Principal Engineer Quality

Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman · Aerospace · Plymouth, MN +1 · Mission/Quality Assurance

Northrop Grumman is seeking an experienced Quality Engineer to support their Armament Systems site in Plymouth, MN. The role involves providing Quality Engineering and Mission Assurance support to programs, including production line support, supplier inspection, preparing quality program plans, inspection procedures, supplier process monitoring, applying quality tools, drawing reviews, customer interface, and reviewing product acceptance data. The position requires ensuring compliance with AS9100/ISO9001, managing deliverable timelines, providing expertise on quality assurance and problem-solving, supporting investigations, working with operations and manufacturing teams, planning quality activities, performing on-site monitoring, reviewing drawings for GD&T, evaluating manufacturing processes, performing statistical analysis, and reporting status. Technical skills include strong communication, computer proficiency, mechanical manufacturing knowledge, attention to detail, self-motivation, and experience with CAPA/RCCA. A Bachelor's degree in STEM, 5 years of quality engineering experience, manufacturing environment experience, understanding of inspection equipment and GD&T, experience with quality tools, and experience in a highly-regulated environment are required. A Secret Clearance is also required.

What you'd actually do

  1. Ensure compliance to contract quality requirements and AS9100 / ISO9001 Quality System processes on development and production programs.
  2. Prepare documentation including: coding quality flow down requirements on requisitions for procuring material, documenting and maintaining incoming inspection procedures, and creation and maintenance of Contract Data Requirement List (CDRL) data requirements.
  3. Manage Contract Quality deliverable timeline requirements to ensure all contractually required Quality documentation is submitted on time.
  4. Provide expertise and guidance to program teams and suppliers on quality assurance, quality systems, tools, training, problem solving, statistical analysis and continuous improvement. Application of quality tools for analysis and improvement activities.
  5. Support and lead investigations between internal functions, suppliers (in conjunction with the Supplier Quality team) and customers. Provide assistance with technical diagnosis of root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions with resolution of customer complaints or field failures. Develop solutions as appropriate to eliminate the recurrence of the issue.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM discipline
  • 5 years of experience in quality engineering; or master’s degree plus 3 yrs of quality engineer experience
  • Experience in a Manufacturing environment.
  • Experience with inspection equipment, techniques and general knowledge of Metrology and Calibration
  • Understanding of Drawings and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)
  • Experience with using Quality Tools (Statistics, DOE, FMEA, MSA)
  • Experience in a highly-regulated environment
  • Willingness to travel domestically as required (sometimes on short notice)
  • US Citizenship is required
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills with internal / external customers
  • Efficient in computer skills
  • Strong technical knowledge (mechanical manufacturing, tools, gages, calibration)
  • Meticulous and thorough individual possessing high attention to detail
  • Driven self-starter with high initiative and motivated self-learner
  • Experienced with Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) / Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA)

Nice to have

  • Master’s degree is highly desired
  • Manufacturing experience with metals and electronics production.
  • Six Sigma Green or Black Belt formal certification
  • Experience in a Defense contract environment

What the JD emphasized

  • AS9100 / ISO9001 Quality System processes
  • supplier process monitoring
  • application of quality tools
  • drawing reviews
  • customer interface/reports/submittals
  • reviewing product acceptance data
  • Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) / Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA)
  • Geometric Dimensions and Tolerances standards
  • statistical analysis on product yield/SPC/key characteristics data
  • Experience in a highly-regulated environment
  • Secret Clearance