Physicist - Physics

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

TRAVEL: 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. 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 Space Sector is seeking a Physicist - Level 5 to join our team in Chandler, AZ.

Serve as a test and project engineering lead for rain erosion and lightning direct effects on aerospace materials and structures, working closely with senior survivability leadership to ensure test efforts are aligned with vehicle-level hardening strategies.

The successful candidate will: (1) design, plan, and execute material response tests at internal and external facilities; (and (3) translate those conclusions into survivability assessments and material/design recommendations. Strong materials science fundamentals and experience with extreme military launch vehicle flight environments are essential to understanding and explaining test outcomes.

Evaluate materials for use in extreme aerospace environments including lightning, flight heating, and supersonic/hypersonic rain.

Interface with external test facilities and suppliers to define scope, develop/review procedures, witness tests as needed, and resolve

Guard against scope creep, keep complex efforts on task, and ensure that tests/analyses align with program schedules and priorities.

Bachelor's degree with 12 years of experience, master's degree with 10 years of experience or Ph.D. with 10 years of experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or related technical fields.

Ability to obtain US Government Secret security clearance

Demonstrated experience working hands-on with test campaigns (planning, sample fabrication, execution, data review, reporting), not just analysis or paper studies.

Strong project engineering skills with multiple demonstrated examples of driving technical projects to completion. Highly structured, focused, and methodical thinker with strong organizational skills.

Background in materials science, especially structural/thermal aerospace materials.

Basic understanding of how materials respond to military launch vehicle flight environments.

Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in physics, electrical engineering, materials science, or mechanical engineering.

Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance is highly preferred.

Experience planning and executing subsonic and supersonic rain erosion material response tests (e.g. SuRE, HHSTT), especially in the areas of material selection, specimen design, test matrix development, and post-test damage assessment.

Experience planning and executing direct effects lightning material response tests, both arc entry and conducted current, with deep knowledge in grounding, fixturing, pre-test damage predictions, and post-test damage analysis/classification.

Experience with high heat flux material response testing at both low and high shear (e.g. Experience with dynamic material response characterization testing (gas gun and/or electron beam), especially in the areas of specimen design, instrumentation, and data interpretation.

Experience with particle and fiber-reinforced matrix materials, refractory metals and ceramic coatings. Working knowledge of shock physics, especially in the areas of shock Hugoniot and/or stress wave propagation in shocked materials.

We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.

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. 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. 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.