
Job Overview
Employment Type
Full-time
Compensation
Salary
Range $212,100.00 - $318,100.00
Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Life insurance
Disability insurance
savings plan
Paid Time Off
Company paid holidays
Job Description
Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company renowned for its innovative systems that impact national security and technology advancements worldwide. Established with a rich history of pioneering achievements, Northrop Grumman has played a vital role in some of the most significant milestones in aviation and defense history, from the first nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean and stealth bombers to contributing to the lunar landing. The company fosters a culture driven by intellectual curiosity, diverse perspectives, and a commitment to innovation. Employees are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work, collaborate boldly, and contribute to missions that shape the future while enjoying the process.
Within the Northrop Grumman Defense Systems (NGDS) sector, the Advanced Weapons Business Unit is dedicated to developing cutting-edge air warfare missile systems that enhance global defense capabilities. Located in Northridge, California, this dynamic team is currently seeking a Consulting Chief Engineer. This pivotal full-time on-site leadership position offers the opportunity to lead the technical direction and engineering excellence for advanced missile systems such as the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) and its extended range variant (AARGM-ER). The role demands a professional who can balance technical innovation with pragmatic project constraints to achieve key performance goals across all stages—development, production, and sustainment.
The Consulting Chief Engineer will steward adherence to rigorous engineering standards, ensuring compliance with company policies and quality controls. They will champion integrated hardware-software solutions, lead cross-functional teams, and guide technical reviews and control boards that influence product line alignment and program strategies. This leadership role requires close collaboration with senior engineers and program managers to navigate complex technical challenges, manage risk and opportunity, and sustain a culture of continuous improvement and engagement among integrated product teams.
Northrop Grumman values technical leadership characterized by decisiveness, clear communication, and the ability to make sound judgments under uncertainty. The ideal candidate will hold an active DoD Secret clearance and bring extensive experience in aerospace systems, missile integration, and embedded systems. An excellent opportunity exists to impact national security while working in a vibrant community. Northridge offers an ideal living environment with urban convenience mixed with nearby natural beauty, from parks and reservoirs to beaches and mountains, enhanced by Southern California's favorable climate with approximately 284 sunny days annually.
The salary range for this position is between $212,100 and $318,100 annually, reflecting the role's seniority and responsibilities. Employees may also receive additional compensation elements including overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonuses, and long-term incentives for certain leadership roles. Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package including health, life, disability insurance, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. This role exemplifies Northrop Grumman's commitment to innovation, diversity, and inclusion, encouraging candidates from all backgrounds to apply and contribute to groundbreaking defense technologies.
Within the Northrop Grumman Defense Systems (NGDS) sector, the Advanced Weapons Business Unit is dedicated to developing cutting-edge air warfare missile systems that enhance global defense capabilities. Located in Northridge, California, this dynamic team is currently seeking a Consulting Chief Engineer. This pivotal full-time on-site leadership position offers the opportunity to lead the technical direction and engineering excellence for advanced missile systems such as the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) and its extended range variant (AARGM-ER). The role demands a professional who can balance technical innovation with pragmatic project constraints to achieve key performance goals across all stages—development, production, and sustainment.
The Consulting Chief Engineer will steward adherence to rigorous engineering standards, ensuring compliance with company policies and quality controls. They will champion integrated hardware-software solutions, lead cross-functional teams, and guide technical reviews and control boards that influence product line alignment and program strategies. This leadership role requires close collaboration with senior engineers and program managers to navigate complex technical challenges, manage risk and opportunity, and sustain a culture of continuous improvement and engagement among integrated product teams.
Northrop Grumman values technical leadership characterized by decisiveness, clear communication, and the ability to make sound judgments under uncertainty. The ideal candidate will hold an active DoD Secret clearance and bring extensive experience in aerospace systems, missile integration, and embedded systems. An excellent opportunity exists to impact national security while working in a vibrant community. Northridge offers an ideal living environment with urban convenience mixed with nearby natural beauty, from parks and reservoirs to beaches and mountains, enhanced by Southern California's favorable climate with approximately 284 sunny days annually.
The salary range for this position is between $212,100 and $318,100 annually, reflecting the role's seniority and responsibilities. Employees may also receive additional compensation elements including overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonuses, and long-term incentives for certain leadership roles. Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package including health, life, disability insurance, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. This role exemplifies Northrop Grumman's commitment to innovation, diversity, and inclusion, encouraging candidates from all backgrounds to apply and contribute to groundbreaking defense technologies.
Job Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or STEM-related discipline with relevant experience
- Experience in leading engineering teams within aerospace or defense sectors
- Active DoD Secret clearance with recent background investigation
- Proven record of managing cost, schedule, and technical quality on projects
- Strong communication and presentation skills
- Ability to work full-time onsite in Northridge, CA
- Willingness to travel up to 10% of the time
Job Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or STEM-related discipline with 16 years of experience or 14 years with a master’s degree and 12 years of experience with a Ph.D.
- Experience leading engineering teams through design, integration and production of complex systems
- Demonstrated performance addressing cost, schedule and technical quality for an engineering development or systems integration project
- Excellent technical leadership skills, decisiveness, and ability to make sound technical judgments with limited information
- Demonstrated ability to formally present technical solutions to senior leadership
- Must have an active DoD Secret clearance with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into Continuous Evaluation
- Extensive knowledge of aerospace systems, including aircraft, missile, avionics, and software systems, and their design drivers
- Proven expertise in Air Launched Weapon/Missile Systems Development, with hands-on experience integrating missile seekers, sensors, and software
- Deep technical foundation in hardware/software integration, embedded systems, and lifecycle management from concept through production and operations
- Leadership experience such as technical lead, IPT lead, or program-level leadership with demonstrated success in team building, organizational development, and interpersonal communication
Job Duties
- Ensure adherence to rigorous engineering processes across development, verification, production, and sustainment while maintaining compliance with company policies, procedures, and quality standards
- Balance technical performance with cost and schedule to achieve Key Performance Parameters and Technical Performance Measures
- Work across teams to promote the Integrated Functional Capability Strategy, advancing standards for hardware-software integration, testing, and delivery
- Partner with the Advanced Weapons Chief Engineer to ensure alignment of Air Warfare Operating Unit missiles with Advanced Weapons Product Line objectives
- Lead technical reviews and chair AWS Engineering and Software Configuration Control Boards, ensuring seamless integration across functions and programs
- Support decision boards like Advanced Weapons Technical Review Board, Heads-Up Display meetings, Test Readiness Reviews, Program Management Reviews, and AWS Risk & Opportunity Management Board
- Champion long-term strategic technical objectives at the program and portfolio levels
- Identify opportunities to improve engagement and collaboration across Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and deliverables
- Provide technical oversight and conduct focused deep dives into hardware, software, and integration deliverables
Job Criteria
Experience
Expert Level (7+ years)
Job Location
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