Principal Optical Mechanical Window Responsible Engineer

Principal Optical Mechanical Window Responsible Engineer

Northrop Grumman Space Systems is seeking a Principal Optical Mechanical Window Responsible Engineer to serve as the Seeker IR Window Responsible Engineer (RE) supporting the Launch Vehicles business unit in Chandler, Arizona.

You will serve as the window responsible engineer (RE) for the seeker subsystem, providing technical leadership for the design, development, testing, and integration of infrared (IR) optical materials and components across multiple programs. This role centers on material selection, testing, manufacturing processes, and system integration, as well as coordination with domestic and international stakeholders, government partners, vendors, and research institutions. The ideal candidate will combine deep expertise in material science and opto-mechanical engineering with strong leadership and organizational skills to drive collaborative efforts and support critical project milestones.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the IR Window Responsible Engineer (RE) for the seeker subsystem, owning requirements, allocation, and verification related to window materials and assemblies.
• Collaborate with domestic and international stakeholders on material trade studies, testing campaigns, procurement strategies, and manufacturing process improvements.
• Coordinate with government partners for material development and testing activities, ensuring alignment with program objectives, contractual requirements, and export control regulations.
• Ensure window design decisions are consistent with structural, thermal, optical, and environmental test data.
• Lead trade studies and development efforts for IR window and assembly materials and components, including coatings, bonds, seals, and supporting structures.
• Coordinate with internal GNC, systems, mechanical, materials, and manufacturing teams, as well as external vendors, to support component design, prototyping, qualification, and production.
• Oversee relevant material and component testing activities, including mechanical evaluations, thermal shock/thermal cycling, environmental testing, and other required experiments to validate performance margins.
• Facilitate the creation and approval of technical documentation, including design drawings, tolerance analyses, specifications, ICDs, and test plans/procedures.
• Manage procurement plans and maintain schedule compliance for key materials, components, and associated assembly hardware, identifying and mitigating supply chain risks.
• Drive manufacturing process improvements and provide detailed design and process feedback to suppliers to improve yield, reliability, and producibility.
• Develop, validate, and oversee Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) methodologies.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, including export controls, and support data exchanges or collaboration with external partners under appropriate technical and security controls.
• Provide technical leadership and briefings to internal and external stakeholders, including participation in design and readiness reviews, risk boards, and material review boards.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline from an accredited university and 5 years of related experience; or Master's degree in a related discipline and 3 years of related experience; or PhD in a related discipline and 1 years of related experience.
• Ability to obtain a U.S. Government - Secret security clearance at the time of application.

• Professional experience leading the design, development, or qualification of IR optical materials and window assemblies for aerospace, defense, or similar high-reliability systems.
• Experience with material and component testing, including mechanical and environmental test methods (e.g., thermal cycling, vibration, shock, pressure, humidity, and relevant MIL-STD test frameworks).
• Experience coordinating technical activities with vendors and suppliers, including interpretation of specifications, drawings, and inspection criteria.
• Demonstrated experience with NDI methods used for optical or structural components (such as radiography, ultrasonic inspection, optical/visual inspection).
• Experience working with or within multi-disciplinary teams (systems, guidance navigation and control (GNC), mechanical, materials, manufacturing, test) to integrate hardware into complex systems.
• Familiarity with export control considerations and handling of technical data in support of domestic and international collaborations.
• Proven ability to independently tackle complex technical problems, synthesize test and analysis results, and present technical findings to stakeholders in written and oral formats.

Preferred Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related discipline.
• Active U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance at the time of application.
• Experience serving as a technical lead or responsible…