Principal Material Process Engineer

Overview

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 Defense Systems sector is seeking a Principal Material Process Engineer to join the Sentinel program in Huntsville, AL. This role may offer a competitive relocation assistance package.

• Responsible to perform the full spectrum of design application part‑management tasks on assigned system and subsystems to ensure streamlined risk identification, risk mitigation, and tracking of at‑risk component issues during the design and manufacturing of weapon systems and equipment under an overarching Systems Engineering framework.
• Develops comprehensive test or data analysis strategies for large‑scale aerospace and ground‑control system components.
• Demonstrates a complete understanding and wide application of technical principles, theories, and concepts relative to part/material performance and service‑life estimation.
• Demonstrates general knowledge of Systems Engineering, multi‑generational program system and/or multi‑generational program subsystem development, and familiarity with supplier management.
• Works independently to provide innovative technical solutions to a wide range of difficult problems using literature review and testing as appropriate.
• Creates, analyses, and produces roadmaps, impact, and issue reports and presents data to stakeholders, customers, and upper management.
• Researches specifications and standards to support part, material & process engineering processes being implemented across multiple internal and external supplier sub‑system designs and manufacturing processes.
• Maintains close coordination with several integrated product teams and provides detailed status to program leadership, as required.
• Is self‑motivated, works under general direction, and works well in teams.
• Collaborates with systems engineers, design engineers, project managers, reliability engineers, and external customers to establish clear part, material and process design documentation traceability to system performance.

• Bachelor’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university and 5 years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree, 3 years of experience with a Master’s degree, or 0 years of experience with a PhD.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen and have the ability to obtain and maintain a DOD Secret Security Clearance.
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance.
• Strong written and oral communication for test plans and briefing stakeholders.
• Project‑management basics (schedule, risk, resource coordination).
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and 3D models.
• Knowledge of material properties, process controls, and failure modes.
• Proficiency with test equipment (shakers, climate chambers, DMA, SEM, X‑ray, ultrasonic, etc.).
• Ability to use data‑analysis tools (MATLAB, Python, R, Minitab).
• Familiarity with quality‑system software (e.g., Minitab, QC tools, PLM).
• Ability to read, apply, and…