Senior Principal Optical Engineer IV (GPI)

Company: Northrop Grumman
Location: Chandler
Posted on: March 9, 2025

Job Description:

Requisition ID: R10180580

• Category: -Engineering
• Location: Chandler, Arizona, United States of America
• Clearance Type: -Secret
• Telecommute: -No- Teleworking not available for this position
• Shift: -Days (United States of America)
• Travel Required: -Yes, 10% of the Time
• Relocation Assistance: -Relocation assistance may be available
• Positions Available: -1At 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 looking for a Senior Principal Optical Engineer to support the Launch Vehicles organization in Chandler, Arizona. The Sr. Principal Optical Engineer, will be part of the Seeker IPT, you will utilize your expertise to coordinate multi-disciplinary team efforts to ensure integration and performance at the seeker level and higher systems.The team is responsible for the development of the design, integration and testing of development and flight hardware, evaluation of performance as it pertains to the algorithms, supporting the development of the seeker test suite, and ensuring representative physics-based models to support algorithm development and 6 DoF.The selected candidate should thrive in a fast-paced work environment with significantly diverse assignments and collaborative/team settings across all levels.Responsibilities:
  • Coordinate the efforts between multi-disciplinary teams to ensure an integrated seeker system solution.
  • Decompose requirements from performance basis, identify appropriate verification methodology, and evaluate performance of concept and detailed design.
  • Interfacing with the customer to provide technical status updates on activities such as design efforts, integration status, maturation plans and procedures, and testing results
  • Overseeing error budgets pertaining to the seeker solution and the ability to support modeling that is used to inform either requirements or design sources of error
  • Develop seeker hardware, optical system research and development, data analysis, and evaluation of algorithm development as it pertains to the hardware
  • Overseeing vendor development activities and ensure deliverable timeframes are met
  • Develop and maintain a strong technical understanding of seeker systems to aid in identification and troubleshooting of potential issues and ensuring all requirements flowed from the customer's statement of scope are addressedBasic Qualifications:
    • Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math)
    • Level IV - requires a bachelor's and 9 years' experience or a master's and 7 years' experience.
    • Glide Phase Interceptor - Principal Seeker Modeling and Simulation Engineer -(GPI)Northrop Grumman Space Systems is currently seeking an experienced Principal Seeker Modeling and Simulation Engineer -- Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) team at our Chandler, AZ facility.GPI is a new development product offering exciting opportunities and unique problem-solving challenges.Job Responsibilities
    • Create high fidelity simulations and models for missile design, performance assessment, and flight test support
    • Develop and implement modeling solutions, conduct trade studies and evaluation of system and subsystem performance
    • Deploy EO phenomenology and advanced physics concepts in a software implementation
    • Research and develop novel EO modeling solutions
    • Collaborate with Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) and other department personnel to perform simulation activities
    • Provide technical expertise for the simulation products of GPI, assist other Modeling Engineers in the preparation of detailed plans, and interact with government counterparts as an authority on simulation products
    • Basic Qualifications
    • Bachelor's degree in STEM with 5 years' experience and or a Masters degree with 2 years of experience
    • Must have an active U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance at time of -application, current and within scope -
    • Experience applying object-oriented software design, programming in C or C++, and Matlab
    • Experience developing or simulating physical systems
    • Experience in Electro-Optics (EO), imaging EO/IR systems, energy transport, signal processing or discrimination algorithms
    • Desired Qualifications
    • Advanced Degree in STEM
    • Experience developing signal processing and GNC algorithms or models for missile applications, signal and image processing, digital communications
    • Experience with hardware/software integration and modeling physics and physical systems
    • Experience with software change management tools and processes and real-time programming
    • Familiarity with Software and Firmware development processes
    • Active Clearance
    • Work in a team environment, leading efforts specific to modelling & simulation and supporting additional, varied program efforts
    • Seeker requirement decomposition from top level customer requirements
    • Experience with optical imaging systems ranging from the visible to LWIR spectrum
    • Understanding of Fourier analysis and numerical analysis
    • Experience in root cause and corrective action methodologies
    • Experience with optical design tools: ZEMAX, Code V, FRED, NX, and Solid Works
    • Experience working on real-time hypersonic missile interceptor systems
    • High proficiency in MATLAB and Python toolchainsPreferred Qualifications:
      • BS/MS/PhD in optical engineering or physics
      • Active Secret Security Clearance
      • Experience with missile systems and associated standards
      • Previous experience with DOD missile defense programs
      • Experience with relevant seeker con-ops and performance needs
      • Experience with EO systems including optical design, analysis and tolerancing, error budgets, opto-mech, and focal plane technologies
      • Experience in seeker algorithms design
      • Experience with MBSE, modeling of optical sensors to manipulate target signatures
      • Ability to obtain a DoD Secret Security Clearance
      • Seeker requirement decomposition from top level customer requirements
      • Experience with optical imaging systems ranging from the visible to LWIR spectrum
      • Understanding of Fourier analysis and numerical analysis
      • Experience in root cause and corrective action methodologies
      • Experience with optical design tools: ZEMAX, Code V, FRED, NX, and Solid Works
      • Experience working on real-time hypersonic missile interceptor systems
      • High proficiency in MATLAB and Python toolchainsSalary Range: $130,500 - $195,700The 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 committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

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