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's Mission Systems is seeking a Lead Manufacturing Automation Systems Engineer to sustain industrial solutions for a wide range of manufacturing applications and develop, implement, monitor, and improve manufacturing processes that support our products. Critical areas of focus include microelectronics, antenna assembly, mechanical assembly, testing, and surface mount technology.

For this position, hybrid telecommuting does require that you live a commutable distance from our manufacturing plant near BWI Airport in Maryland. You will need to be onsite 50% of the time.

What's Great About Working for Northrop Grumman?

• Be part of a culture that thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work.

• Use your skills to build and deliver innovative tech solutions that protect the world and shape a better future.

• Enjoy benefits like work-life balance, education assistance and paid time off.

• Many sites have 9/80 days, telework and flexible scheduling options, plus generous paid time off.

• Indeed named Northrop Grumman a top 15 company for work/life balance in 2019. We were rated #1 by Millennials on Indeed as the Best Company to work for in 2018.

What's Great About This Job:

• You will be a key team member for ensuring and improving process and factory performance.

• You will be part of the Manufacturing Automation and Controls team that is pursuing sector Automation and Industry 4.0/Digital Thread efforts. This includes interfacing with the teams developing the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system, Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and our Plant Connectivity and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) infrastructure.

• You will use your innovation and creativity to design automation solutions that will revolutionize manufacturing execution and have a sector level impact.

Under the general supervision of the Automation Manager and Factory Automation leads, the Lead Automation Systems Engineer:

Program Management:

• Create and manage overall project deliverables (tasks, resources, budget and schedules); develop Statements of Work (SOW) and cost estimates; track project financials; identify and support the acquisition of external services

• Provide justification and return on investment for process improvements

• Work with manufacturing and operations teams to help improve current processes; work with the digital fabric team to support all areas of digital transformation

• Project management and complete design of the mechanical systems

• Create quotations and sales proposals for new jobs

• Manage individual project budgets and schedules and routinely report progress

• Meet project schedules; provide manufacturing manager and lead project engineer with timely status reports of projects

• Maintain a strong company presence and positive working relationships with customers, subcontractors, vendors, and co-workers to sustain automated systems

• Identify and incorporate emerging automation technologies into design solutions through industry engagement and demonstration

Factory Automation:

• Define requirements for automation solutions and write statements of work for internal and external equipment suppliers and automation integrators

• Lead selection of equipment suppliers and automation integrators and ensure their execution to technical and schedule requirements for capital and development projects

• Identify and incorporate emerging automation technologies into design solutions through industry engagement and demonstration

• Establish processes and procedures to support the Digital Thread and Factory Automation group

• Establish processes/procedures for the automation and controls organization

• Develop automation system requirements and machine specifications

• Utilize new technology to improve and automate manufacturing processes

• Simulate automation robot programming

Process Development:

• Develop new and maintain, or improve, existing manufacturing processes with a focus on production capabilities and affordability

• Create and manage project plans (tasks, resources, schedules) for automation development activities

• Integrate automation training for new systems with technicians and manufacturing leadership

• Mentor and coach junior mechanical and automation engineers

• Review and support equipment safety risk assessments

• Troubleshoot manufacturing problems (related to sensors, robots, motion, vision, equipment, data) in an effective manner

• Connect with Mission Systems MES and Digital Thread maximizing traceability and configuration Management

• Standardize Automation equipment and processes

• Specify, identify and procure new manufacturing equipment; prepare equipment for production and validate production readiness

Miscellaneous Support:

• Lead selection of equipment suppliers and automation integrators and ensure their execution to technical and programmatic requirements (tasks, resources, schedules) for capital and development projects

• Travel to customer sites for design reviews, research, installation, and troubleshooting

• Oversee project scope and that budgets remain on target

• Solve manufacturing problems (related to materials, designs, equipment and tooling, training and instructions) to support production

• Provide Request for Proposal (RFP) inputs including Non-Recurring Engineering (RE) requirements such as tooling, capital equipment and/or new process development

• Work as a member of a project team and coordinate work with others

• Determine and recommend which products or services best fit the customers’ needs

• Contribute to new system concepts and customer contact.

Basic Qualifications for a Senior Principal:

• Bachelors of Science degree or higher in Engineering or related STEM area plus 9 years of relevant professional experience (7 years with an MS degree)

• Experience developing, implementing, and managing Robotics and Controls projects, using a wide variety of Discrete I/O, Analog I/O, and communications to I/O data that can be transmitted or received to/from other controllers and devices via industrial communication protocols

• Experience implementing automation solutions in a manufacturing/production environment

• 3D Solid Modeling experience using a CAD software

• 3D modeling experience with assembly tooling, concept development, and tool creation

• Knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)

• Project Management experience

• Must have fluency in MS Office software applications

• Candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a prerequisite.)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with web-based programs, or HMI, and GUI applications used to automate the control, collection, and transformation of operating data (OEE)

• Experience with Control Systems, configurations, and support (i.e. Siemens, Rockwell)

• Understanding and proficiency with Profinet, SCADA/Industrial communication protocols (i.e., Modbus, EthernetIP, OPC, Bacnet)

• Experience in architecture and programming of using a wide variety of Discrete I/O, Analog I/O, and communications to I/O data that can be transmitted or received to/from other controllers and devices via industrial communication protocols

• Experience with KPIs, cost estimates, work breakdown structures, and continuous improvement

• Familiarity with J-STD and MIL-STD requirements

• Experience with electronic assembly processes and circuit card assemblies

• 3D modeling experience in Unigraphics/NX

• Experience with the Teamcenter Manufacturing tool suite and Manufacturing Process Planning Familiarity with Design of Experiment (DOE), Statistical Process Control (SPC), and 6 sigma concepts for process development and control

MANUMS

Salary Range: $123,800 USD - $185,800 USD

Employees may be eligible for 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 health and safety of our employees and their families is a top priority. The company encourages employees to remain up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. U.S. Northrop Grumman employees may be required, in the future, to be vaccinated or have an approved disability/medical or religious accommodation, pursuant to future court decisions and/or government action on the currently stayed federal contractor vaccine mandate under Executive Order 14042 https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/.

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 http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.