
Principal/Sr Principal Airworthiness Engineer
Compensation
Ready to Apply?
This will take you to Northrop Grumman's application page
Job Description
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.Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems sector has an opening for a Principal or Senior Principal Airworthiness Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position is based in San Diego with a hybrid telework option available.
The Principal/Senior Principal Airworthiness Engineer will be working within the Airworthiness Engineering Directorate supporting certification efforts on various air vehicle platforms. The selected candidate will ensure the logical and systematic realization of customer airworthiness certification objectives into system solutions to meet program needs throughout the product lifecycle (e.g. Flight Releases, Type Certification, continued airworthiness, and operation of airspace integration). The successful candidate will thrive in a fast-paced work environment with high expectations, significantly diverse assignments, and collaborative/team settings across all levels.
Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
Performs technical airworthiness planning and verification support including development and negotiation of airworthiness plans, bases of certification, means of compliance, and other certification activities for complex total systems with IPT/REs as well as customer counterparts.
Reviews and coordinates with other airworthiness engineers as well as internal engineering disciplines performed across the total system to include design, fabrication, test, installation, operation, maintenance and disposal.
Performs functional and process analyses, requirements allocation and definition studies to translate customer requirements into criteria and derived requirements. Ensures the logical and systematic realization of customer airworthiness certification objectives into system solutions to meet program needs throughout the product lifecycle (e.g. Flight releases, Type certification, continued airworthiness, operations, and airspace integration).
Responsible for managing and maintaining Type Design Data and airworthiness evidence in support of a Military Type Certification and Air System Continued & Continuing Airworthiness as a member of the technical AW staff in a System Design Responsible company.
Position may be filled as either a Principal Airworthiness Engineer (level 3) OR Senior Principal Project Airworthiness Engineer (level 4) depending on the qualifications below.
Basic Qualifications:
Principal: Bachelor of Science in a STEM discipline with 5 years of related experience; OR Master of Science with 3 years of related experience; OR Ph.D. with 1 year of related experience
Sr Principal: Bachelor of Science in a STEM discipline with 8 years of related experience; OR Master of Science with 6 years of related experience; OR Ph.D. with 4 years of related experience
Familiarity of MIL-HDBK-516B Expanded and MIL-HDBK-516C
Work experience leading Airworthiness plan development, a Basis of Certification, and related activities
Work experience with domestic and international UAS/RPAS airworthiness authorizations and type certifications
Ability to obtain a DoD Secret clearance within a reasonable amount of time, as determined by business needs
Ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access (PAR)
Preferred Qualifications:
Active, in-scope DoD Secret security clearance
Military aircraft development or modification experience
Ability to initiate Airworthiness Certification process improvement initiatives
DoD and Civil Airworthiness Experience
Work experience and familiarity with UAS/RPAS
Design and Systems Engineering experience in one or more of the following areas: Structures, Flight Technology, Air Vehicle Subsystems, Avionics, Mission Payload Integration, System Safety, Flight Test, Configuration Management
Experience with USAF Airworthiness Policy Directives, Instructions, and Airworthiness Bulletins (AWB)
Control Account Management (CAM) and Earned Value Management System (EVMS) experience including Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) planning and tracking, Earned Value reporting, variance analysis, and Estimate at Complete (EAC) forecasting.
Experience in a System Design Responsible (SDR) organization per international regulations with signature authority
Interactions with airworthiness authorities US DoD, MoD International, or civil authorities
Familiarity of European Military Aviation Regulations (EMARs)
Optimize Your Resume for This Job
Get a match score and see exactly which keywords you're missing
Job Details
- Category
- Aerospace Engineering
- Employment Type
- Full time
- Location
- 9325 Sky Harbor Court, San Diego, CA 92123, US
- Posted
- Dec 21, 2025, 07:00 PM
- Listed
- Jan 5, 2026, 12:34 AM
- Last updated
- Jan 9, 2026, 11:11 AM
- Compensation
- $114,000 - $171,000 per year
About Northrop Grumman
Part of the growing space industry ecosystem pushing humanity toward interplanetary exploration.
More Roles at Northrop Grumman
Similar Aerospace Engineering Roles
Found this role interesting?