Sr Principal Engineer Supplier Mission Assurance

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: None

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

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’s Space Sector is seeking a Subcontracts Mission Assurance Manager  – Level 3 or Level 4 to join our team in Promontory, UT. This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.

   

The Subcontracts Mission Assurance Manager (SMAM) serves as the primary Supplier Quality representative for an assigned program, independently leading all supplier quality and mission assurance activities across the subcontract lifecycle. This role requires a highly technical professional capable of making sound risk-based decisions, influencing cross-functional teams, and driving supplier performance with minimal oversight.

This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Serve as the single point of contact for Supplier Quality and Mission Assurance supporting one or more complex programs, providing technical leadership and independent decision-making.
• Develop and execute supplier quality strategies to ensure subcontractor compliance with contractual, technical, regulatory, and mission assurance requirements.
• Assess supplier capability and manufacturing readiness through technical evaluations, process reviews, audits, and product verification activities.
• Lead supplier issue resolution including nonconformance disposition, supplier corrective actions (SCAR), root cause and corrective action verification, risk assessments, and recovery planning.
• Provide technical oversight and approval of supplier quality documentation, including First Article Inspection (FAI), source inspection planning, control plans, manufacturing plans, and quality records.
• Participate in design reviews, Manufacturing Readiness Reviews (MRR), Test Readiness Reviews (TRR), Pre-Ship Reviews (PSR), Material Review Boards (MRB), Failure Review Boards (FRB), and program risk reviews.
• Partner with Engineering, Program Management, Global Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Reliability, Configuration Management, Mission Assurance, and customer representatives to proactively identify and mitigate supplier risks.
• Perform supplier audits, product/process surveillance, and on-site assessments to ensure compliance with AS9100, contractual requirements, and industry best practices.
• Monitor supplier performance metrics, identify emerging risks, and develop mitigation strategies to support cost, schedule, quality, and mission success.
• Provide technical guidance on supplier quality processes, investigations, and continuous improvement initiatives as needed
• Other duties as assigned

  

This position can be filled at either a Level 3 or Level 4.

Basic Qualifications for Level 3:

• Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 3 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 1 year of professional experience.   

• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance

• Experience independently managing supplier quality activities supporting complex hardware, aerospace, defense, electronics, mechanical assemblies, or other highly engineered products.
• Working knowledge of quality management systems (AS9100 and/or ISO 9001) and supplier quality requirements.
• Experience conducting technical investigations and utilizing quality tools including RCCA, 8D, PFMEA, Fishbone, SCAR, statistical analysis, and risk assessment methodologies.
• Experience reviewing engineering drawings, specifications, manufacturing processes, and technical documentation to evaluate supplier capability and product compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple assignments, manage competing program demands, and communicate effectively across functional organizations.

Basic Qualifications for Level 4:

• Bachelor’s degree with 8 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 6 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 4 years of professional experience.   

• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance

• Recognized technical expert with extensive experience independently leading supplier quality activities for complex aerospace or defense programs with minimal direction.
• Demonstrated expertise evaluating manufacturing processes, production readiness, supplier quality systems, technical risks, and subcontract execution throughout the product lifecycle.
• Proven ability to influence supplier executive leadership and internal stakeholders while leading complex technical issue resolution and supplier recovery efforts.
• Extensive experience leading supplier audits, surveillance activities, design reviews, MRBs, FRBs, readiness reviews, and mission assurance assessments.
• Demonstrated ability to develop supplier quality strategies, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and mentor less experienced quality professionals.

 Preferred Qualifications:  

• AS9100 and/or ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification or equivalent Quality Management System auditing experience.
• Experience supporting DoD, NASA, or other highly regulated aerospace and defense programs.
• Experience with electronics, avionics, propulsion systems, mechanical assemblies, composites, energetics, or other mission-critical hardware.
• Familiarity with Costpoint and/or TipQA
• Experience supporting source inspection, First Article Inspection (AS9102), production acceptance, and supplier surveillance.
• Knowledge of FAR/DFARS, contractual quality requirements, and risk-based supplier management.
• Active U.S. Government Secret or Top Secret Security Clearance. 

Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:

https://www.northropgrumman.com/space

Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.

Northrop Grumman Total Rewards 

Primary Level Salary Range: $89,400.00 - $134,200.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $111,700.00 - $167,500.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.