techniques and cross-functional collaboration

Team Leadership and Development:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a large multi-disciplinary organization of software, systems, air vehicle, mission systems and test and evaluation engineers
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Promote knowledge sharing, best practice dissemination, and professional development within the engineering organization

Integration, Test, and Certification:

• Direct the integration and test of complex aircraft systems in the Systems Integration Lab (SIL)
• Manage the aircraft certification process, working closely with regulatory agencies to ensure compliance and obtain necessary approvals
• Ensure that all testing and certification activities are conducted in accordance with the highest safety standards

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 of Science degree in a STEM discipline and 10 years of professional/military experience aerospace engineering, with a focus on the design, development, integration, and testing of large, manned aircraft; OR a Master’s Degree in a STEM discipline and 8 years of related professional/military experience aerospace engineering, with a focus on the design, development, integration, and testing of large manned aircraft
• Demonstrated engineering leadership experience in the development, integration, test, certification and deployment of air vehicle flight or mission critical software and hardware
• Experience with embedded real-time systems, avionics architectures and hardware/software integration
• Strong working knowledge of aircraft certification processes, regulatory requirements, military airworthiness standards and industry standards
• Must have an active US Government clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation)
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance, within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs
• Ability to obtain and maintain U.S. government Top Secret clearance 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active U.S. government Top Secret clearance
• Familiarity with Agile development approaches adapted for certified, safety critical applications
• Experience with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and methodologies
• Knowledge of aircraft system integration lab requirements development, design and build
• Aircraft ground and flight test experience

Primary Level Salary Range: $176,100.00 - $264,100.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.