Mission and Quality Assurance Engineer (Quality Engineer)

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 50% 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 Space Systems is seeking a Mission and Quality Assurance Engineer (Quality Engineer) to support the Relay Ground Station – Asia (RGS A) program. This position supports the Program Mission and Quality Assurance (MA/QA) Lead and operates across Mission Assurance, Quality Assurance, Systems Engineering, and Software/Hardware Development.

The selected candidate will help implement and execute the Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP), Mission Assurance Plan (MAP), and related technical plans to ensure first time quality and mission success across software, hardware, integration, and verification activities.

This role requires frequent on site and field presence (up to ~50% travel) to labs, supplier facilities, and the operational site to support inspections, testing, reviews, and deployment readiness.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Management System & Mission Assurance

• Support the Program MA/QA Lead in executing MA/QA responsibilities in alignment with:
  • Organizational Quality Management System (QMS) (e.g., AS9100 Rev D, ISO 9001)
  • Applicable Northrop Grumman PrOPs and program procedures
  • Customer and contract requirements (PWS, TRD, CDRLs)
• Assist in planning and executing internal audits of engineering processes (software, hardware, systems, integration/test) to:
  • Assess implementation of the SEMP, MAP, CDM Plan, and related plans
  • Verify compliance with AS9100, PrOPs, and program requirements
  • Document findings and track corrective actions to closure
• Support Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) activities:
  • Investigate nonconformances, test anomalies, FRACAS records, and audit findings
  • Help develop, implement, and verify corrective/preventive actions
  • Contribute to RCCA / DR / PAR / CAPA tracking tools
• Help manage nonconformances (DRs) and escapes, coordinating with engineering, suppliers, and integration & test teams.
• Support development and reporting of quality and engineering metrics (e.g., defect trends, test performance, audit performance) and use them to identify improvement opportunities.

Program-Integrated Mission Assurance Support

• Assist the MA/QA Lead in integrating mission assurance and quality activities across the program.
• Identify and document issues and improvement opportunities in program tracking tools.
• Help define and track corrective/preventive actions related to quality and mission assurance findings.
• Support MA/QA and technical reviews with quality inputs, status updates, and supporting metrics.

Engineering Process & Work Product Quality

• Support verification that engineering processes and work products follow the RGS A SEMP, including:
  • Requirements development and management (DOORS, TBX tracking/metrics)
  • System architecture (Cameo models, SSDD, ICDs)
  • Hardware and software design, development, integration, and verification
  • Configuration & Data Management, Technical Reviews, and Engineering Checkpoint Reviews
• Participate in reviews by:
  • Assessing artifacts for quality, completeness, and coherence with the SEMP, MAP, and CDM Plan
  • Supporting checklists, action item tracking, and closure documentation
• Provide MA/QA perspective on requirements traceability, closure trends, and metrics derived from JIRA/DOORS/Cameo, as well as test planning, verification methods, and test readiness.

Hardware, Software, and Systems Quality

Hardware QA

• Support and perform inspections of hardware and associated documentation, including incoming inspection, pre integration readiness checks, and configuration/acceptance inspections.
• Assist with environmental testing and hardware test readiness from a quality standpoint, including procedure, data, and report review.

Software QA

• Support mission assurance of software capabilities by:
  • Participating in system/subsystem level software integration and test
  • Reviewing software work products (test procedures/results, anomaly reports) against the SDP and applicable PrOPs
  • Helping confirm configuration control of software baselines and adherence to approved change processes.

Systems & Integration QA

• Support system integration, verification, validation, and transition activities:
  • Participate in integration and test execution as a QA observer
  • Assist with verification traceability and evidence collection
  • Help ensure test configurations, data, and results are correctly controlled and archived per the CDM Plan
• Assist in quality oversight of Logistics, FRACAS, CAPA, and sustainment-related activities as they evolve.

Supplier and Subcontractor Mission Assurance

• Work with the MA/QA Lead, Supplier Mission Assurance (SMA), and Subcontracts Management to:
  • Support supplier evaluations, audits, and performance monitoring
  • Confirm that requirements are flowed down and verified
  • Review supplier data (drawings, test reports, quality records) for completeness and compliance
  • Participate in supplier-related FRB/ERB/DRB/CCB activities as assigned.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Culture

• Collaborate with Program Management, SEIT, Engineering, Logistics, Cybersecurity, Configuration/Data Management, and Mission Assurance to:
  • Embed MA/QA principles into engineering planning and execution
  • Support continuous improvement from metrics, audits, FRACAS/CAPA, and lessons learned
• Help promote a safety first, quality driven culture emphasizing:
  • Proactive identification and management of technical blockers
  • Disciplined configuration control and data management
  • High integrity technical reviews and open communication across IPTs
• Be willing and able to travel up to ~50% for design/test events, supplier reviews, on site inspections, and deployment/transition activities.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or related STEM discipline with 2+ years of relevant experience in mission assurance, quality engineering, or software/hardware/system development/test
  – OR – Master’s degree in a related STEM discipline with 0+ years of experience
  (Additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.)
• Experience in aerospace, defense, or other high reliability environment supporting at least one of:
  • Software or hardware development and/or integration & test
  • Mission assurance or quality engineering
  • Systems engineering or integration activities
• Familiarity with systems and software engineering processes, including at least one of:
  • Agile development (Scrum, sprint/PI planning, JIRA)
  • Traditional development models (Waterfall, Spiral, V model)
• Working knowledge of RCCA concepts, nonconformance handling, and basic issue/defect management.
• Exposure to or familiarity with quality standards and process frameworks such as AS9100, ISO 9001, CMMI, or equivalent.
• Ability to interpret and work with technical documents (requirements, test plans, ICDs, drawings) and to support audits and reviews.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently (up to ~50%, including multi day trips to test sites, suppliers, and deployed locations).
• Active U.S. DoD Secret security clearanc e at time of hire, with the ability to maintain that clearance as required by the program.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting or executing Mission Assurance, Quality Assurance, or related quality activities on a complex ground system or space program.
• Hands on experience with one or more of the following tools or equivalents:
  • IBM Rational DOORS
  • Cameo or other MBSE tools
  • JIRA/Confluence
  • FRACAS / CAPA / DR systems and metrics
• Experience supporting or participating in SEMP-driven processes:
  • Requirements development
  • Technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, SVR, etc.)
  • Configuration & Data Management and technical baselines
• Prior involvement in supplier quality or supplier mission assurance, including supplier data review, audits, or performance monitoring.
• Exposure to advanced quality and improvement methodologies such as Six Sigma/Lean, or professional quality certifications (e.g., ASQ CQE, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt).
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to:
  • Translate technical issues into clear quality and mission assurance implications
  • Work effectively across IPTs and with customer counterparts
• Experience in ground systems, RF/antenna systems, or satellite ops support is a plus.

Primary Level Salary Range: $83,400.00 - $125,200.00The 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.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 U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.