Principal/Sr Principal Materials and Process Engineer

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is looking to add a Principal/Sr. Principal Materials and Processes Engineer to our team in El Segundo, CA. This position will support our F-35 Center Fuselage, ancillary parts manufacture, and post-delivery support.

The selected candidate will be responsible for supporting manufacturing from a materials perspective and to define, develop, implement, and transition new materials, processes, and technology solutions to increase efficiency, reduce cost, and improve quality.

Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Support material and process integration, test development, and execute various types of process oversight

• Create and develop documentation for processes in accordance with provided Engineering and specifications

• Troubleshooting of material failures to resolve complex issues

• Interact and coordinate with responsible design, materials, and quality engineers responsible for sustaining manufacturing and sustainment of fielded units and support equipment

• Serve as an interface between the operations & design organizations

• Ensure material performance meets specified requirements and develop standard repairs

• Proactively engage in overall material application on composite structure

• Perform troubleshooting, document issues, and coordinate dispositions of MRB tags using tools such as Teamcenter, JDL, Fibersim, and Catia

• Contribute to improvement of processes, design, and future sustainment efforts

• Actively participate in Program Risk and Opportunity Management

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility.  Once established in role, the position has narrow opportunity for a hybrid work environment. Scheduled telework days are approved at manager's discretion.

This position requires the ability to travel up to 10% of the time.

This position can be filled at either the Principal Materials and Processes Engineer level or the Senior Principal Materials and Processes Engineer level, depending upon the qualifications below.

Basic Qualifications for Principal Materials and Processes Engineer:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) discipline with 5 years of relevant engineering experience; OR a Master’s Degree in a related STEM discipline with 3 years of relevant engineering experience; OR a PhD in a related STEM discipline with 1 year of relevant engineering experience.

• Demonstrated experience with material testing and material qualification

• Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office Suite

• Ability to obtain and maintain US Government Secret clearance

• Ability to obtain and maintain clearance and Special Program Access (SAP/SAR)

Basic Qualifications for Senior Principal Materials and Processes Engineer:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) discipline with 8 years of relevant engineering experience; OR a Master’s Degree in a related STEM discipline with 6 years of relevant engineering experience; OR a PhD in a related STEM discipline with 4 years of relevant engineering experience.

• Demonstrated experience with material testing and material qualification

• Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office Suite

• Ability to obtain and maintain US Government Secret clearance

• Ability to obtain and maintain clearance and Special Program Access (SAP/SAR)

Preferred Qualifications for both levels:

• Experience with film adhesives, carbon fiber, BMI, sealing aircraft components, primer and topcoat applications, and metallic structures

• Experience with Supplier Management

• Experience with low observable material, coating thickness verification, surface preparation, and material reactivation, fairing compounds, and fastener fillers

• New material integration and interface with production personnel

• Government and customer interface experience

• Root cause investigation and corrective action implementation