Principal Engineer Quality

Company: Northrop Grumman
Location: San Diego
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time Description 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 Mission Systems is looking for you to join our team as a Principal Quality Engineer based out of San Diego, CA . This role will support the Integrated Product Team on our manufacturing site and will provide quality support for the F-35 Program. Work activities will be focused on Material Review as part of the Nonconforming Material Control process, Corrective Actions & Root Cause Investigations, and quality data analysis and reports. What You’ll get to Do : The successful candidate develops, modifies, applies and maintains quality evaluation and control systems and protocols for processing materials into partially finished or finished materials product. Collaborates with engineering and manufacturing functions to ensure quality standards are in place. Devises and implements methods and procedures for inspecting, testing and evaluating the precision and accuracy of products and production equipment. Designs and analyzes inspection and testing processes, mechanisms and equipment; conducts quality assurance tests; and performs statistical analysis to assess the cost of and determine the responsibility for, products or materials that do not meet required standards and specifications. Audits quality systems for deficiency identification and correction. Ensures that corrective measures meet acceptable reliability standards and that documentation is compliant with requirements. Basic Qualifications for Principal Quality Engineer : Bachelor’s degree in engineering or other STEM-related field with 5 years of Manufacturing, Quality Engineering or Quality Analyst experience OR master’s degree in engineering or other STEM-related field with 3 years of Manufacturing, Quality Engineering or Quality Analyst experience Experience with process adherence to AS9100 standards Experience with Lean Six Sigma and Root Cause Analysis processes Experience with various Inspection Methods and GR&R (Gauge Repeatability & Reproducibility) Experience with Preliminary or Material Review Board Process and dispositioning material in a manufacturing facility Ability to obtain and maintain DoD Secret Clearance US Citizenship required Preferred Qualifications for Principal Quality Engineer : Aerospace, Electrical, Industrial, or Mechanical Engineering background Experience performing drawing reviews, and experience with electrical or mechanical design requirements and specifications Experience with SAP, Solumina or other Material and Manufacturing Control Systems An active DoD Secret Clearance (completed within the previous 5 years) What We Can Offer You : Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a work environment which encourages your growth and supports the mutual success of our people and our company. Northrop Grumman benefits give you the flexibility and control to choose the benefits that make the most sense for you and your family. Your benefits will include the following: Health Plan, Savings Plan, Paid Time Off and Additional Benefits including Education Assistance, Training and Development, 9/80 Work Schedule (where available), and much more! Primary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 - $155,400.00 The 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 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. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Keywords: Northrop Grumman, Bell Gardens , Principal Engineer Quality, Engineering , San Diego, California