Sr Principal Engineer Supplier Mission Assurance

Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman · Aerospace · Corinne, UT +1 · Mission/Quality Assurance

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Sr Principal Engineer Supplier Mission Assurance to lead supplier quality and mission assurance activities across the subcontract lifecycle for complex programs. This role involves assessing supplier capability, leading issue resolution, providing technical oversight of quality documentation, and performing audits to ensure compliance with AS9100 and contractual requirements. The position requires experience with quality management systems, technical investigations, and risk assessment methodologies, with the ability to obtain a Secret security clearance.

What you'd actually do

  1. Serve as the single point of contact for Supplier Quality and Mission Assurance supporting one or more complex programs, providing technical leadership and independent decision-making.
  2. Develop and execute supplier quality strategies to ensure subcontractor compliance with contractual, technical, regulatory, and mission assurance requirements.
  3. Assess supplier capability and manufacturing readiness through technical evaluations, process reviews, audits, and product verification activities.
  4. Lead supplier issue resolution including nonconformance disposition, supplier corrective actions (SCAR), root cause and corrective action verification, risk assessments, and recovery planning.
  5. Provide technical oversight and approval of supplier quality documentation, including First Article Inspection (FAI), source inspection planning, control plans, manufacturing plans, and quality records.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor's degree with 5 years of professional experience (Level 3) or 8 years (Level 4)
  • Experience independently managing supplier quality activities
  • Working knowledge of quality management systems (AS9100 and/or ISO 9001)
  • Experience conducting technical investigations and utilizing quality tools (RCCA, 8D, PFMEA, Fishbone, SCAR, statistical analysis, risk assessment)
  • Experience reviewing engineering drawings, specifications, manufacturing processes, and technical documentation
  • Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple assignments and manage competing program demands
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across functional organizations
  • Recognized technical expert with extensive experience independently leading supplier quality activities for complex aerospace or defense programs with minimal direction (Level 4)
  • Demonstrated expertise evaluating manufacturing processes, production readiness, supplier quality systems, technical risks, and subcontract execution (Level 4)
  • Proven ability to influence supplier executive leadership and internal stakeholders (Level 4)
  • Extensive experience leading supplier audits, surveillance activities, design reviews, MRBs, FRBs, readiness reviews, and mission assurance assessments (Level 4)

Nice to have

  • AS9100 and/or ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification or equivalent Quality Management System audit experience

What the JD emphasized

  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance