Principal Engineer Supplier Quality

Principal Supplier Quality Engineer (Level 3)

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 Mission Systems is seeking a Principal Supplier Quality Engineer (Level 3) to join our Supplier Quality Engineering (SQE) team within the Multidomain Sensing, Targeting and Survivability (MSTS) division. This position reports directly to the Manager, Supplier Quality for the Naval & Oceanic Systems (N&OS) business unit, and the selected candidate will support programs across the N&OS portfolio.

This is an onsite position, and the candidate must be within commuting distance of one of our main campuses: Sykesville, MD; Annapolis, MD; or Charlottesville, VA.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as a Quality Planner: apply appropriate quality requirements to purchase requisitions, review purchase orders to support accurate and on-time release, and interpret drawings and technical specifications to determine applicable quality flow-downs.
• Review program contracts and interface with Program Quality Engineering to assure proper requirements flow-down to suppliers.
• Manage and maintain the database of quality flow-down notes and ensure consistent application across suppliers and programs.
• Monitor supplier performance, including recurring data pulls; generate charts and analysis in support of site and program reporting needs. Keep management apprised of supplier performance, quality status, and emerging risks.
• Provide support across the business unit in tracking and measuring performance against supplier management plans.
• Support supplier quality risk management, including implementation of proactive strategies to drive strong supplier performance.
• Develop and implement supplier quality evaluation and control systems to ensure robust, repeatable supplier processes.
• Support supplier approval activities, including source selection evaluations, supplier classification (Critical, Key, and Standard), supplier quality risk assessments and mitigation plans, and development and flow-down of supplier quality requirements.
• Support the maintenance of the approved supplier list and periodically review supplier performance to determine continued eligibility.
• Provide the team with visibility into upcoming purchase requisitions and supplier deliveries to support planning and risk management.
• Manage supplier requests for waivers, deviations, and requirement changes, ensuring appropriate evaluation and disposition.
• Support proposal and cost estimating activities with supplier quality inputs, risks, and assumptions.
• Provide support for a variety of core functional supplier quality processes, as assigned.
• Foster a collaborative culture that sustains momentum around engagement, problem solving, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a strong voice for Quality and a role model for Northrop Grumman values.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in STEM with a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in disciplines such as quality, supply chain, manufacturing, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, test engineering, or materials engineering OR Masters Degree in a STEM with with a minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience in disciplines such as quality, supply chain, manufacturing, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, test engineering, or materials engineering
• US Citizenship Required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in an engineering or related STEM discipline
• Experience working within an ISO 9001 and/or AS9100 Quality Management System environment (certification and audit experience a plus)
• Experience in a Quality or Supplier Quality role
• Defense/aerospace industry experience, including direct supplier interface and oversight
• Demonstrated experience facilitating Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) and leading/participating in Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
• Certified Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or Master Black Belt
• ASQ certifications such as Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) and/or Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)
• Experience using SAP (or similar ERP/business systems) for supply chain, quality, or supplier management activities

Primary Level Salary Range: $89,400.00 - $148,300.00The 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.