Sr. Principal Airworthiness Engineer

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems sector has an opening for a Sr. Principal Airworthiness Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position is based in San Diego, CA with a hybrid telework option available.

Sr. 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). 

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.

The selected candidate should thrive in a fast-paced work environment with high expectations, significantly diverse assignments, collaborative/team settings across all levels.

Basic Qualifications:

• 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   

• Design or 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 Managemen

• Familiarity of MIL-HDBK-516B Expanded and -516C

• Work experience leading the development of Airworthiness plans, a Basis of Certification, and related activities

• Work experience with domestic and international UAS/RPAS airworthiness authorizations and type certifications

• Ability to obtain U.S. Government in-scope DoD Secret security clearance or higher.

• Ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access (PAR/SAP).

Preferred Qualifications:

• 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)

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Powerpoint, Word and SharePoint

• A current active U.S. Government in-scope DoD Secret security clearance or higher and the ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access (PAR/SAP).