Engineer Systems 3@ San Diego California (Secret)

Is hiring for federal client Northrup Grumman Principal Airworthiness Engineer

Interested candidate can share resume at View email address on us.fitly.work or call Senior Recruiter Alec at View phone number on us.fitly.work

JOB POSTING Principal Airworthiness Engineer

Company: Northrop Grumman Corporation Mission Systems



Job ID: 2196



Location: 9326 Spectrum Center Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92123



Work Arrangement: 100% Onsite



Employment Type: Contract



Contract Duration: December 7, 2026 December 6, 2027



Work Schedule: 9/80A



Standard Hours: 40 hours per week



Openings: 1



Experience: 5 years of related experience, depending on education



U.S. Citizenship: Required



Security Clearance: DoD Secret required; candidates must be able to obtain a Secret clearance within a reasonable timeframe.

Position Overview

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking a qualified Principal Airworthiness Engineer to join its Airworthiness Engineering Directorate in San Diego, California. This position supports airworthiness certification efforts for various air vehicle platforms, including the development and maintenance of certification plans, airworthiness evidence, and technical documentation.

The successful candidate will help translate customer airworthiness certification objectives into practical system solutions throughout the product lifecycle, including flight releases, type certification, continued airworthiness, and airspace integration. The role requires strong technical expertise, collaboration across engineering disciplines, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, coordinate, and support airworthiness plans, Bases of Certification, means of compliance, and related certification activities.

• Support technical airworthiness planning and verification for complex systems in collaboration with Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), responsible engineers, and customer representatives.

• Coordinate with engineering disciplines involved in system design, fabrication, testing, installation, operation, maintenance, and disposal.

• Perform functional and process analyses, requirements allocation, and definition studies to translate customer requirements into technical criteria and derived requirements.

• Ensure airworthiness certification objectives are systematically incorporated into engineering solutions throughout the product lifecycle.

• Manage and maintain Type Design Data and airworthiness evidence in support of Military Type Certification.

• Support continued and continuing airworthiness activities for air systems.

• Contribute to certification documentation, technical reviews, and coordination with applicable airworthiness authorities.

Basic Qualifications

Candidates must meet one of the following education and experience requirements:

• Bachelor of Science in a STEM discipline with at least 5 years of related experience.

• Master of Science with at least 3 years of related experience.

• Ph.D. with at least 1 year of related experience.

Additional requirements:

• Familiarity with MIL-HDBK-516D.

• Experience leading the development of airworthiness plans, a Basis of Certification, and related certification activities.

• Experience with Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) airworthiness authorizations and type certifications.

• Ability to obtain a DoD Secret security clearance within a reasonable timeframe, based on business needs.

• U.S. citizenship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in military aircraft development or modification.

• Experience with both DoD and civil airworthiness requirements.

• Familiarity with UAS/RPAS platforms and airworthiness certification.

• 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 management

• Familiarity with USAF Airworthiness Policy Directives, Instructions, and Airworthiness Bulletins (AWBs).

• Control Account Management (CAM) and Earned Value Management System (EVMS) experience.

• Experience with Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) planning and tracking, earned value reporting, variance analysis, and Estimate at Complete (EAC) forecasting.

• Experience interacting with U.S. DoD or civil airworthiness authorities.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and SharePoint.

• Current active U.S. Government in-scope DoD Secret clearance or higher.

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

Core Skills

• Airworthiness certification and compliance

• MIL-HDBK-516D

• Airworthiness planning and Basis of Certification

• UAS/RPAS airworthiness authorizations

• Military aircraft certification

• Type Design Data management

• Systems engineering and requirements analysis

• Technical documentation and verification

• DoD and civil airworthiness standards

• Cross-functional engineering collaboration

Work Environment

• Onsite position in San Diego, California.

• 9/80A work schedule.

• 40 standard hours per week.

• Contract assignment scheduled from December 7, 2026, through De

  Qualified candidates interested in this opportunity may submit an updated resume for ccember 6, 2027.

• U.S. citizenship required.

• DoD Secret clearance required or must be obtainable within the required timeframe.