Lead System Safety Engineer Level 3/4

Company: Northrop Grumman
Location: Chandler
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: Interim 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 Space Systems has an exciting career opportunity for a Systems Engineer Level 3/4 to join the System Safety Engineering team within the Launch Systems business unit located in Chandler, AZ . Position Overview: The System Safety Engineering Team utilizes system engineering processes and tools to drive the overall system design to meet safety requirements to minimize the risk inherent in launch vehicle operations while maximizing mission reliability and success. At Northrop Grumman Launch Systems, System Safety Engineering is involved in all phases of a program life cycle, from proposal generation to launch operations. System Safety Engineering interfaces with various ranges to ensure that our launch vehicles meet safety requirements while providing high reliability to the customer. The System Safety Engineer is responsible for working with a System Safety Engineering team on an advanced program that develops key range safety deliverables, and support system safety activities including ground safety, range safety, and flight safety throughout a program's life cycle. The System Safety Engineering deliverables are the only documents that provide a complete, true system description of the components, systems, launch vehicle and mission design, and as such require a high level of understanding of the entire design. The System Safety Engineering effort includes interacting as part of a multi-disciplined engineering team to develop the launch system architecture and constituent elements for new and existing flight programs, as well as new business concepts and proposals. Job Responsibilities: Interact with key internal and external customers and partners regarding system safety topics. Work with or lead a small team of System Safety engineers in defining, implementing, and verifying System Safety requirements to ensure that the inherent risks are mitigated. System Safety Engineers are responsible for understanding the entire mission, including the launch vehicle, payload, ground support equipment, range infrastructure, and range safety interfaces. System Safety Engineers are expected to understand how the different components, subsystems, systems, and integrated launch vehicle function and interact, with a focus on System Safety. Apply the systems engineering process to define and verify launch vehicle and ground support equipment requirements to ensure safe operations and conduct system safety analyses to architect and implement a safe and robust system. Define and verify launch vehicle-to-payload interface requirements and support space vehicle launch campaign management activities at the various launch sites. Manage interface with customer safety and launch integration personnel and support ground operations and launch mission working groups as requested. Support launch vehicle design and development to ensure that customer and internal goals for safety, mission success, and performance are met. Analyze Integration and Test processes to demonstrate customer and internal requirements are met for both safety and mission success, whether at the various launch sites or at our facilities in Chandler, AZ. Conduct system level analysis of next generation mission concepts and designs to maximize mission success without compromising compliance with customer, government, and internal flight safety requirements. Describe, analyze, and explain launch vehicle designs to External customers to explain how applicable safety requirements for design, build, and test are met. Reviews product systems associated with support equipment and facilities, functional specifications and operations, and establishes safety requirements for assigned systems. Independently analyzes and recommends safety criteria in system design, equipment, and procedures to control or eliminate hazards. Develop safety documents as required to support customer and test/operational range requirements. Performs audits of operational areas and reports effectiveness of system safety program. Participates in accident investigations involving damage to products or related facilities and assists in identification of causes and corrective actions. Evaluates the interrelationship of system safety requirements and other aspects of concept design and development requirements to ensure the most cost-effective program. This requisition may be filled at either a Systems Engineer Level 3/4 Level 3 - Salary: $98,400.00 - $147,600.00 Level 4 - Salary: $122,800.00 - 184,200.00 Basic Qualifications Systems Engineer - Level 3 Bachelor’s degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline from an accredited university and 5 years of related experience, or a master’s degree and 3 years of related experience, or 1 year of experience with a PhD. Experience with launch vehicle system design, testing, or Mission Operations Exposure to the systems engineering discipline and its application for system safety Experience with tailoring and implementing FAA, RCC-319, RCC-324, SSCMAN 91-710, and/or MIL-STD-882 Experience leading a small team of engineers (managing deadlines, scheduling work, etc.) Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% of the time to support business needs. Applicants must be a current U.S. Citizen Must have active Interim Secret Security Clearance or higher Basic Qualifications for Systems Engineer - Level 4 Bachelor’s degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline from an accredited university and 8 years of related experience, or a master’s degree and 6 years of related experience, or a PhD degree and 4 years of related experience. Experience with launch vehicle system design, testing, or Mission Operations Exposure to the systems engineering discipline and its application for system safety Experience with tailoring and implementing FAA, RCC-319, RCC-324, SSCMAN 91-710, and/or MIL-STD-882 Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% of the time to support business needs. Applicants must be a current U.S. Citizen Must have active interim Secret Security Clearance or higher Preferred Qualifications: Active current active in-scope U.S. Government DoD issued Secret Security Clearance Established relationships with FAA or Range Safety Personnel Experience with Solid Rocket Boost Stages and Liquid Fueled Rockets Experience in launch vehicle system integration, testing, and evaluation Experience in presenting in front of customers and Air/Space Force/DoD personnel Experience in development and maintenance of requirements control documents and related processes Experience using Requirements Management Tools such as DOORS. Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below: https://www.northropgrumman.com/space Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site. Primary Level Salary Range: $98,400.00 - $1,476,000.00 Secondary Level Salary Range: $122,800.00 - $184,200.00 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, Sun City , Lead System Safety Engineer Level 3/4, Engineering , Chandler, Arizona