
Test & Evaluation - Sr Staff Systems Engr (Flight and Ground)
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 (NGAS) has an immediate opening for a Senior Staff Engineer Systems Test. This position supports the Test and Evaluation (T&E) Center of Technical Excellence (CoTE) as a subject matter expert (SME) for all ground and flight test sub-disciplines for our T&E programs. This leadership role is located on-site, based at one of the following locations: Palmdale, CA, Melbourne, FL, Oklahoma City, San Diego (Rancho Bernardo), CA, or El Segundo, CA.
The ground and flight sub-discipline lead is responsible for the development and maintenance of processes, tools, training and metrics for all manned and unmanned T&E programs within the Aeronautics Sector. Responsibilities include maximize operational efficiency; safety of operations; RCCA investigations, FRRs, TRRs; long range planning; leadership development and knowledge retention; team engagement and collaboration; developing and driving affordability strategies; identifying and implementing process improvements in ground and flight test across the sub-disciplines of; Flight Test Engineering, Aircrew, Mission Planning, Ground Test, Flightline Maintenance, and Instrumentation. This position is located full-time onsite; remote/hybrid options are not available.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Ensure consistent application of NGAS established engineering processes, tools, and best practices in alignment with the Center of Technical Excellence.
Assist in the development and implementation of ground and flight test vision and strategies regarding Process, Tools, Training and Metrics.
Partner across functions to support cross-discipline and intra-discipline integration activities, data analysis, metrics development, and performance reporting in coordination with Strategy, Integration, and Operations.
Support proposals
Establish/manage indirect NCTA and capital budgets
Provide engineering leadership oversight for technical execution activities, including:
Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) investigations
System Engineering Technical Reviews (SETRs), such as System Requirements Review (SRR), Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR), Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs);
Process audits and Independent Review Team (IRT) engagements
Support long-range strategic planning efforts and execute special assignments as required.
Work to identify and implement process improvements as an owner/member of Flight Test Engineering, Aircrew, Mission Planning, Ground Test, Flightline Maintenance, and Instrumentation Technical Disciplines and Working Groups
Serve as Delegation of Authority (DOA) in the absence of the Flight or Ground Test Directors, as required
Support process audits, Independent Review Team evaluations, tiger teams, RCCA investigations, deep dives, and pre-milestone reviews.
Serve on review boards and participate in program reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR) as required.
Assist with leadership development and knowledge retention.
Assist with cross department integration activities, data calls, metrics generation, data collection, and reporting.
Work to drive employee engagement, improve employee development, improve training, and the retention of top talent.
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:
Must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 14 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 12 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and 9 years of related engineering experience.
Experience in leading, mentoring, and developing multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver complex technical solutions, within cost and schedule constraints, across the various phases of the engineering lifecycle.
Must have an active DoD Secret clearance that is in scope or currently enrolled in continuous evaluation, with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance as determined by business needs.
Must have ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access (PAR) within a reasonable period, as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
Ability to travel as needed (approx. 25%)
Relevant test experience in EITHER (1) Flight Test OR (2) Ground Test.
Preferred Qualifications:
Current TS/SCI and SAP clearances.
Master’s Degree in Technical Field (STEM) or Business Administration.
Experience with T&E processes and procedures to support both management and engineering tasks.
Strong leadership, interpersonal, and written/oral communication skills, enabling effective engagement with cross-functional stakeholders and customers.
Familiarity with current programs across NGC – AS Sector
Desire to drive change.
Prior functional management experience with knowledge of FHR processes.
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Job Details
- Category
- Business & Finance
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Location
- Palmdale; United States-Florida-Melbourne; United States-California-San Diego; United States-California-El Segundo; United States-Oklahoma-Oklahoma City, CA
- Posted
- Apr 26, 2026, 08:00 PM
- Listed
- Apr 27, 2026, 05:55 PM
- Compensation
- $143,400 - $262,900 per year
About Northrop Grumman
Part of the growing frontier tech ecosystem pushing the edges of what's possible.
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